Iraqi minister of transport and Saudi CEO discuss port cooperation

BAGHDAD, September 5 — Iraq’s Minister of Transport, Razzaq Mheibes, met with the CEO of the Saudi Port Authority, Omar Talal Hariri, to discuss cooperation in the field of ports between the two countries.

A statement from the Ministry of Transport said:

Minister Mheibes met with CEO Omar bin Talal Hariri on the sidelines of the Maritime Industry Sustainability Conference held in Jeddah. The meeting was attended by the Iraqi Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Safia Al-Suhail, the Technical Affairs Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Engineer Talib Bayesh, and the Director-General of the Planning and Monitoring Department, Abbas Imran.

During the meeting, the operations of the ports in both countries were reviewed, emphasizing the need for exchanging expertise in automation, management, and discussing the work of the Transportation, Border Crossings, and Ports Committee within the Iraqi-Saudi Coordination Council.

The Minister stated that the Iraqi government is looking to establish economic integration with regional countries and mentioned that they are nearing the completion of a significant phase in the development of the Grand Faw Port, which plays a vital role in the Strategic Development Road project.

He added that the Iraqi government is keen to enhance relations and cooperation between the two nations, emphasizing that the geographical location of both countries ensures the success of joint investment projects.

In response, CEO Omar bin Talal Hariri highlighted the crucial role that ports play in economic growth and achieving strategic objectives. He presented an overview of the operations and services of Saudi ports, expressing readiness to support and exchange expertise with Iraq.