Iraqi PM Pushes Duty-Free Zone With Jordan After Amman Talks

FTZ News: Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Monday that Iraq and Jordan should set up a free economic zone so goods can move between the two countries under preferential terms.

He made the point after meeting Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan in Amman. Zaidi had already seen King Abdullah II earlier in the day. His office said he stressed the value of a free zone that would strengthen ties and produce benefits for both sides. The two prime ministers also talked about energy, security, trade and investment.

Nine agreements were signed while they were together. Jordan’s state news agency Petra reported the list. The documents cover higher education, environmental protection, consumer protection, cooperation with Iraq’s Foreign Service Institute, culture and business. None of the signed papers mentioned a free zone. The free-zone idea was raised in the talks, but no formal agreement has been announced, and no details on its location or timing have been released.

Hassan said he wants joint economic projects to move from discussion to actual work on the ground, with clear steps and timelines.

Iraq and Jordan share a land border of about 179 kilometers. It runs from the Syrian tripoint in the north to the Saudi tripoint in the south. The only official crossing is Trebil, on the Iraqi side in Anbar province.

King Abdullah separately underlined the need for more cooperation in energy, electricity links, transport and security. His office said the talks also covered recent regional developments./.