BAGHDAD: The Habur border gate between Turkey and Iraq has been closed for three weeks due to clashes in the area; but thanks to the anticipated opening of 4 new border gates, trade between the two countries, which is worth $10 billion annually will be facilitated.
The Habur border gate reopened Tuesday and priority was given to trucks carrying fresh produce. Military vehicles accompanied the trucks waiting in convoys for security purposes, and security checks are conducted. The loss exporters suffered when the gate was closed for three weeks was $500 million.
According to Turkish daily Sabah, the Customs and Trade Ministry has completed 70 percent of the works regarding four new border gates, which will be established at Gülyazı, Aktepe, Ovaköy and Üzümlü. Furthermore, works to open the Umurlu border gate in Hakkari continue. These alternative gates will be gradually commissioned and completed by 2017.
When around 15,000 trucks were stuck at the Habur border gate due to terror attacks, the exporters who were worried about fresh fruits and vegetables rotting and who do not want to lose the Iraqi market, headed to Iran. They were then waiting for their trucks to pass through Iran’s Gürbulak border gate.
The International Transporters’ Association (ITA) announced that, on average, 4,000 trucks pass through (enter-exit) Habur border gate daily, exceeding the gate’s capacity. The ITA said they are willing for planned projects that will alleviate the problem to be implemented soon.
