Iraq, RI sign trade pact

Iraq, RI sign trade pact

BAGHDAD (AFP): Iraq and Indonesia signed an agreement overnight to expand their economic cooperation, particularly in oil exploration, the official Iraqi news agency INA reported Friday.

The accord was signed by the two countries' respective trade ministers, Mohamed Mahdi Saleh and Rahardi Ramelan, at the end of the fifth round of meetings of their joint economic commission.

INA said the agreement pledged increased efforts to widen cooperation in petroleum, industrial, agricultural, health, communications and educational sectors.

Iraq and Indonesia would continue talks on the development of the Tuba oilfield in southern Iraq, whose output is estimated at 80,000 barrels a day.

When he arrived in Baghdad Tuesday Rahardi said representatives of Indonesian oil firms would arrive in Iraq in two weeks, adding, "I want to see an agreement signed in the near future."

The two sides decided to set up sub-committees to oversee cooperation in the sectors of oil, industry, agriculture, transport and the economy generally.