Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture

Iran, Iraq chambers push for trade zone, tariff reforms to boost economic ties

Iranian and Iraqi business leaders called for deeper economic cooperation, including the establishment of a joint trade zone and reforms to customs tariffs on Iranian exports, during talks in Tehran aimed at strengthening commercial relations between the neighboring countries.

Samad Hassanzadeh, president of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, met with Firas Al-Hamdani, chairman of the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce, during the Iraqi delegation’s visit to Iran. The discussions focused on expanding trade and investment cooperation and addressing obstacles facing businesses on both sides. Hassanzadeh said strengthening relations with neighboring and Muslim countries remains a priority for Iran, describing Iraq as one of the country’s principal trading partners and a market with significant trade and investment potential that continues to attract the attention of Iranian economic actors. He urged Iraqi authorities to review tariffs imposed on Iranian goods exported to Iraq, saying current duties are higher than those applied to products from some other exporting countries. “We expect a revision of the tariff levels applied to Iranian products entering Iraq,” Hassanzadeh said, adding that Iranian businesses are interested in undertaking joint investment projects in Iraq. He noted, however, that concerns remain regarding the availability and reliability of certain infrastructure needed to support foreign investment, which has limited the willingness of some investors to enter the Iraqi market. Al-Hamdani emphasized the need for a more structured framework to manage bilateral economic relations, citing the absence of sufficient regulations and institutional mechanisms to coordinate cooperation between the two countries. He proposed the creation of a joint working group to develop such a framework and facilitate the resolution of trade-related issues. The Baghdad Chamber chief also highlighted the strong presence of Iranian products in Iraqi markets and said discussions had already taken place with Iranian counterparts on customs-related challenges. “We have identified the root causes of some customs issues and are working to define a program for reforming tariff policies affecting Iranian goods,” Al-Hamdani said. He also called for the organization of specialized trade exhibitions and renewed efforts to establish a commercial zone between Iran’s Mehran border crossing and Iraq’s Wasit province, a project that had previously been agreed upon by the two sides. Al-Hamdani said Iraq offers extensive opportunities for foreign investment across a wide range of sectors, adding that a number of idle factories in the country could be revived through investment by Iranian companies.
Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture

Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture

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