Iraq and Egypt sign agreements to strengthen economy, trade, infrastructure

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraq on Saturday signed 15 memorandums of understanding and agreements with Egypt in a bid to strengthen Iraq’s healthcare, economic and infrastructure sectors, among others. 

The two countries signed 15 agreements, memorandums of understanding and cooperation protocols in order to strengthen relations between Baghdad and Cairo in a Baghdad meeting attended by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly. 

Iraq and Egypt will work closer together on a number of issues including the environment, trade and finance, healthcare and road and bridge development, according to Iraqi state media. 

Kadhimi said that Baghdad is “committed” to the new agreements and is serious on boosting Egyptian business in Iraq, the PM’s office tweeted on Saturday. 

“The government is committed to developing the Iraqi-Egyptian partnership, and is serious about working to improve the investment environment in Iraq”, his office said.

The PM also called on Egypt to help Egyptian businessmen to come to Iraq and establish business ties.

Kadhimi and Madbouly met in Amman in August to discuss strengthening bilateral relations.

Both countries agreed to strengthen ties in March 2019,  when Iraq's former PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi met with the King of Jordan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo.