Saudi Arabia to double the number of flights to Iraq
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and the Saudi Minister of Transport, Saleh Al-Jasser. Photo: Prime Minister’s press office
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Saudi Minister of Transport, Saleh Al-Jasser, announced on Saturday, during his participation in the Development Road Conference held in Baghdad, that Saudi Arabia will double the number of flights to Iraq by the end of 2023, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.
Al-Jasser elaborated that Saudi Arabia is keen to strengthen its relations with Iraq, noting that the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council was held two days ago, in the Saudi city of Jeddah, with the participation of several ministers.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport added that the Jadidat Arar border-crossing between Iraq and Saudi Arabia witnessed an increase in the movement of goods and passengers.
Al-Jasser clarified that the volume of trade between the two countries reached more than one billion USD during the past year.
The Saudi Minister mentioned that about 6,000 pilgrims crossed the borders to Saudi Arabia on a daily basis in the past weeks, explaining that the border-crossing is ready to receive 70,000 pilgrims.
Al-Jasser, who is heading his country’s delegation participating in the Development Road Conference, was received by the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s press office.
During his meeting with Al-Jasser, Al-Sudani confirmed Iraq’s eagerness to develop its relations with Saudi Arabia in various fields, to fulfill the aspirations of the people of both countries.
The Iraqi Prime Minister emphasized the importance of integration between the countries of the region in the economic, investment and industrial aspects.
Al-Sudani commended the successes achieved by the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council and the constructive steps it took to develop relations between both countries.