Egypt’s Sisi, Jordan’s Abdullah II will visit Iraq soon: Barham Salih

CAIRO -19 March 2021: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah II are expected to visit Iraq soon to follow up on consultations on upcoming projects between the three countries, said Iraqi President Barham Salih in an interview with Sky News Arabia on Thursday.

 

He added that the three countries have good joint economic relations and common visions.

 

President Sisi and King Abdullah II and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi held a tripartite summit in August 2020, during which they stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation and adopting the best ways and mechanisms to translate strategic relations on the ground.

 

The leaders highlighted areas of cooperation in economic, such as electrical connectivity, energy projects, and the common economic zone, especially in light of the global consequences of the emerging coronavirus pandemic on health, food, and economic security.

 

During August’s summit, the leaders directed the relevant ministers to focus on the health and medical sectors, education, energy, and intra-trade; encourage investment and economic cooperation, and benefit from the lessons of the emerging coronavirus pandemic, in order to deepen cooperation in the face of the impact of the pandemic.

 

The leaders instructed the foreign ministers to set tasks entrusted to the executive secretariat, including the tasks of preparing for tripartite and ministerial summits, following up on their outputs, and submitting the necessary reports for leaders' meetings.

 

Egypt and Iraq earlier agreed on ‘oil-for-development’ agreement, where Egyptian companies would implement development projects particularly in infrastructure and reconstruction in return for oil, according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of International Cooperation on Friday.

 

The Egyptian-Iraqi Joint High Committee was held in October 2020 and witnessed the signing of 15 documents in various fields to enhance joint cooperation between the two sides, and the organization of an economic and commercial forum with the participation of the heads of the federation of chambers, trade and concerned ministers from both sides.