Turkish Minister of Trade Mehmet Muş met with his Iraqi counterpart, Alaa al-Juboori in Baghdad to discuss “ways to expand joint cooperation, increase trade volume between the two countries, remove obstacles, and facilitate the entry of investors to both countries.”
The ministers also announced that they reached an agreement to establish a joint committee to “resolve issues and enhance economic relations.”
According to a readout from the Iraqi Ministry of Trade, both delegations affirmed the close historical and religious ties between their societies. “The two sides reviewed the mechanism for facilitating the movement of goods through the Ibrahim al-Khalil port and ways to enhance trade volume” the readout indicated.
Turkey is one of Iraq’s primary trading partners. Trade volume between Turkey and Iraq reached a peak last year and exceed a total of $20 billion according to the former Turkish Ambassador to Baghdad, Fatih Yildiz.
“Our trade volume with Iraq reached $20.6 billion during 2020. Hence, we exceeded our target of $20 billion.” he tweeted in February 2021.
Turkish and Iraqi delegations reportedly discussed easing visa restrictions for businesspeople and investors from both countries.
Turkish officials had previously voiced concerns over unnecessary visa hurdles preventing Turkish business owners to travel to Iraq. Turkish Ambassador to Baghdad, Ali Riza Güney, told in March that visa conditions for Turkish businesspeople should be corrected.
