New Delhi, August 23
India and Iraq — which has emerged as the second largest exporter of oil to India after Saudi Arabia, displacing Iran — today signed four MoUs, including those for cooperation in the field of energy and water resources management. Visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sought the assistance of Indian businesses in rebuilding the Arab nation.

The agreements were signed after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Iraqi counterpart during which the two leaders discussed various bilateral issues as well as international developments.

The other two MoUs were for consultations between the Foreign Ministries and Foreign Service Institutes of the two countries. Maliki is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials and captains of the Iraqi industry.

This is the first Head of Government-level visit between the two countries since 1975. The agreement on energy cooperation is significant considering the fact that Iraq has emerged as the second largest exporter of oil to India after Saudi Arabia, displacing Iran.

The pact envisages cooperation in the areas of upstream and downstream oil and gas activities and related infrastructure. The agreement marks a significant upgrading of energy relationship from a buyer-seller one to a strategic engagement.

Under the water resources development and management agreement, Iraq has sought India’s assistance so that the country can again become the cradle of civilisation. Iraq has two great rivers - Tigris and Euphrates. But years of uncertainty, wars, have destroyed the entire water infrastructure in the country. It is now obliged to import a lot of food items from abroad, including Turkey, Syria and India. Baghdad would like India to cooperate in the water resource management so that its fertile land could again be used for food production.

Aware of the role Iraq is expected to play in the coming years in meeting India’s energy needs, New Delhi pulled out all the stops to accord a warm welcome to the Iraqi Premier. President Pranab Mukherjee told him that India was committed to assisting Iraq in the process of rebuilding its infrastructure and institutions. Indian entrepreneurs and Indian industries were eager to engage with Iraq, he told Mailiki at a meeting at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Addressing a luncheon meeting organised by Indian apex chambers of commerce, the Iraqi PM said Iraq was in the process of rebuilding its democratic system. ‘’India’s experience will help, we are depending on India’s experience.’’