Today, Thursday, Jordan and Iraq signed a protocol for technical cooperation in the fields of geology and mining, especially in the field of laws, legislation and policies that allow the exploitation of mineral wealth in the two countries and facilitate and encourage investment in this sector.

 The protocol was signed by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, and the Minister of Industry and Minerals in Iraq, Manhal Aziz Al-Khabbaz.

 According to the protocol, the two sides will exchange experiences in the field of research and exploration for mineral resources, their evaluation and preparation for exploitation, and they will prepare an information base for all the raw materials ready for investment in the two countries to be presented to investors, and they will cooperate in the field of applying geochemical and geophysical methods and modern technologies in prospecting for mineral and non-metallic ores.

 The two countries also cooperate in the field of applying modern information methods and technologies and their applications in geology, especially the geographic information system and remote sensing, in addition to conducting research aimed at focusing and improving the specifications of mineral ores and adapting them for industrial use.

 Al-Kharabsheh said that the two sides formed a joint committee comprising experts and specialists to set up a mechanism to follow up and implement the articles and provisions of the protocol and open new horizons for cooperation, pointing out that the two sides agreed on an action plan for 2022 to define steps and procedures to translate these directions to reach real opportunities that will be built upon during the coming period.  .

 He stressed the importance of the protocol within the framework of the efforts of the Ministry of Energy to give the mining sector its right and attention to the sector to exploit natural resources and attract investments to the sector, especially that Jordan is rich in natural resources that should receive attention in implementation of the royal directives in this regard and to provide the national economy with added value and raise its contribution to the gross domestic product.  .

 He said that the protocol stems from the spirit of brotherly and friendly relations existing between the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in Jordan and the Ministry of Industry and Minerals in Iraq, and a desire to consolidate and strengthen these relations through cooperation in the field of mining and geology, based on the spirit of equality, participation and mutual interests between the two countries.

 The protocol also comes, according to Minister Kharabsheh, in the belief of both parties that bilateral cooperation in the field of mining and geology will be an effective and influential step in supporting the scientific and technical capabilities of both parties, which contributes to the development of their natural resources in an optimal way, encouraging investment and developing the national economy of the two countries, and their belief that the development of the mining sector  Geology is a necessity for sustainable development to meet new challenges in light of globalization.

 He stressed the importance of the protocol in defining areas of cooperation, establishing future partnerships, and increasing the volume of investment and trade between the two countries.

 For his part, the Iraqi minister said that one of the most important outcomes of the agreements between the two countries is to find a kind of joint cooperation, especially in the fields of geology and mining, stressing the importance of the protocol to open up a field for joint cooperation and establish a future partnership between the two sectors in the two countries.

 He added that the two sides agreed to exchange experiences in the field of exploration and courses, exchange information on the natural resources sector and develop laboratories, noting that the next stage is the stage of implementing the provisions of the protocol.

 The two sides had held technical meetings, during which they discussed the available areas of cooperation and the best ways to exchange experiences and promote investment in this field