Iran-Iraq trade conference to realize $ 20 billion trade
An Iran-Iraq trade conference was held to discuss $ 20 billion in trade strategies between the two countries.
According to the International Iranian Stone Exhibition, an Iran-Iraq trade conference was held and strategies for realizing a $ 20 billion trade between the two countries were examined.
At the conference, which was attended by the Iraqi delegation headed by Abdul Razzaq Al-Zuhairi and the president of the Iraqi Chamber of Commerce in Iran, economic activists at the meeting, while explaining the most important obstacles to trade development between the two countries, visa issuance and banking issues.
Mohammad Reza Karbasi, Deputy Minister of International Affairs of the Iran Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while presenting statistics on trade between the two countries over the past years, said: "Although the trade statistics of Iran and Iraq have been fluctuating in recent years, but fortunately these statistics are reasonable and Iraq is Iran's first trading partner.
He stressed the need to equip the infrastructure in order to develop long-term cooperation between the two countries.
The most important obstacles to the development of trade between the two countries, the issuance of visas and banking issues at the top of the economic problems of activists.
Abdul Razzaq Al-Zuhairi, president of the Iraqi Union of Chambers of Commerce, also said at the conference: "It is natural that despite the volume of relations between Iran and Iraq, there are problems. But these problems will be solvable.
He announced the readiness to establish a joint Iraqi-Iranian chamber, and expressed the Iraqi government's approach to investing in the country's private sector.
The head of the Iraqi Chambers of Commerce Union also stressed: "Considering the suitable agricultural lands in Iraq, access to water and the appropriate laws that exist in this country, the ground is prepared for the activities of Iranian private sector activists in the field."
Emphasizing that agriculture is the basis of economic development, Al-Zuhairi said that the Iraqi government is ready to support foreign investors in the field of agriculture.
He added: "Iraqis are also eager to export to Iran, and transit development mechanisms should be considered to improve exports between the two countries."
Iran-Iraq trade relations should not be one-sided
Yahya al-Ishaq, chairman of the Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce, believes that despite the emphasis on developing Iran-Iraq trade relations, the relationship is one-sided and more on Iran's side.
He said that the two countries' goal of achieving trade relations between the two countries to reach $ 20 billion is possible and that the field of technical and engineering services is one of the most important areas that can play a significant role in achieving this goal, while Iran is reluctant to trade with Iraq. Continue unilaterally.
Al-Ishaq said: "On the issue of transit of goods from Iraq to Iran, a law has been passed in the Iraqi parliament that, if implemented, will solve many problems in the field of transit of goods between Iran and Iraq."
He stressed: "There are many vacancies and industries in Iran in which Iraqi investors can operate and invest."
