Iraq Expects Turkish Business World to Join its Restructuring Efforts

  • 07.09.2018
  • News
irak-ziyaret-01

A delegation from the Iraq Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI) as a part of their program to improve their economical relations with Türkiye. The delegation led by the Head of Neighboring Countries Department, Ambassador Oday Alkhairullah was welcomed in Odakule by ICI Chairman Erdal Bahçıvan. The delegation included Deputy Consul General, Nawfat T. Al-Basri, Second Secretary Baidaa K. Abdulkareem and Third Secretary Zeynelabidin Alhayrulla from the Iraq Consulate General in Istanbul.

ICI Chairman Erdal Bahçıvan, first, briefed the group about Istanbul Chamber of Industry. Mentioning the important role of its almost 19,000 members in the Turkish economy and their valued contributions to the economy, ICI Chairman Erdal Bahçıvan underlined the honorable position that these industrial organizations have in the Turkish economy with their export power. Adding that most of ICI members have strong partnerships in Iraq, Bahçıvan stated that these organizations have a strong background regarding trade relations with Iraq. Stating that Iraq runs to the rescue of Türkiye in the tough days of Türkiye and Türkiye runs to the rescue of Iraq in the tough days of Iraq, Bahçıvan underlined that the business people should keep on focusing on their work even if there are fluctuations in the politics. Stating that such strong relations between business people will lead the politicians to the right path in time, Bahçıvan named strong trade relations between countries as an insurance. Bahçıvan stated that business people prepare the ground that will bring the politicians closer while establishing economic relations.

Mentioning the urgent need to reinforce the relations that have weakened recently due to the negative events in our geography, ICI Chairman stated that they had been organizing one or two country days every month as ICI to fulfill this need and they will be holding one for Iraq as soon as possible. Moreover, Bahçıvan stated that they would be pleased to provide information about investing in Iraq by welcoming the business and trade delegations at ICI and introducing them to the industrialists, and reminded the success of Turkish investors in expanding to different geographies. Mentioning the great opportunities provided by Iraq in this respect, Bahçıvan reassured that Iraq will take its place in the Turkish business world not just a country to export to but also as a country to invest in. Bahçıvan named their only wish as a peaceful and stable geography. "Your peace means our peace. I hope that we will feel the wind of Iraq under ICI roof, too." said Bahçıvan.

Ambassador Oday Alkhairullah, Head of Neighboring Countries Department, said that these two countries have a common history and strong roots that will not be impacted from the political fluctuations. Stating that they have been working on restructuring Iraq after those tough days, Alkhairullah said that they need the help of their neighbors and especially Türkiye in this process. Saying that there are many industrial regions waiting for investment in Iraq, Alkhairullah expressed his experience in this subject and said that Turkish business world can be a great help in the development of these regions. Alkhairullah recorded that such trade and politic cooperation between two countries will improve the economic relations further.

Stating that they have been introducing Türkiye as a developed and very beautiful country and that Turkish companies operating in Iraq are very satisfied, Alkhairullah named these factors as ones that will lead the way for the next Turkish companies to do business in Iraq. Alkhairullah, who stated that they want the transition to Gulf countries to be through Iraq as a country geographically connected to Türkiye, said that the new drivers in relations are economical and commercial factors rather that politics. Alkhairullah also asked to be informed about ICI events and meetings beforehand, so that they can direct the Iraq business world to these meetings. Alkhairullah said that they also want to introduce the requesting industrial companies and plants to Iraq business world by distributing the reports prepared by these companies/plants to their own business world through Iraq Ministry of Industry.