August 17, 2001

1. In accordance with Article 6 of the Agreement on Trade Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Iraq and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines signed in Baghdad, Iraq on 01 October 1.981, and on 26 May 1983, the 5th Session of the Iraqi-Philippine Joint Committee Meeting was held in Manila, Philippines from 15 to 17 August 2001.

2. The Iraqi side was headed by Mr. Ma'an Ebrahim Sarsam, Minister of Housing and Construction while the Philippine side was headed by Mr. Teofisto T. Guingona, Jr., Vice President and Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Members of delegation of the two sides are attached under Annex I and II.

3. During his stay in Manila, H.E. Mr. Sarsam had the honor to be received by H.E. Teofisto Guingona, Jr. and met with their Excellencies, the Secretary of Trade and Industry H.E. Manuel A. Roxas II, and the Secretary of Science and Technology H.E. Estrella Alabastro.

4. In his opening remarks, the Vice President reiterated the warm friendship between the two countries that can be enhanced further through bilateral cooperation in various fields. The Iraqi head of delegation, meanwhile, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity that this meeting presented to both countries and hoped that both will be able to expand relations in terms of trade and economic development. His statement further expressed concern over the grave effect of the economic sanctions on the Iraqi economy and society.

5. In the plenary sessions, the Iraqi side requested the Philippine side that both sides form sub-groups in the fields of trade and industry, information, science and technology, and energy.

6. On Trade and Industry

A. Trade

• The Iraqi side formally invited the Philippine side to participate in the Baghdad International Fair 2001. The Philippine side welcomed the Iraqi invitation. The two sides agreed to pursue trade promotion in Iraq through such measures as more active participation in international trade fairs in Iraq.
• The Philippine side expressed its willingness to participate in the UN Oil for Food Program and sought the details on the outside mode of trading of the Program as a means of expanding and deepening Philippines-Iraq trade relations.
• The two sides agreed to encourage and facilitate direct contacts between their companies as well as exchange of delegations of businessmen at the level of public and private sectors in both countries.
• The two sides noted the importance of the implementation of the agreement signed in 1998 between the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Iraqi Chamber of Commerce.
• The two sides noted the need to expand and improve relations between the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Iraqi Federation of Industry. In this context, the two sides signed an agreement.
• The Iraqi side proposed that consideration be given to explore the possibility of implementation of Article 50 of the UN Charter to enhance trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. The Philippine side agreed to study this proposal.
• Both sides reaffirmed their readiness to make efforts to expand mutual cooperation under present circumstances as well as after the lifting of the sanctions imposed on Iraq with the mutual objective of reinstating the scope of their bilateral relations, and confirmed their readiness to intensity their bilateral economic cooperation in all fields

B. Industry

• The Iraqi side welcomed the participation and expressed its interest in importing raw sugar, natural rubber, raw materials for pharmaceuticals, soap and vegetable oil industry, equipment and machinery listed in Annex III.
• The Philippines will consider training opportunities for Iraqi experts in the following institutes:

a. Industrial technology development
b. Metal industry research and development
c. Textile research
d. Philippine Packaging Center

• The Iraqi side proposed to export to the Philippines urea fertilizers and sulfur. The Philippine side will consider the Iraqi request and will reply in due time.

7. On Banking and Finance

• The Philippine side and the Iraqi side exchanged information on the general policies pursued by both countries on banking and finance. Both sides exchanged information on the nature of Islamic banking practices in both countries.
• The two sides agreed to promote and facilitate the exchange of experts on banking and monetary policy as well as banknote printing.

8. On Information

• The Philippine side and the Iraqi side signed an agreement for cooperation between the Philippine News Agency and the Iraqi News Agency. Attached as Annex IV.

9. On Oil and Energy

• The Philippine side inquired on the possible importation of crude oil from Iraq to the Philippines. The Iraqi side indicated that such request will be studied.
• The Iraqi side requested the Philippine side to urge the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) to continue negotiation with the Oil Exploration Company (OEC) of the Ministry of Oil of Iraq towards finalization of the Exploration and Development Contract for Block (9) in the Western Desert.
• The Philippine side requested the Iraqi side to cooperate in the setting up of a new refinery in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The Iraqi side indicated its readiness to cooperate by sending specialized experts in the initial necessary studies as well as in the design and supervision during the construction period of the proposed refinery.

10. On Labor Matters

• The Philippine side requested information on the extent of the demand for medical and professional technical workers and the possibility for Filipinos to be hired for projects in Iraq. The Philippine side expressed its intention to sign a new Philippines-Iraq Labor Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
• For its part, the Iraqi side requested information on available short-term training courses for its technical staff in the construction and engineering sectors. The Philippine side mentioned the short-term vocational training courses of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

11. On Health and Scientific Cooperation

• The Iraqi side expressed interest in short-term training courses in Clinical Biochemistry, Drug Analysis and Tissue Engineering. The Philippine side said it would verify whether the University of the Philippines offers courses on said subjects.
• The Iraqi side indicated its desire to send Iraqis to be trained in Philippine hospitals.
• The Philippine side will consider the Iraqi side's request for the former to send nursing trainors to Iraq.
• The Philippine side will also consider the Iraqi side's request for the former to participate in the renovation/rehabilitation of Iraqi hospitals and laboratories.

