Iraqi Kurdistan Calls for More Economic Ties with Iran

The Importer and Exporter Union of Iraq’s Northern region of Kurdistan called for wider economic relations with Iranian traders, and asked for an office of Sanandaj Chamber of Commerce to be opened in Erbil, the central city of the Iraqi Autonomous Region.

“One of the solutions to promote cooperation is that Sanandaj Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (SCCIMA) open an office in the Iraqi Autonomous Region of Kurdistan, said Mostafa Abdulrahman Abdullah, president of the Importer and Exporter Union of Iraqi Kurdistan region on Sunday.

He stressed that he will do whatever he can to remove all obstacles in the way of bilateral trade, including high tariffs on Iranian commodities.

Sanandaj is the provincial capital city of the Iranian province of Kurdistan near the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

Back in February, President of Iraqi Kurdistan’s Regional Government (KRG) Masoud Barzani, in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Baghdad Iraj Masjedi, said that Erbil is eager to promote ties with Tehran in all fields.

Barzani, during his meeting with Masjedi on February 21, welcomed Iran’s viewpoints on deepening cooperation, saying, “We believe in regular contacts with Iran, and we are eager to promote ties in all fields.”

Appreciating Iran for its helps for fighting terrorism, he said that the KRG will use all in power to step up cooperation with the country.

Iran’s envoy, for his part, described bilateral ties as strategic, saying that prospects for mutual cooperation are bright.

“Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s economic situation will improve in light of mutual collaboration,” he said, noting that Iran has remarkable volume of trade with Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Transfer of Iran’s gas to KRG, mutual cooperation and private sector’s engagement can provide suitable opportunities for boosting relations, Masjedi said.

A couple of days earlier, Governor of Halabja Governorate of KRG Azad Tofiq said, at a joint press conference with the Governor General of Iran’s Kermanshah Province Houshang Bazvand, that the Iraqi Kurdistan was profoundly indebted to Iran's help and support throughout the past, adding that Erbil was hopeful to partially make up for Tehran’s helps then that the US had imposed unilateral sanctions against the country.