Salalah: On Wednesday, the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Iraq formalized 2 agreements and 24 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening collaboration between the two nations across multiple sectors.
The signing event was held at Al Hosn Palace in the Wilayat of Salalah, Dhofar Governorate, attended by Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, alongside HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs.
The agreements established by both parties focus on mutual visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic, special, and service passports, in addition to measures to prevent double taxation and combat tax evasion concerning income and capital.
The MoUs encompass a broad spectrum of fields, such as youth and sports; judicial and legal matters; tourism; historical documentation and records management; information sharing and collaboration in the capital market; communications; radio and television broadcasting; execution of training initiatives in management and leadership development; banking regulation and financial stability; housing and urban planning; higher education and research; educational sectors; exchange of expertise and the promotion of competition and anti-monopoly practices; and the enhancement of trade relations and export initiatives.
Furthermore, the MoUs cover areas such as intellectual property, industry, energy, the localization of defense industries, transport and logistics, stock exchange, oil storage, the marketing of Iraqi crude oil, and chambers of commerce. Additionally, there is an MoU focused on the planning, development, and execution of smart cities.
The agreements and MoUs were executed on behalf of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, the Foreign Minister (who leads the Omani side in the Omani-Iraqi Joint Committee), Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Eng. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, the Minister of Energy and Minerals, Rear Admiral Ali bin Abdullah Al Shidi, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rowas, the Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Eng. Abdulrahman Salim Al Hatmi, the CEO of ASYAD Group, Wail bin Zuhair Al Jamali, the Chief Executive Officer of OQ Trading, Eng. Salem bin Marhoon Al Hashmi, the Managing Director of Oman Tank Terminal Company, Mohsin bin Abdulredha Al Lawati, the Senior Director of the Systems and Development Department at Muscat Stock Exchange, Ali bin Hassan Al Lawati, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Badr Group (Sultanate of Oman), and Sadiq bin Salem Al Firoz, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Refineries and Storage Company.
On the Iraqi side, the signatories comprised Dr. Fuad Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (who leads the Iraqi delegation in the Omani-Iraqi Joint Committee), Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq, the Governor of the Central Bank, Eng. Hayan Abdul Ghani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil, Atheer Dawood Al Ghurairi, Minister of Trade, Mustafa Ati, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Military Industries, Dr. Farhan Muhaisen Al-Fartoosy, Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, Ali Nizar Fayeq, Director General of SOMO Oil Company, Riyadh Fakher, Director General of Foreign Economic Relations at the Ministry of Trade, Abdul Razzaq Al-Zuhairi, Chairman of the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce, and Nassif Jassim Al-Khattabi, Governor of Karbala.
Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, the Foreign Minister, conveyed his pride in the exceptional historical relations between Oman and Iraq across various levels and sectors. He noted that the Iraqi Prime Minister’s visit to the Sultanate of Oman is unprecedented during the prosperous reign of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and signifies the commencement of a new phase in the strategic relations between the two nations.
He remarked that Oman anticipates putting into action the results achieved today through the significant discussions conducted at the leadership level, along with the signing of two agreements and numerous memoranda of understanding in various sectors. He confirmed that both nations will monitor these agreements and memoranda through established frameworks, primarily the Omani-Iraqi Joint Committee, as well as through the embassies of both nations in Baghdad and Muscat, along with the various relevant entities tasked with their execution.
In his remarks, Dr. Fuad Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, expressed that this visit is unprecedented by all measures, culminating in the signing of two agreements and memoranda of understanding between the two parties across multiple domains. He underscored that the relationship between Oman and Iraq is progressing towards a strategic partnership between the two nations.
