Addressing a seminar in presence of Iranian and Iraqi businessmen on Saturday, the Secretary-General of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce Sayed Hamid Hosseini said Iran has exported $2.5b worth of goods to Iraq over the past 100 days.

IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

“Iran has put on its agenda broadening of cooperation in industrial sectors with Iraq,” he said according to IRNA.

He urged Iraqi ambassador to Iran to facilitate the issuing of long-term visas for Iranian businessmen to ease trade exchange between the two countries.

Hosseini also referred to clearing contractors’ debts, development of the Customs Infrastructure Section and organizing health tourism as other suitable grounds for expansion of cooperation between the two countries.

He also confirmed a credit-line worth $200m for Iranian and Iraqi contactors, adding that the credit-line helps Iran to be more active in investment projects in Iran, expressing hope that Iraqi government would settle the account for the previous projects which have been accomplished to open the way for the new projects.

He also said that long term visa is one of the priorities for Iranian businessmen to cooperate in Iraq and talks are progressing well.

Meanwhile head of Ira-Iraq Chamber of Commerce Yahya Al-e Eshaq said that the trade volume between both countries stood at $13b last year and this year the ground is being paved for a 20-billion-dollar trade volume.

He reiterated that the total amount of Iran’s trade with Europe is less than one-tenth of Iran’s trade with Iraq and it make ill-wishers envy it.

He went on to say despite enemies and ill-wishers’ efforts, Iran and Iraq’s relation will be expanded and officials of both countries are determined to boost trade ties.

Meanwhile Iraq’s Ambassador to Iran Saad Abdul Wahab Jawad Qandil addressing the seminar highlighting the losses incurred by Daesh terrorists in Iraq, adding that raq is in need of Iran to reconstruct the country in post-Daesh era.

Saad Abdul Wahab Jawad Qandil said such bilateral meetings between Iranian president and Iraqi prime minister have paved the path for achieving bilateral agreements.

He referred to dlrs. 12 billion worth of trade exchange between Iran and Iraq and said the figure is now increased by $20b.

Issuance of visa is now started for pilgrims and will be continued for businessmen as well, he said.

Launching of industrial towns in common borders help expand economic relations and cooperation between the two countries, he said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Jawad Qandil referred to dredging Arvand River, saying that reviving the river dated back to Alegria Agreement in 1975.

It paved the path for resuming activities of industrial units and promoting economy, he noted.

Emphasizing the fact that Iran has stood by Iraq during Daesh invasion, he said Iraq will also stand shoulder to shoulder by Iran in the sanction era.