The UAE invests a billion dollars in Iraq

 

The UAE announced, on Sunday, that an amount of three billion dollars will be invested in Iraq, within the framework of strengthening economic and investment relations and creating new opportunities for cooperation and partnership.

 

At the conclusion of the visit of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, to Abu Dhabi, on Sunday, the two sides stressed, in a joint statement, the importance of developing and strengthening cooperation in the economic fields, developing trade and increasing trade exchange, encouraging investment movement between the two countries, and inviting businessmen from the two countries to exchange visits, And the establishment of the Iraqi-Emirati Business Council, and the facilitation of all procedures that serve the interest of the two countries.

 

The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in the energy field, especially in the areas of clean energy.

 

The two sides touched on the need for security and military cooperation, and the exchange of information to combat terrorism.

 

Iraq also appreciated the UAE’s initiative to rebuild the Al-Hadba Lighthouse, the Al-Nuri Mosque, and a number of churches in Nineveh Governorate.

 

The Iraqi official’s visit to the UAE came less than a week after a similar visit to Saudi Arabia aimed at working to strengthen economic and security relations and to emphasize that his country would not become a launching pad for any attack on the Kingdom.

 

Al-Kazemi received an official standing ovation after he was received by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the presidential airport and together they reviewed the honor guard, while artillery fired 21 rounds to welcome the Iraqi prime minister to his "second country," according to the Emirates News Agency.

 

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed wrote in a tweet on his Twitter account, "I welcome my brother Mustafa Al-Kazemi, the brotherly Prime Minister of Iraq among his family in the Emirates, and I look forward to fruitful discussions with him that will bring prosperity and development to our two brotherly countries and peoples."

 

He later added that he discussed with Al-Kazemi "strengthening our fraternal relations and pushing them forward in various fields, and we exchanged views on Arab, regional and international developments."

 

He continued, "Emirates always stands by everything that achieves stability in Iraq and the interests of its people."

 

For his part, Al-Kazemi stressed that the visit comes within the framework of Iraq's efforts to strengthen its relations with its neighbors.

 

The Prime Minister wrote on Twitter, "To complement the government's approach to strengthening Iraq's relations with the world and with its neighbors and its Arab surroundings on the basis of common interests, we are, accompanied by a government delegation, visiting the United Arab Emirates."

 

"We discussed in it many files that will contribute to the development of bilateral relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries," he added.

 

The Al-Kazemi government, which is working to accelerate the pace of foreign investments, including Saudi and Gulf support in the fields of energy and agriculture, is pushing for deepening economic relations with the wealthy Gulf states.