Iran has put four major areas on its agenda for cooperation with the Kurdistan region of Iraq, namely creating free trade zones, establishing industrial towns, developing medical tourism and offering technical-engineering services, Iran’s ambassador in Baghdad said.
Iraj Masjedi, who was visiting Erbil, outlined the major priorities in a meeting with Masrour Barzani, chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, on Wednesday.
The Iranian envoy said given the recent stability in Iraq’s political system, it is important to use existing capacities to expand multifaceted relations for the benefit of the Iraqi people, ISNA reported.
“It is essential to develop joint economic activities and take steps to prepare the ground for the exploitation of manufacturing and trade potentials,” he said.
Until 2022, the Iraqi government plans to focus on enhancing stability, improving production and reforming political and administrative procedures to achieve social sustainability.
“For this reason, the increasing pursuit of trade through [shared] borders and launch of joint projects would be a turning point in [Iran’s] relations with this high potential region of Iraq,” he said.
Barzani underlined Iran’s effective role in the Kurdistan region, saying cooperation with Tehran is being seriously pursued.
“The future plans of the new executive body of the Kurdistan region focus primarily on expanding economic ties and along this line, we warmly welcome collaboration with capable Iranian companies,” he said.
Later, Masjedi also met with the leader of Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, on Thursday where they discussed mutual cooperation and recent political developments.
Iraq’s partnership is vital for Iran under the present circumstances, as the country is suffering strict sanctions reimposed by the United States after its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.
Iranian officials have been holding intensive negotiations with Iraqi authorities to protect trade ties so as to find relief from US restrictions.
Expanding trade with the Kurdistan region will help increase the country’s overall trade with Iraq.
“Iraqi Kurdistan is a special and important region, which can be considered a very good trade partner for Iran, given their geopolitical and cultural commonalities,” Sirous Borna, an Iranian expert on Iraqi affairs, said recently.
