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Syria, Iraq discuss mechanisms of developing trade exchange

Damascus, The mechanisms of developing trade exchange between Syria and Iraq and overcoming difficulties and obstacles to ensure that the Syrian product of all kinds reaches the Iraqi markets and vice versa were the main points of discussion during a meeting held Sunday between Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Dr. Mohammad Samer al-Khalil and Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals, Manhal Aziz al-Khabbaz.

Minister al-Khalil noted during the meeting between the two sides at the ministry building in Damascus that the development of cooperation between the two countries at the industrial level will be later reflected on the economic level and the volume of trade exchange and investment cooperation to be an added value in developing relations between the two countries.

For his part, the Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals indicated that the aim of these meetings is to create real opportunities for expanding trade exchange and industrial cooperation, pointing out that more details will be discussed in a manner commensurate with the legislation and laws governing the two countries to reach future economic and industrial integration between the two countries.

In a press statement after the meeting, minister al-Khalil said that the volume of trade exchange between Syria and Iraq “is still below ambition,” and today’s meeting comes within the framework of a series of important and necessary meetings held with the Iraqi delegation at the official governmental level and with the business sector and industrial companies to reach an industrial integration.

In a similar statement, al-Khabbaz added that with regard to the possibility of facilitating customs duties related to Syrian goods exported to Iraq, this will be discussed with the authorities concerned in Iraq to reach everything that would facilitate the arrival of the Syrian product to Iraq in a way that would serve the interest of the two countries and expand the volume of trade exchange in addition to protecting the domestic Iraqi product.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency