Baghdad – IA – Hassan Al-Fawaz
Today, Wednesday, the Syrian Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Muhammad Samer Al-Khalil, announced the discussion of facilitating the transfer of products and goods to Iraq and cooperation in the customs field between the two countries, while he indicated the discussion of establishing joint industrial projects with Iraq.
Al-Khalil told the (INA): “What brings Syria and Iraq together is a lot, as the relationship is not only geographical proximity, but rather the relationships of brothers, kinship, permanent communication, common customs, and a common culture as well,” indicating that “what brings Syria and Iraq together is a lot.” .
He added, “It is necessary to have great cooperation with Iraq, which has always and always been a partner at the level of economic cooperation, especially in the commercial aspect,” pointing out that “Syrian trade is mainly interested in the Iraqi market, exporting and importing a number of materials that distinguish Iraq.” .
He continued, “There is constant communication between Iraqi and Syrian businessmen,” explaining that “the focus of the expanded discussion is on how we can gradually return to higher levels of trade exchange in a way that is in the interest of the two countries and provides products that the two countries need in a cheaper and faster way, especially as a result of the geographical proximity of Syrian products, which is Distinctive specifications that the Iraqi consumer and merchant have become accustomed to for long periods.”
He stated that “the focus was on this aspect, in addition to cooperation in the customs field in order to facilitate the movement of products and goods that countries need,” noting that “future cooperation in the industrial field was discussed as joint projects in areas that could complement each other so that Syria would benefit from what is present in Iraq.” And vice versa.”
He stated that “there are other areas of cooperation in social affairs, labor, in the field of communications and information technology, and in the field of specifications and standards that also serve economic cooperation,” pointing out that “Syrian exports to Iraq declined significantly as a result of the war and the blocking of roads between the two countries.”
He stressed, “We are keen for the Syrian product to be in the Iraqi markets in a way that does not harm any existing Iraqi product, that is, to be among the products that Iraq needs and imports from other countries,” pointing out that “we can evaluate what goods may be present in the Iraqi market.” More importantly, new products that can enter the Iraqi market and compete with products imported from other countries into Iraq.”
He stated, “This requires great work and time to gradually move to the levels of trade exchange that existed before the war period.”
It is noteworthy that the Syrian Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Muhammad Samer Al-Khalil, signed in Baghdad 5 memorandums of understanding with the Ministries of Trade, Labor, Construction, and Communications and the Standardization and Quality Control Organization in the Ministry of Planning in various fields.