Gulf Today

AD Ports Group, Iraqi company to promote trade cooperatio­n

AD Ports Group will also develop national infrastruc­ture, such as roads and rail networks, which will connect Al Faw Ports in Iraq with markets in Jordan and Turkey

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AD Ports Group, the leading global driver of trade and logistics, signed a Memorandum of Understand­ing (MOU) with the General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI) to promote increased cooperatio­n between the two organisati­ons within the fields of transporta­tion and maritime.

Facilitate­d during a recent visit of a highlevel delegation led by the Iraqi Minister of Transporta­tion, the MOU was signed by Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, AD Ports Group, and Dr Farhan Muhesen Al Fartosi, Director General of the General Company for

Ports of Iraq, in the presence of Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastruc­ture, and Nasser Hussein Al Shebly, Iraq’s Minister of Transporta­tion.

Also present at the signing were Taleb Abdullah Bayesh, Under-secretary of the Ministry of Transporta­tion for Technical Affairs; Dr Mudhafar Mustafa Al Jubouri, Iraq’s Ambassador to the UAE; Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail; and Saif Al Mazrouei, Head of Ports Cluster, AD Ports Group.

Set for an initial period of 12 months with a clause for automatic renewal, the MOU will see the exchange of expertise and best practices by both organisati­ons. Additional­ly, AD Ports Group

will conduct feasibilit­y studies on the management and operation of the General Company for Ports of Iraq’s ports and economic zones and other infrastruc­ture, while also exploring potential investment opportunit­ies.

As part of its scope, AD Ports Group will also develop national infrastruc­ture, such as roads and rail networks, which will connect Al Faw Ports in Iraq with markets in Jordan and Turkey, while simultaneo­usly financing the feasibilit­y studies stated in the MOU.

Commenting on the MOU, Al Mazrouei said, “In line with the wise leadership’s vision, the signing of this MOU exemplifie­s the UAE’S drive to enhance cooperatio­n with sister Arab states. Leveraging the lessons learned as part of our nation’s pursuit to develop strategic sectors and build frameworks that contribute to the economic and social developmen­t of the UAE, we are transferri­ng this invaluable knowledge to our kin in Iraq in order to support the formulatio­n of a diverse and sustainabl­e economy in Iraq.”

For his part, Al Shebly said, “It is our privilege to announce the start of this new cooperatio­n with AD Ports Group. The MOU will serve as the starting point for future collaborat­ion that will drive the developmen­t of a wide range of services, while also supporting investors across both our proud nations. It also sets the foundation to foster an Arabi ports’ ecosystem that can cater to the increasing global demands of this sector and keep pace with ambitious plans of the government­s in Iraq and the UAE.”

Captain Al Shamisi noted, “The signing of this strategic MOU with the General Company for Ports of Iraq is a vital step in the efforts to enhance our regional and global status within the maritime transporta­tion and logistics industries. We are confident that the cooperatio­n with Iraq will serve as the foundation of a promising future of success and developmen­tal opportunit­ies that will benefit both nations. It will also enhance trade and the flow of foreign investment­s to Iraq and will elevate the quality of maritime transporta­tion and logistics services available in the region.”

Dr Al Jubouri said, “The Iraqi Embassy succeeded in convening this meeting at a very short notice, and it led to the signing of this MOU that will benefit the two sister states. The embassy was also successful in promoting cooperatio­n between the Iraqi Ministry of Transporta­tion on the one hand, and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastruc­ture in the UAE and AD Ports Group on the other, and we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the active collaborat­ion of our Emirati peers, and we are aiming to strengthen our close ties in the near future.”

Dr Al Fartosi commented, “We are pleased to sign this MOU with a leading entity like AD Port Group, a titan with a rich history within the Middle East’s maritime transporta­tion and logistics segment. Capitalisi­ng on its robust porfolio of service capabiliti­es and world class infrastruc­ture, we fully expect to see our ports and transporta­tion ecosystem in Iraq rise to new heights in the coming years. We look forward to promoting our cooperatio­n with the UAE in order to foster the strategic position of the Arab Gulf region across the global supply chain.”

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Officials during the MOU signing ceremony in Abu Dhabi.
↑ Officials during the MOU signing ceremony in Abu Dhabi.

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