Ammon News -

Jordan and Iraq said Tuesday that they signed an agreement to implement engineering consulting projects in Iraq.

Under the agreement, which was signed by Minister of Public Works and Housing, Yahya Kisbi, and Iraqi Minister of Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works, Nazneen Muhammad Woso, engineering consultancy projects in the field of design and engineering supervision in Iraq between Jordanian and Iraqi companies will be implemented.

On the sidelines of the Jordanian delegation visit to Iraq, Kisbi and Woso discussed ways to bolstering bilateral ties between the two brotherly countries in the field of housing, construction and contracting, through cooperation and partnership in reconstruction and rebuilding projects in Iraq, in a way that contributes to providing the best services to citizens in the two brotherly countries.

Kisbi reaffirmed Jordan's support for infrastructure and reconstruction projects in Iraq, in implementation of the outcomes of the trilateral summit held in Baghdad in June, in which His Majesty King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi stressed the importance of expanding trilateral cooperation in all fields.

Kisbi highlighted projects and achievements of the housing and construction sector in Jordan, which contributed to providing the best services to citizens in accordance with the highest engineering standards.

He expressed willingness of the housing, construction and contracting sector in Jordan to enhance prospects for cooperation in all fields, especially with regard to the exchange of expertise, in the interest of the two brotherly countries.

Kisbi lauded the incentive and encouragement measures taken by Iraq in order to encourage the Jordanian contractor and investor to operate in Iraq, which will positively reflect on the two brotherly countries, stressing the need to translate these incentive measures into real and serious work that is reflected on the ground.

For her part, Minister Woso said that the meeting comes as a continuation of the Jordan-Egypt-Iraq trilateral agreement, stressing Iraq's endeavor to work seriously to reverse the summit's outcomes into field work that serves the interest of the two brotherly countries.

She stressed that Iraq attaches importance to encouraging Jordanian private companies specialized in the field of housing, construction and contracting to work for the reconstruction of the country and the establishment of vital projects, underlining that Iraq has taken measures that contributed to encouraging the Jordanian contractor, investor and engineer to work in Iraq.

Woso noted that opportunities and incentive measures exist for Jordan to work in Iraq, indicating that investment opportunities in Iraq are many and varied, highlighting existing projects in Iraq, which can be worked on through a partnership between the two countries.

The Iraqi minister lauded the efficiency and prestige of the Jordanian engineer and contractor, looking forward to enhancing cooperation and partnership between the two countries in the field of exchanging expertise, especially in the fields of housing, construction and contracting.

On a related matter, Minister Kisbi said that the outcomes of the trilateral summit will be reflected on the ground through projects that have been agreed upon and future joint projects.

In a meeting held in Baghdad with Iraqi Minister of Planning, Khaled Battal Al-Najem, Kisbi noted that both countries have taken practical measures to implement the summit's decisions, including the establishment of the joint economic zone and cooperation in the export of Iraqi oil and gas and the completion of electrical interconnection requirements, in addition to expanding in all areas of investment and providing the best conditions, whether for the Iraqi investor in Jordan or the Jordanian in Iraq, which contributes to support the economy of the two countries.

He indicated that the government, under the directives of Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, is keen to overcome obstacles facing the Iraqi investor by facilitating procedures and providing incentives to investors in Jordan.

Kisbi expressed appreciation for the Iraqi government's efforts to support the Jordanian investor and contractor and prioritize him with regard to operate in Iraq.

For his part, Minister Al-Najem emphasized that Iraq will never forget Jordan's honorable stances towards Iraq, lauding the distinguished brotherly ties between the two countries.

Despite the high prices of construction materials globally and the increase in supply, Al-Najem added, the Iraqi market remained profitable for investors, pointing out to Iraq's need to reconstruct and rehabilitate many roads and establish housing units in various regions of Iraq.

The two sides agreed to intensify joint efforts to confront the Corona pandemic, work to reduce its impacts on both countries' economy in the short and long term, as well as focusing on expanding the partnership in projects between the two countries.

The meetings were attended by Jordan Ambassador to Iraq, Montaser Al-Uqla, Acting Secretary-General of the Ministry of Public Works and the Minister's accompanying delegation, consisting of Construction Contractors and Engineers Associations, the A/E Business Council, the Jordan Housing Developers Association (JHDA) and the Amman Chamber of Industry, in addition to President of the Arab and Iraqi Contractors Unions, Ali Al-Sanafi.