July 29, 2026
IKBC at Iraqi-Korean Joint Committee 10th Session – Preparatory Meeting
Iraq Korea Business Council Participates in Preparatory Meeting for the Tenth Session of the Iraqi-Korean Joint Committee
The Iraq Korean Business Council, chaired by Mr. Ahmed Shaban, participated in the preparatory meeting for the tenth session of the Iraqi-Korean Joint Committee, held at the headquarters of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baghdad.
The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Shorsh Khalid Saeed, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral and Legal Affairs, and attended by Ambassador Basim Khattab, Head of the Asia and Australia Department; Dr. Riyadh Fakher Al-Hashimi, Director General of the Department of External Economic Relations at the Ministry of Trade; Dr. Mohammed Jumaa, Chargé d ’Affaires of the Embassy of Iraq in the Republic of Korea; Dr. Uday Mohammed Mazaal, Commercial Attaché; and Dr. Zeina Muthanna Jasim, Rapporteur of the Joint Committee, in addition to representatives of a number of Iraqi ministries, including the Ministries of Labor and Social Affairs, Justice, Agriculture, Culture, Transport, Communications, Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Education, as well as representatives of the Federation of Iraqi Industries and the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce.
The meeting focused on reviewing and discussing the minutes of the tenth session of the Iraqi-Korean Joint Committee and addressing key areas of economic, scientific, and technical cooperation between the two countries, in preparation for the completion of arrangements for the Committee’s upcoming session.
Ambassador Shorsh Khalid Saeed underscored the importance of elevating Iraqi-Korean relations to broader levels of practical and institutional cooperation, in a manner that serves the shared interests of both countries and supports Iraq’s development and modernization efforts.
For his part, Mr. Ahmed Shaban, Chairman of the Iraqi-Korean Business Council, outlined the Council’s key activities and initiatives aimed at strengthening economic and trade relations between Iraq and the Republic of Korea. He highlighted the Council’s meetings with the Korean Ambassador and Commercial Attaché, as well as its participation in economic and trade events and exhibitions in the Republic of Korea, in addition to sponsoring a number of such events and exhibitions.
Mr. Shaban emphasized the importance of advancing economic relations between Iraq and Korea towards more effective and sustainable partnerships by facilitating communication between businesses, promoting trade and investment, and encouraging the exchange of expertise and experience.
The Council also put forward a number of proposals that were incorporated into the meeting minutes, most notably the establishment of an integrated Iraqi-Korean digital trade platform to directly connect suppliers with buyers, provide integrated logistics services and financial compliance solutions, and establish a unified database of trade and investment opportunities. The platform would contribute to enhancing transparency and trust, reducing risks, and facilitating companies’ access to the markets of both countries.
Mr. Shaban also highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation with specialized Korean institutions, including KOICA, KOTRA, and KITA, as well as strengthening joint efforts with the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Seoul. Such cooperation would help coordinate efforts and open new avenues for Iraqi and Korean companies and investors.
In this context, the meeting emphasized the important role of the Private Sector Department at the Ministry of Trade, represented by Dr. Malik Khalaf Al-Durai, and its support in following up on proposals and initiatives related to the private sector and coordinating with government institutions and representatives of the business community. Such efforts would help translate the recommendations and proposals discussed into practical and implementable steps, while strengthening private-sector participation in developing Iraqi-Korean economic and trade relations.
The meeting also addressed a number of additional ideas and proposals aimed at supporting economic, trade, scientific, and technical cooperation between the two countries. These proposals were incorporated into the meeting minutes in preparation for completing the formal procedures required to submit the minutes to the Korean side.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants reaffirmed the importance of completing the procedures related to the minutes, pending the appointment of the Minister of Construction, in preparation for their formal adoption and submission to the Korean side through official channels. This will pave the way for a new phase of coordination, follow-up, and implementation of the agreed areas and proposals, further strengthening economic and trade cooperation between Iraq and the Republic of Korea.
The participation of the Iraqi-Korean Business Council in the meeting forms part of its ongoing efforts to support the Iraqi-Korean economic and trade partnership and contribute to developing practical mechanisms that enhance cooperation, investment, and bilateral trade between the two countries.