Mazhar Saleh: The Amman Agreements are a roadmap for regional openness and Gulf partnerships.
Mazhar Saleh: The Amman Agreements are a roadmap for regional openness and Gulf partnerships.
2025/09/06
The Prime Minister’s financial advisor, Mazhar Mohammed Saleh, affirmed today, Saturday, that the agreements concluded with Oman constitute a roadmap for greater openness on the Arab and regional levels, while noting that they will open the doors to partnerships with Gulf states and international seaports.
In a press statement, Saleh said, “The memoranda of understanding signed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani during his recent visit to the sisterly Sultanate of Oman constitute a cornerstone of cooperation between two important Gulf countries on both sides of the Gulf. These memoranda are not merely official documents, but rather a roadmap toward an Iraq that is more open to its Arab and regional surroundings, more capable of attracting investment and achieving sustainable development, and represent a strategic step toward repositioning Iraq economically and regionally.”
He added, “Iraq seeks to expand its economic relations beyond the traditional framework, as the memoranda of understanding with the Sultanate of Oman, in particular, open the door to partnerships with a Gulf state with a strategic location and advanced global seaports, particularly logistical connectivity via the Development Road project.”
He continued, “Linking the Grand Faw Port with the ports of the Sultanate of Oman via the Development Road Project will create a trade corridor linking the Gulf with Turkey and Europe, strengthening Iraq’s position as a regional and international transit hub. It will also expand trade between the two countries.”
He added, “The signed memoranda of understanding cover other critical areas, such as the capital market, industry, energy, and tourism. These sectors could serve as a gateway to broader cooperation with Gulf countries, which possess advanced expertise in these sectors. This should not be overlooked, however, as the two countries must avoid double taxation to prevent tax evasion on income and capital. This will encourage Omani and Iraqi investors to invest capital without fear of tax complications.”
He pointed out that “a memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which enhances the role of the private sector in leading economic cooperation in a free market cooperation, in addition to establishing strategic projects in the fields of energy and logistics. The agreement between the two countries will go towards building an oil storage facility with a capacity of 10 million barrels in the Omani port of Duqm, which is an important step towards establishing a solid regional infrastructure in the fields of energy and transportation.”
He continued, “This file will enable Iraq to access Asian and African markets more easily, and strengthen its position as a major transit point. It will also launch a follow-up mechanism through the formation of a joint committee, such as the Omani-Iraqi Council, to monitor implementation. This confirms the seriousness of turning the plans into a tangible reality.”
He added, “More than 24 memoranda of understanding were signed covering various vital sectors such as energy, raw materials, tourism, communications, infrastructure, smart cities, manufacturing, financial services, and capital markets.”
He explained that “the memoranda also included cooperation in the legal fields, education, scientific research, intellectual property, urban recovery, and the defense sector,” noting that “the Omani investment market indicates a significant presence of the Iraqi private sector, as the number of Iraqi companies currently investing in the Sultanate of Oman has reached approximately 1,304 companies with a total capital of approximately 94.3 million Omani riyals, representing 68.2% of foreign investment there. The relations between the two private sectors also indicate prosperity, and the Omanis see Iraq as an attractive market and an important opportunity to benefit from the renewed infrastructure and free zones for the purpose of investment and trade.”
He pointed out that “trade exchange between the two brotherly countries jumped by 30% in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching approximately $779 million, and in the first half of 2025, it increased to $622 million.”
alforatnews.iq
