Printer-friendly VersionThe Kurdish Globe
The Bahraini Ambassador to Iraq, Salah Al-Malki discussed encouraging GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) states' investments in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, with the head of KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government) Department of Foreign Relations, Falah Mustafa in Erbil on Tuesday.
The Bahraini official visited Kurdistan Region, with a large Bahraini delegation, for the ceremony of Gulf Air's Bahrain-Erbil inaugural flight on Tuesday, October 27.
During the meeting, Al Malki highlighted the recent economical boom and developments in Kurdistan Region and hoped that the opening of Gulf Air's Erbil-Bahrain route will help in improve and increase GCC investments, trade and tourism in Kurdistan. He also mentioned that Kurdistan could become a leading gate to Gulf investments.
On his turn, Falah Mustafa welcomed Bahrain's decision in opening the vital link between Kurdistan Region and the GCC states.
He urged the Kingdom of Bahrain to cooperate with Kurdistan Region in the fields of education, culture, tourism and investments.
Erbil, with an estimated population of 2 million, is the capital of Kurdistan Region. The fast developing city lies 350 km north of Baghdad and is regarded as the safest and most prosperous area in Iraq.
Bahrain's national carrier is the first airline from the Gulf region to operate scheduled services between Erbil and the GCC. The airline already started flights to Baghdad and Najaf in September. Gulf Air plans to add Suleimaniya, in Kurdistan Region and Basrah in southern Iraq to its network before the end of 2010.