Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prime Minister Hani Mulki Saturday welcomed a delegation of Iraqi businessmen and urged that a series of measures be taken to new momentum to boost trade between the two neighbouring countries.

He told the team, led by chairman of Iraq's National Investment Commission Sami Al Araji, that Iraq is Jordan's top trading partner, noting the volume of Iraqi investment in the Kingdom. He called for restoring the momentum in bilateral trade, which had declined recently due to the security situation in Iraq that led to the closure of the land route between the two countries.

Mulki, who paid a visit to Baghdad last month, said the agreements reached with Iraqi officials had set the framework for a new relationship, stressing the two countries' political will to further enhance cooperation and serve their common interests.

He called for reopening the Treibil border crossing between Iraq and Jordan, launch an oil pipeline between the Iraqi port of Basra and Jordan's Red Sea port of Aqaba, and facilitate customs and administrative procedures to boost bilateral trade.

Mulki said his government is open for cooperation with Iraq, and pledged to find quick solutions to obstacles that might face Iraqi investors in the Kingdom. He said the government economic team had pledged to offer all support and facilities for trade exchange and industrial and logistical investments in the Kingdom, adding that the ball is in the private sector's court.

Jordan, he stressed, would welcome participation in Iraq's reconstruction after the restoration of security and stability to the country, and would place all its potential and expertise at the disposal of the Iraqi "brothers" to further promote the solid historic, political, economic and social ties between the two countries.

Al Araji pointed out that Mosul needs reconstruction, particularly in infrastructure and building schools, to start after the end of a military campaign and restoration of security and stability in the northern Iraqi city. He said Iraq looked for Jordan to have a key role in the reconstruction process.

Iraqi ambassador Safieh Al Suheil, said measures to reopen the border crossing were "in the final stages" and also said the oil pipeline project will see the light soon.