Baghdad: Iraq's prime minister on Friday urged her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni to strengthen economic ties with her country, which is facing frequent power cuts and deteriorating infrastructure. 

Meloni is on his first bilateral trip outside Europe in charge of the third largest economy in the Eurozone She is meeting Italian soldiers helping fight terrorism in Iraq before Christmas. 

In a joint press conference, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said, "We expressed our disposition to develop economic cooperation in all areas, especially agriculture, water and health."

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"Companies specialized in infrastructure but also in the exploitation of gas" were invited by him to Iraq. Eliminating the highly polluting practice of gas flaring, a step before oil extraction that contributes to global warming, is a priority for the government.

Iraq is one of five countries listed by the United Nations as most vulnerable to some of the effects of climate change. For more than ten years, the Italian oil company Eni has been engaged in oil exploration and production in Iraq.

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According to the company's website, one component of its program "includes the use of associated gas for electricity generation." Flammable gas that is captured and treated could help solve Iraq's ongoing power problems.

Nearly 20 years after Saddam Hussein was overthrown by a US-led invasion, the nation is plagued by crumbling infrastructure, widespread corruption and high unemployment.

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According to the United Nations, about a third of the people are living in poverty. According to al-Sudani, Iraq is "ready to provide essential oil and gas to Italy."

After winning a landslide victory in the September elections, Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing Forza Italia and the League's Immigrant Forum joined forces to form a coalition government.

She is Italy's first female prime minister and leads the country's most far-reaching administration since World War II.