Baghdad – IA
The Ministry of Commerce announced the arrival of the first ship loaded with Australian wheat to the port of Umm Qasr for the production of commercial yellow flour in Iraq.
The Director General of the General Company for Grain Trade, Haider Nouri Al-Karaawi, stated at the port of Umm Qasr in a statement received by the (INA), that “the first ship LETIZIA OETKER loaded with 36 thousand tons of Australian wheat arrived for the benefit of commercial mills for the production of commercial zero flour in Iraq.” It is supplied by one of the companies nominated by the American Wheat Council,” pointing out that “this ship will be followed by the arrival of another ship loaded with (50) thousand tons of Russian wheat tomorrow, Saturday.”
He stressed “the support of the Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Atheer Al-Ghurairi, for the local zero-grain flour production project,” noting “the importance of this ship in enhancing food supplies and providing high-quality zero-grain flour to consumers, and a step to enhance the economic aspect and meet the needs of the local market with the zero-grain flour product.”
Al-Karaawi stated, “This Australian ship represents a new beginning for a series of expected quantities of grains imported into the country, which reflects the joint cooperation between the company and the private sector, which will create a new opportunity to increase the labor force.”
He pointed out that “this step reflects the Ministry of Commerce’s commitment to the private sector mills concerned with promoting investment in the field of providing zero-grade flour as well as to improve the sector’s ability to compete in the local market and gradually produce zero-grade flour locally and not rely on imported zero-grade flour.”
He added, “The company’s work is coordination for the purpose of the success of this promising project and to encourage the private sector to advance the country’s local industry.”
It is noteworthy that there was a study presented by the American Wheat Council eight months ago to produce zero-grade flour in Iraq.