(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) India and Iraq Friday inked four agreements, including on energy cooperation, and decided to go in for joint exploration for oil and setting up of petrochemical complexes as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his visiting Iraqi counterpart Nouri Al Maliki held talks here.
Iraq also sought India's help in reconstruction of its infrastructure devastated in the long years of war and Maliki assured Indian business leaders and companies of protection and guarantees if they work in his country. Though US troops withdrew from Iraq in December 2011, bomb blasts triggered by militants have been shattering the peace of the country that is struggling to get back on its feet.
Singh, in a statement after the inking of agreements, said Maliki's visit would impart a "new dynamism" to their bilateral ties.
He said both had agreed to take their energy trading relationship into a strategic partnership, including through joint ventures in oil exploration, petrochemical complexes and fertiliser plants.
Iraq is India's second-largest supplier of crude at more than 12 percent of total imports, fast replacing sanctions-hit Iran. Besides energy cooperation, both sides inked an agreement on water resource management, with India to help in management of the Tigris and Euphrates and other rivers in Iraq that have suffered in the long years of war.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the respective foreign ministries on foreign office consultations and between the Foreign Service Institutes of India's external affairs ministry and the Iraqi counterpart for the training of diplomats.
Singh also offered to help in reconstruction efforts as well as in rebuilding and upgrading higher education and healthcare institutions.
Both sides have also identified other areas of cooperation, including in agriculture, water resource management, pharmaceuticals, health care, information technology, infrastructure, low cost housing and trade.
The Iraqi prime minister said his country has potential capacities and energy and India can contribute to developing the economy. Al Maliki said Iraq has missed out a lot in the long years of war and sought cooperation from Indian private and public sector companies in helping rebuild his country's infrastructure and economy.
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