Iran Exports to Iraq 27 Times More Than Europe
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
Head of Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce Yahya Al-Eshaq in an interview with state-run radio station said the relation between Iran and Iraq is strategic and very important especially in fields like economy and the more this relation is strengthened, it will be to the benefit of both sides.
Al-Eshaq said last year Iran exported technical and engineering services and goods to Iraq worth $13b while the total volume of Iran’s exports to European states stood at $475. It means exports to Iraq were 27 times more than to Europe, he reiterated.
He further said the volume of Iran’s exports to Iraq in the first half of the current year have stood at $6b and the figure has increased to 8 to 9 billion dollars in nine months.
Al-Eshaq noted that currently both countries have problem in direct banking relation and officials of central banks of both states are working to resolve it.
He further claimed the U.S., ill-wishers and rivals like China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey and others create problems for Iran in Iraq.
He reiterated those countries do everything that they can like political and economic pressures to stop Iran from cooperating in the joint investments and construction projects in Iraq.
Al-Eshaq added that all those pressures are because of good relations between Iran and Iraq.
He went on to say that it is important for Iran to preserve Iraq market because Iraq’s market will be one of the biggest in the region.
He stated Iraq with population over 36m people exports four to five million barrels of oil daily, adding that Iraqis have no financial problem and security is the only problem.
Al-Eshaq reiterated that although Iran’s exports to south of Iraq have decreased but its exports to Iraqi Kurdistan are on the rise.
He noted that between 1000 to 1500 trucks are dispatched to Iraq daily.
