Holding of the 1st and 2nd Sessions of the Egyptian-Iraqi Joint Committee in 2020 and 2023, and the Signing of 26 Cooperation Documents in Various Development Fields
The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation issued a report on Egyptian-Iraqi relations, coinciding with the meetings of the Egyptian-Iraqi Joint Higher Committee being held in Baghdad, Iraq.
The meetings are chaired by H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister of Egypt, and H.E. Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, the Prime Minister of Iraq. This is part of the two brotherly countries' efforts to advance and strengthen their mutual relations in various development fields, diversify their cooperation frameworks, and elevate bilateral cooperation in economic, commercial, and investment sectors.
The report highlighted the developments in the historical Egyptian-Iraqi bilateral relations. In the modern era, diplomatic relations were established between the two countries, which were founding members of the Arab League in the mid-1940s. Since then, the two countries have signed numerous economic agreements, including the Arab Common Market.
The report emphasized that there is currently a clear Egyptian openness towards strengthening cooperation with Iraq in all fields, and signing MoUs and agreements to organize bilateral cooperation, with Egypt ready to support Iraq in various areas. It also reaffirmed Egypt's consistent stance of supporting Iraq's territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs, reflected in the continuous exchange of visits between senior officials of both countries.
The report reviewed the joint committees between Egypt and Iraq, where the cooperation between the two countries was organized through the establishment of the Joint Higher Committee on July 5, 1988.
The first session of the Joint High Committee was held in October 2020 in Baghdad, chaired by the two Prime Ministers, and concluded with the signing of 15 documents in various fields, including: petroleum, housing, investment, water resources and irrigation, maritime transport, roads and bridges, environment, health, industrial unions, exhibitions, stock markets, and consumer protection.
The second session of the Egyptian-Iraqi Joint Higher Committee was held in Cairo from June 11-13, 2023, concluding with the signing of 11 documents in various fields, including: exchanging experiences in international cooperation, the diplomatic institute, joining the World Trade Organization, empowering small and micro enterprises, the Planning Institute, social affairs, labor, public administration, tourism, youth, and sports. Additionally, the Prime Minister issued directives to prepare for the third session of the Joint Higher Committee, which is scheduled to be held in Baghdad from January 27-30, 2025.
The report also touched on the mutual Egyptian and Iraqi investments in both countries. Iraqi investments in Egypt amounted to approximately 542 million dollars in 3,653 operating investment companies, with a total capital of about 750 million dollars, according to statistics from the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones as of the end of April 2023.
Furthermore, the report pointed to the presence of several Egyptian companies operating in various sectors and economic activities in the Iraqi market. Among the most notable of these companies and entities are: EgyptAir, Nile Air, Petrojet, EMC, ENPPI, SEENOPEX, Petromaint, Mansour Group, Ghabbour Group, Elsewedy Electric, PGESCO, and Arab Contractors.
The report also covered the areas of cooperation between Egypt and Iraq in several vital fields, including: petroleum and mineral resources, electricity and energy, communications and information technology, higher education and scientific research, sports, media, tourism and antiquities, health, parliament, transport, military production, water resources and irrigation, labor, and judiciary.