"Extensive meetings between the Iraqi Ministry of Trade and the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy began today, in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku,, to discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation and increase the volume of trade exchange between the two countries in a way that serves mutual benefits. The Ministry stated in a statement that Minister of Trade Athir Dawood Al-Ghariri "headed the Iraqi side" in those meetings, and the Azerbaijani side was headed by Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikail Jabbarov, with the attendance of official figures, businessmen and investors from both sides." The Minister stressed that "these meetings" come within the framework of Iraq's keenness to strengthen economic relations with Azerbaijan and develop trade and industrial partnerships, especially in vital sectors such as the gold industry, "especially since Iraq seeks to benefit from Azerbaijani expertise to support the national economy and create new investment opportunities." The Minister extended "an official invitatio n to Azerbaijani companies to participate in the upcoming session of the Baghdad International Fair, in addition to inviting them to participate in the Iraq Investment Forum scheduled to be held in the capital Baghdad next November." The Ministry indicated that "the meetings discussed a set of practical steps aimed at" increasing the volume of trade exchange between them, including providing a list of Iraqi products that can be exported and a guide to Iraqi exports to the Azerbaijani side, in addition to discussing ways of cooperation in the field of localizing the gold industry in Iraq, by benefiting from Azerbaijani expertise and exchanging technical and economic knowledge to support this sector." Source: National Iraqi News Agency