By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Incheon Metropolitan City Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok received Charge d'Affaires Mohammed Mustafa Juma Almuntafeky of the Republic of Iraq to the Republic of Korea, at City Hall on March 11 and discussed cooperation.

The meeting was held at the request of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Seoul, and the two sides discussed ways to expand economic exchanges and mutual development between Incheon and major Iraqi cities.

“Iraq is a resource-rich country with the world's fourth-largest crude oil reserves, and Incheon is home to Korea's leading free economic zone,” said Mayor Yoo, emphasizing that close cooperation between the two sides will create new growth opportunities.

Yoo also said, “Incheon City operates the Foreign Worker Support Center and the Foreigner Support Center to help foreign workers, including Iraqis, settle in the city.”

Ambassador Almuntafeky thanked Incheon for its active support and asked for continued attention to Iraqi people. “I propose exchanges between Basra City, the economic center of Iraq, and Incheon,” he said, “and I hope that cooperation will be established in various fields.”

Basra City, with its oil and steel industries, is the economic hub of southern Iraq with 2.9 million people and is home to Iraq's largest commercial ports.