TEHRAN: Iran’s Commercial Counselor in Iraq said the country’s non-oil exports to Iraq amounts to $6.2bn, of which $2.2bn are agricultural products and foodstuff. Ebrahim Rezazadeh on Sunday highlighted the importance of Iraq’s market for exporting Iranian products, adding “since 2005, our exports to Iraq has increased 17 times, which is three times more than the four continents of America, Africa, Europe and Oceania in total.” He went on to add, “70 per cent of our exports in 2015 were destined for China, Iraq, UAE, Afghanistan, India and Turkey.”
Rezazadeh maintained that the highest number of Iranian agencies in Iraq, exchange of highest volvume of tourists between the two countries, over 90% imports to Iraq, reduction of rival countries’ shares in Iraqi market, as well as Iraqi people’s preference for Iranian products have created ample opportunities for Iran to expand its presence in the country’s market. He then noted that the date of holding Iran’s specialized exhibition in Iraq has been changed from 17 Feb. to 15 Jan. 2017. He further announced the signing of a memorandum between the two countries for resolving the current obstacles in the issuance of certificate of conformity for products to meet Iraqi safety requirements, saying under the MoU, Iran will soon export 51 domestically-produced items to Iraq.
