ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stressed the importance of establishing a duty-free economic zone with Jordan to enable tariff-free trade between the two countries, his office announced Monday following talks with Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan. Zaidi met with King Abdullah II in Amman prior to the meeting.
Zaidi “underscored the importance of establishing a free zone between the two countries to enhance cooperation and bilateral ties, in a manner that brings mutual benefit,” the statement read, noting that he and Hassan discussed “ways to strengthen and develop” several areas of cooperation, including in the energy, security, trade, and investment sectors.
Zaidi and Hassan oversaw the signing of “nine agreements to enhance collaboration between the brotherly countries,” reported state-run Jordan News Agency (Petra).
Memorandums were signed in higher education, environmental protection, consumer protection, cooperation with the Foreign Service Institute of Iraq, cultural cooperation, and business, a statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s office reported, but did not include specific mentions of a duty-free zone.
"We want to move joint economic projects between the two countries to the stage of actual ground implementation, following practical steps and clear timelines," the Jordanian premier was quoted saying.
Iraq and Jordan share a single land border approximately 179 kilometers long, stretching from the tripoint with Syria in the north to the tripoint with Saudi Arabia in the south.
The Trebil border crossing acts as the sole official land border crossing between the two countries, situated in Iraq’s western Anbar province.
Meanwhile, King Abdullah emphasized “the importance” of expanding cooperation in several fields, "particularly energy, electricity interconnection, transport, and security, in service of mutual interests.”
“The meeting also touched on recent regional developments, with the King stressing the need to step up international diplomatic efforts to restore stability, protect the security of Arab states, and safeguard their sovereignty,” a statement published on the Jordanian King’s website read.
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