Tehran – Ina
Today, Monday, Trade Minister Atheer Al-Ghurairi revealed an upcoming visit by Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi to Baghdad, and while he indicated that understandings had been reached to establish industrial cities, he confirmed the move to introduce Iranian private sector companies into the Iraqi market.
Al-Ghurairi said in a press conference held today with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran, attended by the (INA) correspondent: “I would like to express my thanks, appreciation and gratitude for the good reception, hospitality and preparation, and I would like to point out that Iran is the second largest trading partner of Iraq,” indicating, “The governmental program of the current Iraqi government includes opening horizons of cooperation for neighboring countries and benefiting from the comparative advantage of each country individually.”
He added, “More than 10 memorandums of understanding will be prepared and their working papers will be the focus of discussions with Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi during his upcoming visit to Iraq,” noting, “We will meet with investors, businessmen, and the Iranian private sector to listen to them.”
He continued, “It was agreed with the Iranian Minister of Commerce and the Vice President of the Republic to establish a mechanism and address the obstacles facing Iranian businessmen in the Iraqi market,” pointing out that “the Iraqi market is large and promising.”
He added, “We aim to improve the business and investment environment in Iraq,” explaining that “the country is in a state of reconstruction, and the Iranian investor must have a share and share.”
He stated, “We have reached understandings and final touches to establish industrial cities, which is the first and major step in Iraq with the help of the Iranian private sector,” pointing out, “We aspire, through the Iraqi government’s economic vision, to geographical distribution, commodity diversity, and benefit from a strong partner, which is a government demand.”
He stated, “Our steps are strong, our approach is clear, and its fruits are beginning to appear in the Iraqi reality,” explaining, “There will be a special time to listen to the Iranian private sector and overcome all difficulties facing its entry into Iraq forcefully.”
The Ministry of Commerce announced that it will sign, today, Monday, the minutes of a joint meeting with its Iranian counterpart.
The Ministry of Commerce said in a statement received by the (INA): “The Minister of Commerce, Atheer Daoud Al-Ghurairi, and his accompanying delegation held a meeting today with the Vice President of the Iranian Republic, Muhammad Mukhber, and the Iranian Minister of Economy and Finance, Ali Tayebnia, to discuss a number of economic, commercial, and political files. On the sidelines of the meetings of the joint Iraqi-Iranian committee.
She added, “The meeting witnessed a great convergence of views, the organization of some files, and the completion of all procedures related to the memorandums of understanding and minutes prepared by the two countries,” noting, “Officials in the Islamic Republic and its government interacted with all the proposals submitted by the Iraqi side in a way that serves the interests of the two countries, including those files.” Industrial cities, free zones, and railway connectivity, in addition to Iraqi water quotas, supplying Iraq with gas to operate electricity, as well as double taxation files, the customs file, and removing some violations.”
She confirmed, “There are great understandings that occurred during the meeting, which will be included in a joint report that will be signed this evening by the presidents of both sides, the Iraqi Minister of Commerce and his Iranian counterpart, in the presence of the delegations of the two countries.”