Iraq is discussing with India the promotion of non-oil trade relations between them

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[size=52]Iraq is discussing with India the promotion of non-oil trade relations between them[/size]

[size=45]Translated by / Hamed Ahmed[/size]
[size=45]The Indian Economic Times reported that the Iraqi and Indian parties discussed ways to enhance and diversify commercial activity between them to include non-oil sectors as well, at a time when they stressed the importance of expanding economic partnership and technological cooperation between the two countries.[/size]
[size=45]The two sides held discussions in wide areas during the second session of the Iraqi-Indian Foreign Consultations Office, which was held in Baghdad on Monday.[/size]
[size=45]According to a statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian delegation was headed by the Undersecretary of the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Awsaf Saeed, while the Iraqi side was headed by the Undersecretary for Political Planning Affairs at the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hisham Al-Alawi. The statement added that the Indian official, Saeed, also met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul-Ghani, Minister of Commerce Atheer Dawood Salman and National Security Adviser Qassem Al-Araji, and a discussion took place on a number of bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern.[/size]
[size=45]The statement indicated that the two sides discussed the issue of joint trade relations and a comprehensive review of the current status quo of bilateral relations in all fields, which include the political, economic, defence, security and trade fields as well as investment and development of partnership between the two countries and the promotion of scholarship programs and capacity building in addition to cultural relations and communication between the two peoples.[/size]
[size=45]The two sides expressed their satisfaction with regard to the bilateral trade relations between the two countries, as the volume of trade exchange for the period between 2021-2022 exceeded the barrier of $34 billion. They also discussed ways and means to increase and diversify the trade sector to include trade exchanges other than oil.[/size]
[size=45]The Indian Foreign Ministry statement added that the Indian and Iraqi sides discussed the importance of expanding the economic partnership between them and increasing cooperation in the technological field. Where the two parties focused on investment opportunities, especially in the fields of oil and gas, infrastructure, health care, electric power, transportation, agriculture, water treatment, medicines and pharmaceuticals, and in the field of communications, technology and renewable energy.[/size]
[size=45]The Indian Foreign Ministry also referred to urging the two parties to enhance cooperation and consultation between the chambers of commerce of the two countries in the interest of both sides, stressing that a number of Iraqi candidates benefited from the capacity development programs established in India, including skills in the field of communications, technology and academic fellowships.[/size]
[size=45]The Indian Foreign Ministry statement stated that the Iraqi and Indian sides were keen to enhance the level of economic cooperation and communication between the two peoples. The Undersecretary of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced India's intention to organize a service, Jaipur Foot, soon in Iraq, which is a service to provide artificial limbs to the disabled who have lost limbs.[/size]
[size=45]The Indian Foreign Undersecretary, Saeed, discussed with Iraqi and Indian businessmen, as the discussions included the Indian Economic and Technological Cooperation Committee and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]The Indian official also inaugurated the new building of the Indian Consular Application Center in Baghdad, which will facilitate Indian and Iraqi citizens seeking entry visas and other consular services. The Indian Foreign Ministry statement also referred to the agreement of the two parties on the importance of continuing to strengthen relations further through the exchange of regular visits and consultations between the two countries and the agreement to hold the next meeting of the Iraqi-Indian Joint Relations Committee in New Delhi at the level of ministers.[/size]
[size=45]It is noteworthy that India is the second largest trading partner of Iraq after China, and Iraq is the fifth largest trading partner of India after the United States, China, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Iraq ranked second in its oil exports to India during the month of January, after being overtaken by Russia again. According to the data, India's imports of Iraqi oil rose in January to the highest level in seven months at 983 thousand barrels per day, registering an increase of 11% over December exports.[/size]
[size=45]• About the Economic Times of India[/size]
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