12. On Housing and Construction

• The Iraqi side requested for exchange of information and experts on the following areas:
  a. new construction methods
  b. computer-aided design for different engineering sectors
  c. soil investigation
  d. quality control
  e. quality assurance systems
  f. total quality management
• The Philippine side proposed the following:

a. mechanism for exchange of construction-related information between the two countries
b. meetings between representatives of major Philippine contractors and consultancy associations and their Iraqi counterparts to identify areas or projects for possible cooperation.

• The Iraqi side also requested assistance in rehabilitating their sugar production and telecommunication facilities.
  The Philippine side noted the request and will refer the matter to the concerned Philippine government agencies.

13. On Electricity

• Both sides agreed to cooperate in the field of electricity technology.
• The Philippine side will consider sending experts to Iraq to assess the country's needs in the field of electricity.

14. On Irrigation

• The Iraqi side asked whether the Philippines has experience in drip irrigation, the construction of reservoirs to collect water and desalination units.The Philippine side mentioned that there are some drip irrigation projects in the Mountain Province and other provinces in Luzon, and that it has experience in building reservoirs for collecting water.
• The Iraqi side requested the Philippine side to participate in tenders for supplying irrigation equipment within the framework of the UN Oil for Food Program.

15. On Economic Zones/Free Zones

• The Philippine side will consider the Iraqi request to exchange visits of experts in order to observe and exchange views on the operation of economic zones/free zones.

16. On the Extension of Philippines - Iraq Executive Program on Education, Cultural and Scientific Cooperation

• Both sides agreed to extend the Executive Program on Education, Cultural and Scientific Cooperation for the period 2002-2004 under the same terms and conditions.
• The Iraqi side requested the Philippine side to provide training opportunities for Iraqis on the following:
  a. project management
  b. remote sensing
  c. biotechnology
  d. information technology
  e. satellite communication
  f. water and industrial water treatment
  g. air pollution monitoring
  h. organizational structure of the Department of Science
  and Technology (DOST).

• The DOST takes note of the request of the Iraqi side to send a delegation to visit the following:

a. Philippine Packaging Center
b. Industrial Technology Development Institute
c. Textile Research Institute
d. Metal Industry Research and Development Center
e. Sugar Regulatory Administration
f. Philippine Council for Health Research and Development

• The DOST has agreed to bear the expenses of the Iraqi visitors while they are in the country.
• The Philippine side will send four experts to visit research centers and universities in Iraq. The Iraqi side will bear the expenses inside Iraq.

• Both sides agreed that the sixth session of the Philippines-Iraq Joint Commission Meeting be held in Baghdad, Iraq in October 2002.

CONCLUDED and signed this 17th day of August 2001 in Manila, Philippines in two original copies in the English language, both texts being equally authentic.

ANNEX I

IRAQI DELEGATION

1. HIS EXCELLENCY MA'AN EBRAHIM SARSAM
Head of Delegation
2. MR. ABDUL AHAD PETROUS
Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Iraq
3. DR. SALAH AL-SAMARMAD
Iraqi Ambassador
4. DIR. HAMOUDI ABBAS
Director General, Ministry of Industry and Mineral
5. DIR. HASSIB YAHYA AHMAD
Director General, Ministry of Higher Education and Research
6. MR. ALI RAJAB HASSAN
Expert, Ministry of Oil
7. MR. KHUTHAIR ABBAS AL-NIDAWI
First Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
8. MR. HUSSEIN ALI RAJAB
Director, Ministry of Trade
9. MR. ABDUL KARIM M. SWAIKH
First Secretary

ANNEX II.

PHILIPPINE DELEGATION

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA)

1. TEOFISTO T. GUINGONA JR.
RP Head of Delegation,
Vice President and Secretary of Foreign Affairs
2. USEC MERLIN M. MAGALLONA

Deputy Head of Delegation Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs
Office of the Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers' Affairs (OLAMWA)

3. ASSEC SHULAN O. PRIMAVERA
Assistant Secretary, Office of Middle East and African Affairs (OMEAA)
4. EXD1R RENATO V. VILLAPANDO
Executive Director, OMEAA
5. ASSEC ALEJANDRO MOSQUERA
Assistant Secretary, Office of Legal Affairs (OLA)
6. AMBASSADOR REYNALDO B. PARUNGAO
Philippine Ambassador to Iraq
7. MS NINA P. CA1NGLET
Director, OMEAA Division I (Middle East)

