Macron, Iraq sign strategic agreements to boost economic ties

French President Emmanuel Macron right and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani hold documents at the Elysee Palace in Paris on January 26, 2023. French President Emmanuel Macron met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Thursday, said that the French presidency signed a series of strategic agreements meant to boost Iraq's economic cooperation with Paris, especially in the energy and publics transportation sectors.

France and Iraq signed a treaty to strengthen bilateral relations in anti corruption, security, renewable energy and culture, the Elysee Palace said in a statement issued in the early hours of Friday.

Macron and Shia al-Sudani have pledged to grant Iraq the expertise of French companies, based on French know how.

In terms of alternative energies, they showed their commitment to the implementation of TotalEnergies' multiple-energys project based on solar energy and investments in gas. Qatar is in talks to acquire a stake from French oil major TotalEnergies, as Baghdad hopes to stem efforts by Western energy companies to leave the country, according to a report this week.

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In 2021 when TotalEnergies and Baghdad signed an agreement to build four giant solar, gas, power and water projects in southern Iraq over 25 years, hopes for an exodus reversal were high. Exxon Mobil, Shell and BP have tried to scale back their operations in Iraq in the past few years.