Indian delegation to visit Iraq Friday

A high level Indian delegation will pay a visit to Iraq as of Friday to express support to the lifting of the sanctions against Baghdad, reported the Indian news agency PTI.

The 100 member delegation, made up of 30 members of parliament, a dozen businessmen, including the co-chairman of the Indo-Iraq Joint Business Council, education experts, religious leaders and journalists, will also explore business opportunities between the two countries.

The "friendship and solidarity" delegation would not only support the gulf country on its demand to lift UN sanctions but will also look at opportunities to further Indo-Iraq bilateral trade, Co-chairman of the Indo-Iraq Joint Business Council, Anil Agarwal, told PTI.

According to Agarwal, India is ranking fifth among Iraq's political and economic partners after Russia, Syria, Malaysia and Vietnam. India's ranking moved from 43 in 1999 to the current fifth, showing an upswing in relations, Agarwal said.