The Prime Minister of Iraq, Ali Al-Saidi, during his official visit to Berlin on Tuesday, invited German companies to participate in the reconstruction process of Iraq. He also proposed the idea of exporting crude oil to Germany and constructing a pipeline for this purpose.
Invitation to Collaborate with German Companies
Al-Saidi stated after meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: "German companies and other firms can operate sustainably in Iraq." He emphasized that Iraq has abundant raw materials and a large workforce, but needs German technology and expertise.
Diversification in Iraqi Oil Exports
The Prime Minister of Iraq mentioned that this cooperation will not be one-sided and agreements regarding oil exports have been proposed. Due to geographical proximity, Iraq traditionally exports its oil to East Asia, but Al-Saidi is seeking to diversify export destinations. He referred to the existence of pipelines to Turkey and Syria and also called for oil exports through the Mediterranean Sea to France.
Al-Saidi further noted: "Our vision is to double our production. We want to reach a production of 9 to 10 million barrels per day." He also stated that half of this amount should be sent to Europe and the West.
The two governments agreed on an operational plan to further develop their cooperation. Merz added: "Germany is interested in a strong and prosperous Iraq." This includes "good relations" between Baghdad and the Kurds in the north of the country. Many German companies are currently active in Iraq and are developing new solutions for energy supply and waste management, as well as strengthening trade.
