Ammon News - Jordan and Iraq on Thursday signed a protocol for technical cooperation in the fields of geology and mining, focusing on legislation and policies that enable both countries to leverage mineral wealth and facilitate and encourage investment in the sector.

The protocol was signed by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Saleh Kharabsheh, and Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals, Manhal Aziz al-Khabbaz.

Under the protocol, Jordan and Iraq will exchange expertise on research and drilling for mineral resources, and evaluating them and prepping for their utilization. Additionally, they will set up an information database for ores to present to investors, and cooperate on applying geochemical and geophysical methods and modern technologies to search for metallic and non-metallic mineral ores. The two countries will also conduct research to improve the specifications of mineral ores and adapting them for industrial use.

Kharabsheh said that the two sides formed a joint committee comprising experts and specialists to set up a mechanism to follow up and implement the articles and provisions of the protocol, pointing out that the two sides agreed on an action plan for 2022 to outline steps and procedures to create opportunities for the next stage.

He stressed the importance of the protocol within the framework of the ministry's efforts to support the sector, noting that Jordan is rich in natural resources that should be leveraged to implement royal directives, provide the national economy with added value and raise the sector's contribution to the gross domestic product.

He stressed the importance of the protocol in outlining areas of cooperation, establishing future partnerships, and increasing the volume of investment and trade between the two countries.

For his part, the Iraqi minister said that one of the most important outcomes of the agreements between the two countries was cooperation in the fields of geology and mining.