-
16:40
-
16:20
-
16:00
-
15:40
-
15:20
-
15:00
-
14:35
-
14:15
-
13:55
Follow us on Facebook
Lebanon and Iraq focus on expertise exchange, not worker recruitment
Lebanon’s Labor Minister Mohammad Haïdar clarified on Sunday that the memorandum signed between Lebanon and Iraq focuses on expertise exchange and training, not on workforce recruitment, dismissing “misinterpretations” in some media reports.
Following his official visit to Baghdad, Haïdar explained that the agreement with Iraqi counterpart Ahmad el-Assadi aims to share skills in key sectors. Lebanon will showcase its know-how in services, tourism, and hospitality, while Iraq – a founding member of OPEC and a global energy actor – will provide expertise in oil and gas extraction.
“We are talking about training and expertise exchange, not labor recruitment,” Haïdar insisted, denouncing “disinformation campaigns” that could harm Lebanese-Iraqi relations.
He highlighted that the cooperation is designed to strengthen complementarities between the two countries’ expertise, allowing each side to benefit from the other’s strengths. Haïdar added that learning from Iraqi expertise is a major gain for Lebanese youth, who will be able to train with Iraqi experts and acquire the skills necessary for Lebanon’s future natural resource development.
Haïdar also mentioned discussions with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Chia al-Soudani regarding the transportation of Iraqi oil to Lebanon and the acceleration of gas pipeline installation toward the Tripoli refinery, which “will create numerous job opportunities for Lebanese workers and facilitate investor actions.” A Lebanese-Iraqi-Syrian commission will be established to monitor this project, according to the minister.