Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan Region to Further Broaden Trade Ties

Senior Iranian and Iraqi Kurdistan region officials in a meeting in Sulaimaniyeh conferred on ways to further develop trade and economic relations and cooperation between the two sides.

The meeting was held between Iran's Consul-General to Sulaimaniyah Mehdi Shoushtari and the governor of Sulaimaniyah on Tuesday.

During the meeting, both sides stressed the importance of developing bilateral ties and the ways to boost economic and trade relations.

Sulaimaniyah governor, for his part, referred to profound relations between Iran and the Iraqi Kurdistan region, specially with Sulaimaniyah, mainly in cultural, geographical and historical fields.

He called for taking advantage of cultural commonalities in line with fulfilling bilateral interests.

Meanwhile, Shushtari expressed happiness over the level of trade and cultural relations between two sides.

He also expressed Iran’s readiness for developing ties in various fields.

Shoushtari also held a meeting with chancellor of Sulaimaniyah University, and underlined the importance of developing academic and scientific relations and cooperation.

Implementing the MoUs between the Iranian and Sulaimaniyah universities and reinforcing Persian Language course in Sulaimaniyah University were among other topics discussed between the two sides.

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 was 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.

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