Jordan, Egypt, Iraq hold meeting over progress in cooperation deals

AMMAN — A three-way Jordanian-Egyptian-Iraqi meeting held on Thursday discussed preparing work plans and mechanisms for implementing the outcomes of Cairo-hosted tripartite summit between His Majesty King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tareq Hammouri, his Egyptian counterpart Amro Nassar and Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals Saleh Jubouri attended the Amman meeting, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Talks covered mechanisms of bolstering economic integration between the three countries, including improving industrial cooperation as well as building joint industrial zones and collaboration in the fields of energy, the extension of the Iraqi oil pipeline to Aqaba, linking the two countries’ electricity grids, infrastructure, reconstruction and furthering trade exchange.

The ministers focused on expanding strategic partnerships to create a window of opportunity for new investments and forming a technical committee to develop the necessary work plans and mechanisms for implementing the agreements.

Hammouri said that the meeting is intended to build on the outcomes of the tripartite summit, noting that the meeting reflects Jordan, Egypt and Iraq’s determination to start a new phase that revives joint Arab action.

The Kingdom is looking forward to being a vital link between Iraq and Egypt and boosts interconnection and transportation, Hammouri added.

Nassar stressed that the meeting shows the three countries’ interest in following up the tripartite Cairo-hosted summit expressing his country’s keenness to build a strategic partnerships with Jordan and Iraq in all economic and trade fields.

The Iraqi minister drew attention to building industrial zones in his country, noting that it has restored security and political stability, Petra added.

The tripartite Cairo-hosted summit had covered the importance of capitalising on the potential of the three countries’ geographical connectivity and their joint strategic and economic interests.

The three countries, in a joint communiqué issued after the summit, affirmed their commitment to maintaining strategic cooperation and coordination with Arab countries to restore regional stability and reach solutions to crises, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause; the Arabs’ central cause.

Jordan, Egypt and Iraq agreed to hold regular trilateral meetings to coordinate their positions and policies in the best interests of their peoples and in the pursuit of economic prosperity, while cooperating with fraternal and friendly states and building balanced international relations.

Also on Thursday, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz stressed that there are real opportunities to achieve economic integration between Jordan and the republics of Egypt and Iraq, through enhancing the volume of trade among the three countries, Petra added.

Razzaz’s remarks came during his meeting with Hammouri, Nassar and Jubouri, who, for their part, acquainted the premier with the outcomes of their gathering earlier in the day with the aim of stimulating economic cooperation and commercial exchange according to a fixed timeline that can benefit the three countries.