KRG, Russia agree to expand agriculture, industry cooperation

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received Russian ambassador’s to Iraq in Erbil on Tuesday to strengthen ties between Erbil and Moscow, agreeing to expand ties in the field of industry and agriculture. 

Ambassador Maxim Maksimov and President Barzani both “agreed that Erbil-Moscow relations would not remain confined to cooperation in the energy field,” the presidency said in a statement on Tuesday, and would expand to the agricultural and industrial sectors. 

The KRG signed contracts with giant Russian oil and gas firms in 2014 and 2017 to work in several oilfields across the Region,  exploring and exporting crude oil.

During the meeting, attended by the Russian consul-general in Erbil Oleg Levin Vladimirovich, both sides stressed that opportunities are at hand to expand and diversify relations between Erbil and Moscow. 

Facilitating and “increasing direct travel and transportation between Moscow and Erbil” was also discussed, with agreements on the needs for “practical steps” including “frequent visits” to Russia as part of Iraqi delegations. 

The latest political and security development in Iraq, the upcoming Iraqi elections, Erbil-Baghdad relations and confronting terrorism were also discussed, according to the presidency.

Russian oil company Gazprom Neft began drilling an exploration well at the Shakal block in Kurdistan in 2014. 

Three years later, Rosneft signed a deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in to develop five oil blocks containing an estimated 670 million barrels of oil.

Gazprom Neft reaffirmed their interest in the KRG in November 2020, saying they “remain interested in exploration of new development options in the region," their CEO for Exploration and Production Vadim Yakovlev was quoted as saying by Russia's Tass News Agency.