Jordan, Iraq reach agreements to enhance cooperation

AMMAN — The 29th joint Jordanian-Iraqi committee, held on Thursday in Baghdad, reached several agreements and understandings to enhance cooperation between the two countries in various fields and utilise available opportunities. 

Discussions during the session, held under the chairmanship of Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply and Labour Minister Yousef Shamali and Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals Khaled Najm, went over cooperation in the fields of energy, trade, investment, economic estate, transport, agriculture, education, culture, youth, water, tourism, antiquities, labour and vocational training, among others.

Talks also covered areas and projects of trilateral cooperation involving Jordan, Iraq and Egypt and following up on implementing the outcomes that brought together the leaders of the three countries, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The two sides signed seven agreements and memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the fields of investment, labour, vocational training, social development, trade, tourism, antiquities and culture, which were signed by Shamali and the concerned Iraqi ministers.

A joint cooperation agreement was also signed between the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce and the Jordan Chamber of Commerce.

Shamali said that this year will see the launch of the developer's tender for the implementation of the joint economic estate between Jordan and Iraq, adding that the tender will be available to Jordanian and Iraqi companies and the international community for the implementation of the estate located on the borders between the two countries.

Shamali added that the Iraqi market ranks second among the markets reached by Jordanian exports, and that trade between the two countries rose by 62 per cent in the first 10 months of last year.

Najm said that the economic estate project between the two countries is among important schemes that witnessed progress.

Also, the two sides stressed the importance of speeding up the executive procedures for the establishment of the joint Jordanian-Iraqi Economic estate and attracting a developer for the project by the Iraqi-Jordanian Company for Industry, which is entrusted with establishing the project.