Egypt’s assistant foreign minister says he is in Erbil to identify a location for his country’s consulate in the Kurdistan Region.

Speaking to AKnews, Mohammed Qassim, said, “We may rent a building temporarily for the time being and will build Egypt’s consulate” soon.

“We are closely following the investment scene in Kurdistan and want to translate our words (in terms of investment) into action.”

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Ashmawi, Egypt’s assistant investment minister, and the head of a 50-member business delegation that is in Kurdistan now, said his delegation will meet with Kurdistan Region’s President Massoud Barznai and Kurdistan Regional Government’s Prime Minister Barham Salih tomorrow. The delegation’s visit will last two days.

“We want to open a special Egyptian investment office in Erbil,” Ashmawi told AKnews. “We have reached an agreement with Iraqi central government’s authorities and have told them that we need to have a special investment office in Kurdistan to facilitate economic activities and investment here.”

Egypt’s ambassador to Iraq, Sharif Shahin, said that his country will soon announce the name of Egypt’s consul in Erbil.

“We think this is a very important visit and will be a turning point in promoting economic development between the two countries,” Shahin said.

A large Egyptian business delegation arrived in Kurdish capital, Erbil, late Sunday, to explore business opportunities in Kurdistan.