Jordan-Iraq talks centre on boosting economic cooperation, investments

AMMAN — Jordan is keen on enhancing economic cooperation with Iraq and boosting the utilisation of all available opportunities in a way that serves joint interests, Industry, Trade and Supply Minister Maha Al Ali said on Tuesday.

Ali’s remarks came during discussions with Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals Manhal Aziz in Baghdad, heading a Jordanian delegation of the public and private sectors, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The visit is part of continuing bilateral discussions that aim at enhancing economic cooperation between Amman and Baghdad in all fields, mainly at the commercial and investment levels, following a recent visit by Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh and a ministerial delegation.

The visit also aims at acquainting the private sector with the available opportunities to achieve industrial integration in many fields, such as pharmaceutical industries and veterinary medicines.

Ali stressed the Kingdom’s keenness to develop economic cooperation to include strategic projects that can boost both countries’ capabilities and provide commercial and economic opportunities for the Jordanian and Iraqi private sectors.

Aziz expressed Iraq’s interest in developing economic cooperation with Jordan in all fields and realising integration in all industrial sectors, mainly pharmaceuticals.

The two ministers also discussed procedures related to establishing the joint economic estate.

On the sidelines of the visit, the two ministers held an expanded meeting in the presence of several officials and representatives of both countries’ private sectors, where Ali and Aziz noted that Jordan and Iraq have recently reached several agreements that can enhance cooperation in commercial and investments fields.

The trade exchange volume between Jordan and Iraq in the first 11 months of 2020 reached JD448.3 million, according to Petra.