Iraq and Pakistan discuss increasing the volume of trade exchange and activating the role of the private sector

Baghdad - INA

The Minister of Construction, Housing and Public Municipalities, Benkin Rekani, and the Minister of Commerce of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Jam Kamal Khan, discussed today, Tuesday, increasing the volume of trade exchange, opening up prospects for cooperation between the two countries and activating the contribution of the private sector, while the discussions witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding related to the labor sector.

A statement by the ministry received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) stated that "the Minister of Construction, Housing and Public Municipalities, Benkin Rekani, and the Minister of Commerce of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Jam Kamal Khan, chaired the ninth session of the Trade Exchange, Economic and Technical Cooperation Committee (Iraqi-Pakistani) at the ministry's headquarters in Baghdad."

Rekani said - according to the statement - "We seek to strengthen relations between the two friendly countries, especially with the reconstruction campaign and economic development that Iraq is witnessing, which is noticed by any visitor coming to the country, and we thank the government of Pakistan and its people for their friendship and support for Iraq."

The statement continued, "The Pakistani Minister of Commerce, for his part, expressed his thanks for the warm reception since his arrival in Iraq," stressing that "Iraqi-Pakistani relations are historical relations, and the Pakistani government is keen to develop these relations and take them to higher levels and create joint opportunities for the future."

The statement continued, "The committee discussed increasing the volume of trade exchange, opening up prospects for cooperation with Pakistani companies, including those manufacturing construction materials, holding joint exhibitions and workshops, activating the private sector and investment between the two countries, and cooperation in the financial, tax and customs fields."

The statement stressed that "the committee also discussed the possibility of benefiting from the Pakistani side in preparing green designs for modern cities and rural development programs, as well as experiments and scientific research in the field of addressing problems and the impact of heat and salt water on roads, bridges, water and sewage projects."

It pointed out that "the committee also discussed cooperation and exchange of expertise in the fields of agriculture, seed technology, oil and gas, youth and sports, communications, transportation, water resources, education, culture, tourism, health and education, and organizing the mechanism for the entry of Pakistani workers."

He explained that "the Minister of Reconstruction signed the minutes of the committee meeting with the Pakistani Minister of Commerce, while the Minister sponsored the memorandum of understanding related to the labor sector, which was signed by the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Ahmed Al-Asadi, with the Pakistani Minister of Commerce."