President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Gholam Hossein Shafei on Monday called on Iraq to remove the hurdles on the way of expansion of cooperation between the two countries.
Speaking during a meeting in Baghdad with Iraqi Minister of Trade Alaa Ahmed al-Jubouri, who also chairs an Iran-Iraq Joint Economic Commission, Shafei asked for more efforts to pave the way for bilateral cooperation with the help of private sector.
Shafei is on a visit to Iraq at the head of a high-ranking economic delegation which includes four Members of Parliament, the head of Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce, and a number of Iranian economic activists.
Noting that Iraq is an strategic economic partner of Iran, the Iran Chamber chief said that political and cultural relations between the two countries can support economic relations.
Referring to easing visa requirements in air travels between the two neighboring countries, Shafei called for the scheme to include land travels as well so as to further expedite bilateral trade.
The Iraqi minister, for his part, expressed hope that both Iran and Iraq would help resolve the problems hindering economic relations between the two countries.
Al-Jubouri noted that Iran-Iraq Joint Economic Commission will convene soon with the presence of new Iraqi cabinet members.
During their stay in Iraq, the Iranian economic delegation has already visited Iraq Federation of Industries and the Iraqi Federation of Chambers of Commerce.
According to the latest data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, Iraq with 23.16 million tons worth $6.84 billion was Iran’s second top trade partner in the region after the UAE during the current fiscal year’s first eight months (March 21-Nov. 21).
Iran exported 21.64 million tons of goods worth $6.13 billion to Iraq and imported 1.51 million tons worth $706.86 million from the neighboring country.