- Al-Mashat: The Egyptian-Iraqi Joint Committee holds special significance and receives high-level attention, and we are committed to ensuring that it is regularly held. 

- Iraqi Ambassador: Egypt has great potential.. and we look forward to increasing the contribution of Egyptian companies to developing infrastructure in Iraq. 

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, welcomed H.E. Qahtan Taha Khalaf Al-Janabi, the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq and Permanent Representative to the Arab League. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation and development efforts between Egypt and Iraq, within the framework the bilateral meetings held with development partners to enhance joint development efforts and advance economic relations.

At the outset of the meeting, Al-Mashat congratulated the Ambassador on assuming his new position as Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq in Cairo. H.E. noted the long-standing partnership between both countries, and the commitment to enhance joint cooperation on the economic, commercial and investment levels. 

The Minister stressed the Egyptian side's keenness to regularly hold sessions of the Joint Higher Committee as a mechanism for developing cooperation relations. H.E. noted that the coordination efforts resulted in hosting 2 sessions, in 2020 and 2023, which featured several joint documents that were signed across diverse sectors. This included enhancing development efforts and more participation from Egyptian companies to help support the reconstruction of Iraq.

During the meeting, they discussed several areas of joint cooperation in the reconstruction of Iraq including: infrastructure projects, roads, bridges, railways, ports and housing projects, as well as the presence of Egyptian companies in the Iraqi market in various fields.

The Minister noted the results of the ongoing coordination between the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq when it comes to regular follow-up and coordination to hold meetings and technical committees. The most important areas of discussion revolve around health, customs, agriculture, organization and management, social solidarity, and the National Training Academy; aiming to advance economic and financial relations between the two countries.

Moreover, they discussed preparations for the third session of the Egyptian-Iraqi Joint Higher Committee. In this regard, Al-Mashat stressed that the committee holds special significance and receives high-level attention from H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, especially given the strategic and friendly relation between both countries. They also noted the importance of completing the technical preparations, MoUs and documents expected to be signed in the upcoming session of the committee.

For his part, the Iraqi ambassador to Egypt expressed Iraq's appreciation  for the close ties it shares with Egypt. He explained that Egyptian companies play a vital role in the efforts to rebuild Iraq and implement many projects in various infrastructure fields, including the rehabilitation of the Baghdad International Airport Road and the implementation of 130,000 housing units. He also expressed his interest in more cooperation with Egypt and Egyptian companies to further develop the infrastructure and other priority sectors, especially in light of the upcoming joint committee.

It is important to note that the Egyptian-Iraqi Joint Higher Committee was officially established on July 5, 1988, as a key mechanism for coordinating cooperation between the two nations.  The first session was held in Baghdad in 2020, and the second in Cairo in 2023. During the two sessions, about 26 cooperation documents were signed in many fields, including SMEs,, diplomatic training and exchange of expertise, administration, public service and civil service, tourism, youth and sports, social solidarity, international cooperation, water resources and irrigation, securities, environmental protection, health, as well as infrastructure, including housing, construction, roads and bridges. 

The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation supervises 54 joint committees, including a ministerial committee, a sectoral technical committee, and a joint higher committee, as part of efforts to advance relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and various friendly and sisterly countries. Recently, Al-Mashat chaired the Egyptian-Romanian Joint Committee in Bucharest.