As many as 250 trucks from Iran cross into Iraq through northern border crossings (into the Iraqi Kurdistan) on a daily basis, mostly carrying food products and construction materials while southern borders with the neighboring country have yet to reopened completely, says Yahya Al-e Es’haq, the chairman of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce.
Health safety protocols have been designed and implemented at the southern borders with Iraq, he added.
Noting that the two borders of Chazzabeh and Shalamcheh are planned to be reopened soon, the official said Mehran border terminal was reopened on June 9.
Transshipment of Iranian products through this major border crossing is allowed on Mondays and Wednesdays, Otaghiranonline.ir reported.
Iraq closed its land borders with Iran in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in early March.
Iraq is the main destination of Iranian exports among neighboring countries. It is the main destination of Iranian exports among neighboring countries.
About 8.1 million tons of goods worth $3.8 billion were exported from Iran to Iraq through the Iraqi Kurdistan Region during the last fiscal year that ended on March 19, according to the spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
The exports account for 42% of Iran’s total exports to Iraq in terms of value and for over 31% in terms of tonnage during the period under review, Rouhollah Latifi was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency.
Parvizkhan border crossing had a share of more than 3 million tons worth $1.4 billion, followed by Bashmaq with $1.12 billion and Tamarchin border crossing with $754 million.
Iran exported more than 25.68 million tons of goods worth $8.99 billion to Iraq last year.
New Center to Ease Construction Material Exports
A specialized center to promote Iran’s construction material exports and engineering services will be opened in Iraqi Kurdistan near Parvizkhan border crossing by the private sector.
According to the center’s secretary, Nasser La’el-Nouri, by tapping into the full scope of services provided by the center for a whole year, exporters and knowledge-based companies will be able to directly connect with major real-estate developers in Iraq and sell their products, ISNA reported.
“Exporters willing to supply their products via this center should meet the standards of the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran and international standards,” he said.
“The center has secured business permits from Iraqi Kurdistan, Iran’s Embassy in Iraq and Sulaimaniyah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and is scheduled to be launched on July 10th once registrations from Iranian producers have been closed. Similar centers are designed to be subsequently established in Afghanistan, Georgia and Oman.”
