Iraq aims to increase trade volume with Turkey to $5 bln
Posted by meb at May 23rd, 2008
Iraq aims to increase the annual trade volume between itself and Turkey to $5 billion from the current level of $3 billion, the Iraqi trade minister has stated.
Iraq Trade Minister Abd al-Falah al-Sudani and a delegation of chamber of commerce leaders arrived yesterday in the southeastern industrial city of Gaziantep to participate in the third Iraq International Fair, which was organized by the Gaziantep Chamber of Industry (GSO) and the Iraq Ministry of Trade and which begins today.
Sudani and the delegation met with Nejat Koçer, GSO president and Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) vice president. Sudani said during the visit he was pleased to be in Turkey for such an important event. He noted that relations between the two countries were developing day by day and that the Iraq fair contributed to this.
He stated that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Trade Minister Kürşad Tüzmen had played an important part in having the fairs organized in Turkey. Sudani said the bilateral annual trade volume was around $3 billion and that he expected this figure to reach $4-5 billion.
Unfortunately, he noted, Iraqi oil previously could not be transported via Turkey. “We were facing difficulties due to terrorist attacks. But now Iraqi oil is transported to many countries via Turkey,” he said, adding that the problems in obtaining transit passes for Iraqi cargo drivers going through Turkey had also been removed.
Sudani emphasized that the Habur border gate between Iraq and Turkey is not adequate for trade and that increasing the number of gates is important for Iraq as its security problems decrease.
Sudani said there are more than 80 Turkish firms operating in northern Iraq and noted that his government supports Iraqi businessmen doing business with Turkey.
Koçer told the Iraqi minister he was also glad to see the Iraqi delegation in Gaziantep. “Our Iraqi friends should feel as if this is their own home, near their brothers,” he stated.
He said relations with Iraq are crucial, noting that the ties between Turkey and Iraq go beyond commercial affairs. He also emphasized the necessity of additional border gates to facilitate further trade between the two countries.
Koçer said the Turkish people are upset over the problems and unstable environment in Iraq and that they hope the Iraqi people will be able to emerge from this situation and regain their wealth.
Koçer noted that Gaziantep is the gateway to and supply center for the Middle Eastern and Iraqi markets for global brands and companies.
source: Today’s Zaman
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