Rebuilding Iraq

On Thursday, Iraq and Qatar signed a series of energy and infrastructure agreements during Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s visit to Baghdad, at a time when Iraq is witnessing growing openness to its regional partners. After four decades of conflict, Iraq is now looking to rebuild. Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani says he wants to “priority” investment in dilapidated infrastructure (roads, hospitals, schools…).

Strong Allies and Partners

Al-Sudani said during a joint press conference with the Emir of Qatar, “The State of Qatar will remain one of our strongest allies and partners in the region,” according to Agence France-Presse.

Economic Opportunities

“Today, we discussed the economic opportunities available and the work that Qatari companies can carry out in our projects in the field of construction, services and infrastructure projects,” Al-Sudani added, without going into details.

Signed Agreements

For his part, the Emir of Qatar announced that “a number of agreements have been signed with the private sector in Qatar, including important and vital areas such as energy and electricity, the development of modern residential cities, hotels and hospital management in Iraq. .”

Increasing Trade Exchange

“We agreed that the trade exchange between Qatar and Iraq should constantly increase,” he added.

Air and Sea Transport Agreement

The two officials participated in the signing of the air and sea transport agreement, according to footage of the ceremony broadcast on Iraqi state television.

Building Common Relations

Iraq, a third of whose population, despite its huge oil wealth, suffers from poverty, seeks to build common relations in all directions with the aim of rebuilding its dilapidated infrastructure after decades of wars. Qatar, a gas-rich country, is an outstanding partner in this direction.

Participating in Investment Projects

Last April, Qatar Energy Company agreed to participate with a 25 percent stake in the Integrated Gas Expansion Project (GGIP) in cooperation with France’s Total Energy Group. The project is aimed at attracting investment in Iraq’s gas resources and improving electricity supply. Qatar Energy entered the project at the invitation of Total Energy, which owns 45% of the shares.

Development Road Project

At the end of May, Qatar, along with many countries in the region, participated in a conference at which Iraq announced the huge and ambitious Development Road project to build a road and railroad that will link the Persian Gulf with Turkey. This project, which the Iraqi government has estimated at a cost of about $17 billion and spanning 1,200 kilometers inside Iraq, is still in its early stages.