MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : KRG SOUTH KURDISTAN & FREE TRADE ZONE WITH IRAN

PM Barzani: Kurdistan, Iran will Improve Their Economic Ties

BasNews 02/05/2018 – 15:06 ERBIL – Trade and economic ties between Erbil and Tehran have made good progress lately as most of the disputes between Kurdistan Region and Iraq have been solved in accordance with the Iraqi Constitution, Kurdish PM Nechrivan Barzani said on Wednesday.During the Economic Confereance of Kurdistan and Iran in Erbil, Barzani also said that additional talks are ongoing with Baghdad to address the rest of the issues.

The annual economic forum which is organized by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Chamber of Commerce and Industry, started on Wednesday at 10:00 am local time and will continue for two days while an Iranian delegation led by Industry, Mine, and Trade Minister Mohammed Shariatmadari is attending in the event, as well.

The main aim of the conference is to strengthen trade relations between Erbil and Tehran.”I hope this conference will be followed by better steps to improve economic and trade relations between Erbil and Tehran,” said the top Kurdish official.Concerning the economic ties with the neighboring country, Barzani stated that current total trade between the two sides is about $ 6.5 billion annually. “Approximately 67% of cars the Kurdistan Region imports from countries around the world, are brought in through the Iranian border,”. He added.

The Kurdish premier additionally revealed that at least 135 Iranian firms and factories are present in Kurdistan Region now, providing hundreds of jobs for the people living in the region. “There is an attempt to open a new free trade zone at the Parwezkhan border crossing with Iran,” the Kurdish leader concluded.  www.mesop.de