Prime Minister and Czech counterpart issue joint statement

Baghdad - INA

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and his counterpart, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala, issued a joint statement today, Thursday, which included an emphasis on strengthening bilateral cooperation in several fields between the economy, energy, military, security and immigration.

The Prime Minister's Media Office said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, hosted the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, within the framework of the official visit made by the Iraqi Prime Minister to the Czech Republic on February 13, 2025, and following the official meeting between the two prime ministers, a joint statement was issued."

Following the official meeting between the Prime Ministers, this Joint Statement was released:

Both leaders lauded the two countries’ long historical record of friendly cooperation and fruitful, multi-dimensional relations. Prime Minister Fiala expressed appreciation for the recent achievements of the Government of Iraq on its path to establishing lasting peace, stability, and economic prosperity, including its ongoing key role in the fight against terrorism in the region. Prime Minister Al-Sudani highlighted the Czech Republic’s important contribution to the multinational effort under the Global Coalition to defeat the Daesh terrorist threat, as well as to meeting Iraq’s development needs following the territorial defeat of Daesh.

Security Cooperation and Counter-terrorism
On the background of the ongoing transition of the multilateral security partnership within the Global Coalition to defeat Daesh, both sides affirmed the continued importance of cooperation against terrorism within this format, both bilaterally and multilaterally within the relevant international organizations. The Iraqi side acknowledged the ongoing important contribution of NATO Mission Iraq and the EU Advisory Mission to Iraq, to which Czechia has contributed. 
Economic Cooperation
Building on the Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Republic of Iraq on Economic Cooperation and Trade Promotion, both sides are committed to enhance the role and effectiveness of the Czech-Iraqi Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation, led jointly by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Industry and Minerals of the Republic of Iraq, in order to recommend measures to unlock opportunities in trade, investment, energy and industrial cooperation, striving for a higher level of bilateral trade and investment in both ways.

Both sides are willing to continue their efforts to create favorable conditions to enhance investments in both countries for businesses and investors to operate in each other’s market, through cooperation and support for trade promotion activities. 
Both sides are also willing to strengthen economic, trade, energy and investment cooperation in areas, including but not limited to crude oil refining, chemical industry, mineral mining and processing, geological survey, environmental technologies (especially those focused on sustainable waste management and circular economy, air quality control or water management), infrastructure development, transportation, civil aviation, railway industry, construction equipment and materials, power engineering and renewable energy, medical industry and equipment, machinery and equipment for agriculture and food processing.

Both sides welcome the signing of the Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Republic of Iraq, which will have a positive impact on mutual tourism and trade. 
Both sides welcome the Letter of Intent on Cooperation in Environmental Protection, signed between the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Iraq. The Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic and its subordinate institutions are prepared to share their know-how in the field of air and water quality protection, disaster risk management, biodiversity conservation and the management of nature protection areas. In addition, the Czech side is ready to share information about the strategic and legal basis for air and water protection and to familiarize the Iraqi side with its national monitoring and observation network for the respective areas.

Recognizing the importance of a suitable legal framework to create favorable conditions for businesses and investors to operate in each other’s market, both sides declare their aim to conclude an Agreement for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and for the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance, and agree to mutually provide the cooperation and support necessary to continue the negotiations on an Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani highlighted Iraq's large-scale endeavor of infrastructural development – especially the “Development Road” vision, aimed at forging a north-south corridor for the efficient transport of energy, communities and goods – as a business opportunity for Czech suppliers. The Prime Ministers tasked the Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation to identify sectors and projects presenting specific opportunities in this regard.
In this context, both sides welcome that the Czech Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation (EGAP) and the Iraqi Sovereign Guarantees Initiative Committee have entered into negotiation on an arrangement offering sovereign guarantees by the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Iraq for Czech investment projects by Czech companies in Iraq. This will further facilitate the entry of Czech companies to the Iraqi market, contributing to increasing trade flows between Czechia and Iraq and supporting the development of the private sector within Iraq in relation to infrastructure projects.

Energy Cooperation
Both sides desire stronger cooperation in the areas of oil and gas, exploiting i. a. the significant potential of exports of crude oil, petrochemical products and other resources from the Republic of Iraq to the Czech Republic. Both sides reiterate the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the petrochemical industry and the energy sector, particularly joint projects in expanding oil refining capacities as well as the development of power generation and renewable energy in the Republic of Iraq. In this context, both sides welcome the Memorandum of Understanding signed with this aim between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Oil of the Republic of Iraq.

Defence Cooperation
Both sides stress the continued importance of their bilateral military-industrial cooperation. The Czech side is prepared to offer, and the Iraqi side has affirmed its interest in, continued technical support for the combat readiness of the Iraqi Air Force.

Migration and Security Cooperation
Both sides are prepared to strengthen operational cooperation on migration issues between the competent authorities of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Iraq and the diplomatic missions of both countries.

Both sides intend to strengthen cooperation in preventing and combatting all forms of organized crime and to enhance the exchange of information and experience with a view to ensure the protection of individuals in both countries. In this context, both sides welcome the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for Security Cooperation Between the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Iraq.