Egypt, Jordan and Iraq seek to promote their economic relations

An Egyptian-Jordan-Iraqi ministerial meeting was held on Thursday in the Jordanian capital Amman to discuss the launch of plans and working mechanisms to translate the resolutions of the recent trilateral summit held in Cairo between President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, King Abdalla II of Jordan and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel-Mahdy into actions.

Egyptian and Jordanian ministers of trade and industry, Amr Nassar, Tarek el-Hammouri and Iraqi minister of industry and minerals, Saleh el-Gabouri discussed a number of topics at the meeting, including increasing trade, developing cooperation in the industrial, energy, infrastructure and reconstruction sectors, according to the Jordanian news agency “Petra”.

While visiting Amman, Jordan, Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Amr Nassar said intensive talks were taking place with his Jordanian and Iraqi counterparts as part of the follow-up to the implementation of the results of the tripartite summit that brought together President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdy last March.

It was agreed to increase trade between the three countries, to strengthen energy cooperation through the construction of oil pipelines and electricity interconnections, to modernize common industrial areas through cooperation in the development of small and medium-sized projects, support for innovation and entrepreneurship. Nassar said that the meeting with his Jordanian and Iraqi counterparts had focused on issues already addressed by the leaders of the three countries regarding the strengthening of economic cooperation and complementarity, particularly in the area of common industrial zones.

Ministers agreed to meet periodically every six months

The meeting focused on expanding the multifaceted strategic partnership between the three countries to create new investment opportunities and economic prosperity, as well as on the possibility of setting up a technical committee representing the bodies concerned with trade, transport, industry, investment, energy and the private sector in the three countries.

Ministers also agreed to meet periodically every six months to implement action plans and mechanisms for the implementation of agreements in order to promote economic cooperation, development, and joint investment. According to the ministers, the economic stimulus aims to achieve complementarity between the three countries according to a precise timetable and with the active participation of the Egyptian, Jordanian and Iraqi private sectors.