Maliki announced the signing of several agreements in the field of energy, agriculture, industry and

Maliki: Our visit to India, the fruit of what preceded it in order to develop relations and areas of cooperation between the two countries

Thursday, August 22 / August 2013 10:42 | PDF |

{Baghdad: Euphrates News} Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said his visit to India, which started on Thursday, is the result of previous visits, noting that it aims to develop relations and areas of cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

Maliki said Conference healthy, followed the agency {Euphrates News} that "Iraq welcomed the desire of India to invest in Iraq in the field of energy, refineries, and contracting for the oil fields," he said, adding that he "will contract with India for the supply of oil that you need, as Iraq is the second largest oil exporter, will also hold a joint agreement in the field of agriculture, and the other on the establishment of chemical fertilizer plants, and petrochemical, building refineries in Iraq. "

"Also, the Ministry of Health will be held agreement in the field of import of medicines and medical cooperation, will also hold another agreement in the field of education and other educational capacity to invest."

Maliki said that "this visit is a result of visits to the former carried out by officials of India, to Iraq," noting that he "will be the development of a joint committee between the two countries, in order to develop relations in all fields, based on the desire expressed by both sides, for the development of sectors for the reconstruction of Iraq and its construction . "

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, flew Thursday morning, to India on an official visit, where he stated a source familiar with the premiership, for {Euphrates News} that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki directed at the head of the Iraqi delegation to India at the official invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Manmohan Singh, where he hoped to take a four-day visit.

The statement from the prime minister had said on Wednesday that "al-Maliki will hold talks with President of the Republic of India and the Prime Minister for the development prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic and security issues and the fight against terrorism, oil, energy, agriculture, trade, health, water resources, education and information technology as well as well as cooperation in the field of housing construction and low cost. "

He added that he "will discuss a number of issues of mutual interest, will also meet with a number of other officials and businessmen and owners of companies."

The statement noted that "the Prime Minister will be accompanied by Minister of Oil and agriculture, health and Investment Authority, and a number of agents, advisers and a number of businessmen." M ended

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India, Iraq to ink pact for energy cooperation



New Delhi, Aug. 21:

India plans to strengthen its ties in the energy sector with Iraq, the second largest crude oil supplier to the country.

The Cabinet on Thursday is expected to consider a proposal from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry seeking approval for enhancing cooperation with Iraq in the sector.

Besides, a formal memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the sector would be signed during the four-day visit of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to India starting on Thursday.
Nomination basis

Last month, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M. Veerappa Moily, on his return from Baghdad after attending the 17th Joint Commission Meeting between India and Iraq, had said that the Gulf nation has offered three discovered blocks in Middle Furat oil fields on nomination basis to Indian companies, particularly national oil companies.

Giving blocks on nomination basis would mean offering India access on a preferential basis, and the Indian companies need not compete with other international players in the bidding rounds to acquire stake.

Iraq has also committed to meet the long-term crude oil requirements of India and is open to consider more favourable commercial terms including extending the interest free credit period from 30 to 60 days.

In 2012-13 (provisional), India’s imports from Iraq stood at 24.04 million tonnes, of the total crude oil imports of 186.3 million tonnes.
Opportunities in gas

Moily had said that possibilities for cooperation in the gas sector could include LNG imports from the gulf nation an issue which was also discussed at the Joint Commission Meeting. Indian companies were also keen to participate in the Nassiriya integrated project in Iraq.

It has also agreed to restart negotiation with ONGC Videsh Ltd on the long pending contract for oil Block 8 in Iraq. ONGC Videsh has invested about $2 million till March 31, 2012.

It is a discovered block estimated to hold 645 million barrels of in-place reserves, of which 54 million are recoverable.

The gulf nation has also shown interest in Indian Oil Corporation’s 15-million-tonne Paradip refinery project in Odisha.

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