Saudi Arabia to form a coordination council with Iraq

The Saudi council of ministers decided, Monday, to approve the establishment of a Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council.

According to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the council has authorized the Minister of Commerce and Investment and the head of the Saudi side of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council to sign off the minutes establishing a Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council with no further details.

Over the past few weeks, visits between Iraqi government officials and their counterparts in the Gulf states have been exchanged despite years of stagnating bilateral relations.

Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaibi undertook an official visit to Saudi Arabia last week to discuss joint efforts in the fields of energy and future projects between the two countries.

During the visit, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said that the Saudi-Iraqi economic and development relations will be soon revitalised through joint cooperation over trade and through boosting business opportunities by encouraging companies and businessmen to start projects in both countries.

Read: Saudi Arabia in Iraq… What has changed?

The Provincial Council of Anbar announced on Monday the “permanent” reopening of Arar border port with Saudi Arabia in order to facilitate trade exchange.The Arar border crossing with Saudi Arabia, which was closed 30 years ago, opens only annually to the Iraqi pilgrims heading to Makah to close after their return.

The Council of Ministers also approved of the establishment of the General Authority for Military Industries that will regulate and develop the military industries sector in the Kingdom and to monitor its performance.