US Pledges Support for Transport Infrastructure

The governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq reaffirmed their strategic partnership during a meeting of the Services, Technology, Environment and Transportation (STET) Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) under the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) on September 25, 2013 in Washington, D.C.

Iraqi Deputy Minister of Transportation Bangen Rekani and U.S. Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs Susan Kurland co-chaired the meeting. The Iraqi delegation to the meeting included eight representatives from the Ministry of Transportation. The U.S. delegation included representatives from the Departments of State, Transportation – including the Federal Aviation Administration – Commerce, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration. This is the first JCC for this sector of the SFA.

The delegations noted the progress made in the transportation sector in Iraq since 2003 and emphasized the importance of continued close cooperation on all modes of transportation. They reviewed U.S. assistance related to the development of Iraq’s aviation, rail and maritime sectors, and explored opportunities for U.S. companies to invest in Iraq’s transportation infrastructure. Participants identified ways to expand cooperation and advance the Government of Iraq’s efforts to strengthen safety, security and economic freedom at Iraq’s seaports and airports.