Monday, April 16, 2007
Turkey aims to raise bilateral trade with Iraq to $3.5 billion
Trade, Turkey
(Iraq Development Program) - State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen yesterday said that the government aims to raise bilateral trade with Iraq to $3.5 billion, "I don't think that various populist messages targeting domestic politics will have a negative impact on such a successful fair," Tuzmen told reporters at a joint press conference with Turkey's leading business group, the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB). Tuzmen said Turkey's trade volume with neighboring Iraq could reach $3.5 billion this year but stressed the government wanted to further increase that figure.
When Turkish activities in the construction and service sectors are added, Turkish-Iraqi business volume is around $7 billion. "We aim at raising it to $10 billion, while raising the mutual trade volume to $3.5-4 billion," he added. Sabah al-Sa'adi, head of the Iraqi Commerce Ministry Department of Fairs, made comments over Barzani's threat to stir Turkey's southeastern region if Turkey interferes in the Kurds' bid to attach northern Iraq's oil-rich city of Kirkuk to the Kurdish semiautonomous zone.
Sa'adi said the controversial remarks were not official and were not made by the central Iraqi government. He emphasized that the economic ties between Turkey and Iraq would not be influenced by messages delivered by individuals.
When Turkish activities in the construction and service sectors are added, Turkish-Iraqi business volume is around $7 billion. "We aim at raising it to $10 billion, while raising the mutual trade volume to $3.5-4 billion," he added. Sabah al-Sa'adi, head of the Iraqi Commerce Ministry Department of Fairs, made comments over Barzani's threat to stir Turkey's southeastern region if Turkey interferes in the Kurds' bid to attach northern Iraq's oil-rich city of Kirkuk to the Kurdish semiautonomous zone.
Sa'adi said the controversial remarks were not official and were not made by the central Iraqi government. He emphasized that the economic ties between Turkey and Iraq would not be influenced by messages delivered by individuals.
Labels: Kurdistan, Kursad Tuzmen, Sabah al-Sa'adi, Turkey, Turkish Union of Chambers
