Kurdistan
From left: Japan's Ambassador to Iraq Futoshi Matsumoto and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil on February 15, 2023. Photo: Barzani's office
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday received Japan’s new ambassador to Iraq, discussing ways to further develop Erbil-Tokyo relations, according to a statement from Barzani’s office.
Futoshi Matsumoto, who was appointed as Japan’s ambassador to Baghdad in late last year, and President Barzani focused on “ways to further strengthen bilateral ties,” the statement read.
Barzani “expressed the Kurdistan Region’s appreciation for the works and projects of the Japanese agencies and organizations in the Kurdistan Region. The President noted that there is a favorable environment for Japanese investments in the country,” according to the statement.
“Futoshi presented an overview of the activities of the Japanese private sector and companies in Kurdistan, reiterating his country’s willingness to develop relations and joint cooperation with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The Ambassador also expressed the readiness of his country to invest and expand their activities in Iraq and Kurdistan,” it added.
During an interview with Rudaw in November, Futoshi urged people in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to “look to the East” where he claimed the future lies.
“Come to us, that’s my message to Iraq,” he said. “We would love to have Iraq to look towards us, towards the East.”
Futoshi Matsumoto, who was appointed as Japan’s ambassador to Baghdad in late last year, and President Barzani focused on “ways to further strengthen bilateral ties,” the statement read.
Barzani “expressed the Kurdistan Region’s appreciation for the works and projects of the Japanese agencies and organizations in the Kurdistan Region. The President noted that there is a favorable environment for Japanese investments in the country,” according to the statement.
“Futoshi presented an overview of the activities of the Japanese private sector and companies in Kurdistan, reiterating his country’s willingness to develop relations and joint cooperation with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The Ambassador also expressed the readiness of his country to invest and expand their activities in Iraq and Kurdistan,” it added.
During an interview with Rudaw in November, Futoshi urged people in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to “look to the East” where he claimed the future lies.
“Come to us, that’s my message to Iraq,” he said. “We would love to have Iraq to look towards us, towards the East.”
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