OFFICE OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANT FOR MIGRANT WORKERS" AFFAIRS (OLAMWA)

1. ATTY. RAUL DADO
Acting Director, Legal Affairs

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (DTL)

1. UNDERSECRETARY ADRIAN CRISTOBAL
2. KATRYN JOSEPHINE DELA CRUZ
Officer-in-Charge, Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (C1AP)
3. ENGR. SONIA VALDEAVILLA (CIAP)
4. ATTY. MA. VICTORIA MAGCASE
Manager, Legal Dept., Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC)
5. MS. CECILE S1SON
Manager, Corp. Comm. & Int'l. Network Dept., PITC
6. ASST. DIR. MA. THERESA REGINIO
Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BETP)
7. MS. LITA BONDAD
Chief, Middle East/Africa/NlCs Division (BETP)
8. MS. MA. SALOME C. REBOSURA
Chief, Bilateral Relations Division, Bureau of International trade Relations (BITR)
9. MS. ETHEL GUMANA
Desk Officer Middle East & Africa, (BITR)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH)

1. DIR. FLORANTE TRINIDAD
Health Human Resource Dev't. Bureau
2. REMEDIOS PAULINO Director

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (DOLE)

1. Assistant Secretary Florenda L. Herrera
2. Ms. Stella Banawis
3. Mr. Jay jasper Javines

BANGKO SENTRAL NG PIL1PINAS (BSP)

1. MR. ERNANDO DE LEON
Dep. Director, Dept. of Economic Research
2. MR. VICTOR PONTINES
Bank Officer, Department Secretary
3. MR. WILFREDO PASTRANA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS (DECS)

1. USEC FE HIDALGO
Undersecretary for Programs
2. MS. LOURDES DE VERA
Asst. Secretary for Planning
3. MS. ETHEL AGNES P. VALENZUELA
4. JULITO VITRIOLO

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DOST)

1. DR. MARIPAZ I. PEREZ
Asst. Secretary, Research and Development
2. MS. ELENITAM. LEUS
Chief, International Technology

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL OIL COMPANY - EXPLORATION CORPORATION (PNOC-EC)

1. MR. ROMEO O. SOLIS
Manager for PNOC-EC
2. MR. RAYMUNDO B. SAVELLA
Geoscientific Supervisor

PHILIPPINE COCONUT AUTHORITY (PCA) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

1. MR. DANILOM.CORONACION
Administrator
2. MS. ALICE FONTECHA
Director

NATIONAL IRRIGATION AUTHORITY (NIA) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DA)

1. ENGR. ROMEO CARBONELL
Manager, Designs & Specifications Dept.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DA)

1. MS. WILMA OPSEMEA
2. MS. JULIET LANSANGAN
3. MS. GEMMA BALDRIAS

NATIONAL CENTER FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS (NCCA)

1. MS. JENNY JAVELLOSA

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT OF AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR)

1. DIR. RENATO MACAHILIG

CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES (CCP)

1. MS. JOSEFINA GUILLEN

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY (PNA)

1. MS. LUCITA SANCHEZ
Director
2. MR. VICTORIO VITUG
Asst. Director
3. SEVERINO SAMONTE
Executive, News Agency
4. MAX SANTOS
5. EM1L1O ANTONIO Photographer

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)

1. ZENAIDA Y. MONSADA
Acting Director, Energy Industry & Admin. Bureau

PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC ZONE AUTHORITY (PEZA)

1. WILHELM ORTALIZ
Deputy Director
2. LUIS MAGSANOC

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON THE PEACE PROCESS (OPAPP)

1. EVELYN DAPLAS
Acting Executive Director
2. MELANIE COBARRUBIAS

NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION (NAPOCOR)

1. MR. ROMEO G. FRANCISCO, JR.
2. PEDRO A. CABRERA
3. ROLANDO C. CABASA

ANNEX III.

MUNICIPALITY

A. Machinery and Equipment:

* Tipping Truck, Trailer Tipping Truck
* Cesspool Emptier (Normal and High Pressure)
* Wheel Loader
* Grass Cutting Machines (Petroleum )
* Small Steel Rollers for Street Maintenance
* Street Sweepers (Normal and Mini Size)
* Fork Lifts
* Mobile Workshop for Water and Sewerage and Street
* Maintenance
* Street Paver
* Tree Spade
* Asphalt Plant
* Diesel Generators
* Portable Diesel Pumps
* Sewerage and Drinking Water Submersible Pumps
* Sewerage Cleaning Equipment (Mobil)
* Surveying Equipment and Instruments
* Garbage Treatment Plant
* Laboratory Testing Instruments ( for water and sewerage and road construction)
* Material for Traffic Light Maintenance
* Leakage Treatment Material for Construction, Tanks, Pipes etc.)
* Materials for Structural Failier Treatment
* Sewerage Compact Unit for Population (50,000 persons)
* Water Compact Unit/Capacity of 2300M3/H.