Saudi oil minister makes high profile visit to Iraq, calls for cooperation

BAGHDAD: Saudi Oil Minister Khalid Al Falih made a high profile visit to Iraq on Saturday, calling for increased economic cooperation and praising existing coordination to boost crude oil prices.

In a speech at the opening of the Baghdad International Exhibition, Falih said cooperation between Iraq and Saudi Arabia contributed to “the improvement and stability we are seeing in the oil market”.

Falih is the first Saudi official to make a public speech in Baghdad for decades.

“The best example of the importance of cooperation between our two countries is the improvement and stability trend seen in the oil market,” said Falih, to applause from the audience of Iraqi ministers, senior officials and businessmen.

Falih and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir held talks earlier this year in Baghdad, paving the way for visits to Saudi Arabia by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi and cleric Moqtada Al Sadr.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq are respectively the biggest and second biggest producers of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The Iraqi oil ministry said Falih and his Iraqi counterpart, Jabar Al Luaibi, agreed to cooperate in implementing decisions by oil exporting countries to curb global supply in order to lift crude prices.

OPEC, Russia and several other producers have reduced production by about 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) since the start of 2017, helping to boost oil prices. The cutbacks should continue until March 2018.

“The market has improved a lot but has still some way to go,” Falih told reporters, adding that the compliance of the 24 nations taking part in the cutbacks deal “exceeds 100 per cent”. Full story @ timesofoman.com/world