Baghdad, The President of the Republic, Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, met today, Sunday, with the Saudi Minister of Commerce, Chairman of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, Majid Al-Qasabi, and a group of Saudi businessmen.
During the meeting, the President stressed the importance of cooperation and coordination between Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the commercial, economic, industrial, energy and environment fields, and benefiting from the expertise, experiences and capabilities of the two countries.
The President of the Republic pointed to the depth of relations between the two countries, and the religious, national, social and cultural ties between the two peoples, praising Saudi Arabia’s role in the region and its keeping pace with the development and progress the world is witnessing.
The President reviewed the complex and difficult circumstances that Iraq has experienced over the past years, including wars, sanctions, and terrorism, and the major effects they had on infrastructure and services, indicating that the country today is witnessing a different reality in terms of security stability, service provision, and the start of strategic and investment projects.
He added that the recent elections resulted in the formation of a government that represents all Iraqis, as it developed an important program that made it one of its priorities to establish security and stability in the country. The government is also determined today to confront and curb corruption and move forward with the reform process.
The President urged Saudi businessmen to invest in the encouraging opportunities in Iraq and enter the Iraqi market, pointing out that the government is determined to provide facilities to investors and businessmen in order to encourage them and benefit from investment opportunities in Iraq.
For his part, the Saudi Minister stressed the Kingdom’s keenness to maintain and develop relations between the two countries, and to expand the horizons of cooperation to serve common interests, pointing to the social and historical ties that bind the Iraqi and Saudi peoples.
He added that businessmen in Saudi Arabia, through the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, are making unremitting efforts to overcome some of the procedures, and there is communication and meetings held between Iraqi and Saudi businessmen in order to enhance cooperation between the two sides, expressing his aspiration to develop trade exchange and create a true partnership that contributes to the progress and prosperity of the two countries.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency