Baghdad-INA
Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi received today, Friday, at his residence in Washington, D.C., U.S. Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright.
The Media Office of the Prime Minster said in a statement, received by the Iraqi News Agency-INA that “During the meeting, the two sides discussed avenues for cooperation in the energy sector and the government’s plans to strengthen Iraq’s crude oil production capacity, expand petroleum refining and processing, and enhance cooperation with U.S. companies in these key economic sectors”.
The statement added that “Prime Minister Al-Zaidi stated that the government has adopted an ambitious program to strengthen Iraq’s economy through long-term partnerships with the world’s leading economies, particularly the United States. He stressed the need for advanced technology and accelerated development to shorten the time required to achieve these objectives.”
The Prime Minister also renewed his invitation to U.S. companies to contribute to the development of Iraq’s energy sector and invest in the mining industry, as well as in the Energy City project along the waterfront of the Al-Faw Peninsula and the Development Road corridor.
For his part, Secretary Wright affirmed his government’s support for Iraq’s development efforts and for U.S. companies that have expressed strong interest in operating in Iraq. He also reiterated support for Iraq’s efforts to combat corruption, ensure that arms remain exclusively in the state authority, expand investment in associated gas projects, and bring gas flaring to an end.