Baghdad , -Iraq and the United States of America signed memorandums of understanding to treat burning gas and convert it into electricity. A statement from the Prime Minister's Media Office said: 'The Supreme Coordination Committee (HCC) held a meeting yesterday, Monday, April 15, in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement between Iraq and the United States for the year 2008. Noting that the delegation of the Republic of Iraq was headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Planning Muhammad Tamim. The US government delegation was headed by Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken. The two sides stressed the importance of the bilateral partnership and Iraq's vital role in the security and prosperity of the region, and expressed their desire to expand the depth and scope of the relationship between the two countries, including in the areas of energy independence, financial reform, providing services to the Iraqi people, strengthening democracy and the rule of law, and strengthening educational and cul tural relations, Representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq also participated in the meeting. The Iraqi and American delegations expressed a common opinion that Iraq has the ability to exploit its vast natural gas resources, invest in new energy infrastructure and renewable energy sources, and achieve energy self-sufficiency by 2030. The United States praised Iraq for the progress it has made in reducing emissions of gas and work to market associated gas. The large gas potential in the Kurdistan region of Iraq is a major component of energy security in Iraq, as is the increase in private sector investments. To allow Iraq to benefit from the leading technology and expertise of the American private sector, Iraq and the United States announced the signing of new memorandums of understanding to process flared gas and convert it into usable electricity for the Iraqi people. Both sides also stressed the importance of resuming oil exports via the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline. According to the statemen t, the United States praised Iraq for its great efforts to increase regional connectivity, especially with regard to electrical interconnection with Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. After years of work to build its interconnection with Jordan, Iraq began receiving 40 megawatts of electricity for its people. The capacity is scheduled to increase in the future stages to 900 megawatts, and Iraq has stressed that strengthening ties, which are based on common interests with neighbors, is the basis for local prosperity. Iraq and the United States also discussed Iraq's interest in the use of peaceful nuclear energy, including emerging nuclear technologies, and Iraq's significant progress in modernizing its financial and banking sector, which has led to expanded correspondent relationships with banks in the United States and Europe. According to the statement, Iraq and the United States committed to continuing cooperative financial reform efforts, which will enable Ir aq to encourage foreign investment and continue to expand international banking relations. These reforms will work to combat corruption and prevent illicit use of the Iraqi financial sector, allowing local banks to be engines of comprehensive economic growth. The two sides decided to enhance cooperation through an enhanced engagement plan between the main actors in the Government of Iraq and the US Department of the Treasury. Iraq and the United States also pointed out the importance of improving the investment climate in Iraq and combating corruption, which are the basic pillars of the reform efforts of the Prime Minister, al-Sudani. To support private business development in Iraq, the United States International Development Finance Corporation will provide a $50 million loan, facilitated by USAID, to the National Bank of Iraq in order to provide loans to small and medium enterprises, focusing on previously unbanked businesses and women-led businesses. Iraq renewed its commitment to its ongoing efforts to join the World Trade Organization and protect intellectual property rights. The United States also committed to supporting a series of International Visitor Leadership Program projects for Iraqis to develop expertise in these fields. The two parties acknowledged the importance of strategic and infrastructure projects in Iraq, which will support regional integration and enhance International Trade. The United States also expressed its concern about the impacts of climate change felt by the Iraqi people, and pledged its continued support for resolving the water crisis in Iraq and improving public health, and praised the work of the Supreme Water Committee to improve the management of water resources in Iraq, and the two countries intend to work closely together to address climate change and reduce water scarcity of water in Iraq, and ending gas burning to reduce methane emissions. The United States applauded Iraq's imminent release of the National Action Plan and encouraged Iraq to prepare more ambitious nati onal contributions under the Paris Agreement in advance of COP29. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) committed to working with Iraq at the local government level to improve water and waste management services, the United States has also committed to the International Visitor Leadership Program and the Water Expert Ambassador Program to share technical expertise in water management and other needs, the Iraqi delegation also expressed its interest in cooperating with American companies to exchange experiences in health insurance programs, hospital management, and cancer research. The United States Government welcomed the Government of Iraq's commitment to respect freedom of expression, in accordance with Iraqi law as guaranteed by the Iraqi Constitution, and the two delegations discussed how the United States can support the Iraqi Government in the best possible way to advance justice for survivors and victims of the genocide, committed by ISIS in 2014, in accordance with the rule o f law. The two sides also stressed the importance of the stability of Sinjar, and the United States reaffirmed its intention to continue to support Iraq in strengthening its strategy to combat trafficking in persons. The United States praised recent positive developments in support of minorities. The two delegations also noted the impressive progress Iraq has made in returning more than 8,000 of its citizens from the Houl camp for the displaced in northeastern Syria. The United States thanked Iraq for its commitment to accelerating the pace of repatriation of citizens. With regard to higher education and culture, the two governments discussed US support for the scholarship program, which was restored by the Prime Minister with the aim of increasing the number of Iraqi students studying abroad, as the Iraqi government intends to send 3,000 male and female students to study in the United States, out of the 5,000 male and female students it plans to send to study abroad, the two countries welcomed initiatives a imed at expanding English language education and providing guidance to Iraqi students who are interested in studying in the United States, or who intend to travel to it. The two delegations also reviewed the progress made in their joint efforts to preserve Iraq's rich cultural heritage and religious diversity, and affirmed their intention to continue to facilitate the return of Iraqi cultural property to its rightful place in Iraq. Accordingly, during the Supreme Coordination Committee meeting, the US State Department coordinated the transfer of an artifact. An ancient Sumerian artefact returned to Iraq by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and has committed to returning more Iraqi artifacts in the future. The two countries stressed the importance of the steps taken by Iraq in enhancing its security, stability, and sovereignty, and indicated their mutual determination to deepen the strong relations between their peoples, and the United States welcomed this opportunity to reaffirm and strengthe n its partnership with Iraq. Source: National Iraqi News Agency