Dr. Rania Al-Mashat:

Egypt and Iraq are open to increasing the volume of trade and exchanging expertise, as well as organizing joint exhibitions and markets

Activating the MoU in the field of investment, enhancing efforts to exchange expertise and information, and increasing partnerships between businessmen

The Egyptian-Iraqi Joint Higher Committee represents a strong platform to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, presented a report on the results of the preparatory meetings for the third session of the Egyptian-Iraqi Joint Higher Committee.

The third session of the Egyptian-Iraqi Joint Higher Committee was chaired by H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister of Egypt, and H.E. Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani, the Prime Minister of Iraq, and held yesterday in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted the success of the negotiations and preparatory meetings, which led to the agreement on 12 cooperation documents, already signed during the third session of the committee, covering sectors such as (land transport, communications, silos, standardization and quality control, competition and anti-monopoly practices, local development, cooperation between the Baghdad Secretariat and Cairo Governorate, museums and antiquities, culture, the National Library, financial oversight, and the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce).

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that both Egypt and Iraq are open to expanding the scope of cooperation, and discussions are underway regarding a number of future documents in areas such as labor mobility, insurance and pensions, youth and sports, and other priority fields.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat emphasized that both countries agreed on the need to increase trade exchange to match the level of their bilateral relations. This includes organizing exhibitions, markets, and commercial centers, participating in specialized exhibitions, exchanging laws and regulations, as well as sharing experiences and information on organizing and managing specialized and international exhibitions, and promoting local goods in both countries.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also pointed out the countries’ commitment to exchanging expertise and information in the field of developing mills and laboratories. Additionally, efforts are being made to activate the MoU signed between the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones in Egypt and its Iraqi counterpart. Investment cooperation will be enhanced through the exchange of investment-related data and information, and businesspeople from both sides are encouraged to establish joint projects to promote economic development. Egyptian companies will also participate in reconstruction, housing, roads, bridges, public buildings, and infrastructure projects in Iraq.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat affirmed that the Egyptian-Iraqi Joint Higher Committee is the main umbrella organizing bilateral relations between Egypt and Iraq. She added that this session follows the successful holding of the first and second sessions in 2020 and 2023, which saw the signing of numerous documents in various fields, laying the foundation for a new phase of future cooperation in Egyptian-Iraqi relations. 

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that these distinguished relations are witnessing qualitative leaps and continuous advancements, due to the efforts exerted by both countries and ongoing follow-up to their development and the resolution of challenges in various areas.

It is worth noting that the outcomes of the committee were announced following an extensive round of discussions, during which 12 cooperation documents were signed between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Iraq. These documents cover the following fields: land transport, communications, silos, standardization and quality control, competition and anti-monopoly practices, local development, cooperation between the Baghdad Secretariat and Cairo Governorate, museums and antiquities, culture and the National Library, financial oversight, as well as the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce.