AMMAN — The Joint Jordanian-Iraqi Committee stressed on Thursday the need to foster economic relations and remove obstacles impeding the flow of trade between the two countries.
At the end of the two-day meetings chaired by Industry and Trade Minister Shabib Ammari and Iraqi Finance Minister Rafi Issawi, the committee underlined the importance of working together to develop economic, commercial and investment cooperation between the two countries, in a manner that serves their joint interests.
The two sides also emphasised that the activation of all agreements, protocols and memoranda of understanding signed between them should be given priority.
“We meet today as one team for the interest of the two countries, in order to work, boost and develop economic and commercial relations”, Ammari told the attendees.
The minister drew the committee’s attention to a drop by 27 per cent in joint commercial exchange during the first half of this year, stressing the need to boost trade between the two countries.
During the first half of this year, the joint commercial volume amounted to $548 million, a drop by 27 per cent from the figure recorded during the same period last year, he said, noting that the current figures are below the desired level.
In 2011, there was a noticeable increase in the trade volume which reached $1177 million, at a 7.8 increase compared with the 2010 figure, Ammari noted.
Expressing his country’s appreciation of the strong cooperation with Jordan in all fields, especially in the field of economy, the Iraqi minister said the two countries share the same views on different issues.
This should help foster bilateral cooperation and strengthen economic relations, he added.
He continued that an agreement should be drawn up to constitute a framework for transit trade, stressing that there aren’t any barriers, whatsoever, to it.
Moreover, the two sides agreed on several mechanisms to boost cooperation in the fields of education, culture, agriculture, water, food, medicine, telecommunications and electricity.
