Jordan, Iraq discuss investment in reconstruction, statistics and education

AMMAN — Secretary General of the Council of Ministers of Iraq Mahdi Alalak on Tuesday reviewed the investment opportunities available in his country, calling on Jordan’s private sector to benefit from them.

During a meeting with Planning and International Cooperation Minister Mary Kawar, Alalak also called on the Kingdom’s private sector to contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq.

Kawar and Alalak went over the prospects of benefitting from Jordanian expertise in the field of cooperation with international organisations, where the two sides agreed that the Planning Ministry would build the Iraqi capabilities in this regard.

Minister Kawar expressed the government’s keenness on providing technical expertise to Iraq in the field of statistics, especially in the general population and housing census that Iraq will implement in 2020.

Jordan would share the approach followed during its 2015’s census, which was implemented electronically, according to the statement. 

Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan Safia Al Suhail outlined the measures that were taken by the Iraqi government to develop border crossings between the two countries to facilitate the flow of trade and travel.

She also reviewed cooperation in the field of higher education, noting the existence of 180,000 Iraqi students at Jordanian universities.    

Jordan took part in the Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq that was held in February 2018.

During the conference, the Kingdom pledged to use its capabilities to support the reconstruction efforts in Iraq.