The current Egyptian government has succeeded in achieving in three days what the former regime failed to accomplish in 20 years. Minister of Manpower and Immigration Dr. Ahmed El-Borai agreed with the Iraqi government to pay out remittances for the Egyptians who were working in Iraq. This is valued at U.S. $408 million since Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The Egyptian government that succeeded the Mubarak regime insisted on getting back all the debts owed to its public institutions and private sector, as well as having Iraq give back benefits to Egyptian workers as compensation. It rejected the Iraqi government's request to drop the debt or reduce it. This was done by countries of the Paris Club, as they decided to take off about 80% of Iraqi debts as a way of assisting. During the 38th Arab Labor Conference held in Cairo, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Iraq, Nassar al-Rubai said that Iraq strongly desires to speed up payment of dues for Egyptian workers. During his three day visit in Iraq, Bonai managed to come to an agreement with the Iraqi Ministry of Finance to take necessary actions towards the payments that will be given to Egyptian workers. Another agreement was created related to the liquidation of the subject of debts owed to the Egyptian government. This will be resolved once and for all after the Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Essam Sharaf visits Iraq in the coming days. Borai also succeeded in dealing with returning the Iraqi labor market to accommodate the Egyptian labor market by the end of this year. He also dealt with implementing national projects in Iraq as well as with returning Iraqi companies that used to operate in Egypt.
