Shafaq News..Iran envisions broadened economic partnership with Iraq

Shafaq
News- Ilam

Iranian
economists and trade experts are calling for a broader economic partnership
with Iraq, urging Tehran to strengthen ties in production, investment and job
creation, state-run IRNA News reported on Tuesday.

The
proposals came at a meeting of the Employment Council in Ilam province in
western Iran. The province is home to a significant Feyli Kurdish population,
shares a 430-kilometer border with Iraq and hosts the Mehran crossing, one of
the main land routes between the two countries.

“Trade
with Iraq needs to move beyond its traditional form,” Aziz Moraseli, an
economic researcher and faculty member at Ilam University, noted at the
meeting, advocating a more organized market built around local production and
goods that can compete on quality.

Moraseli
also pointed to a lack of coordination among government and commercial bodies
involved in Iraq-related trade, including economic attachés, consulates,
chambers of commerce and universities. Overlapping responsibilities and
multiple decision-making centers, he argued, have made it harder to capitalize
on opportunities in the Iraqi market.

To
address the issue, Moraseli proposed a “unified external economy leadership”
focused on removing trade barriers and setting clear timelines, resources and
responsibilities. The objective, he maintained, should be to turn economic
recommendations into concrete programs with measurable re sults.

Another
proposal called for an “economic and cultural corridor” linking Shirvan,
Badreh, Darreh Shahr, Abdanan and Dehloran in Ilam province. Developing it,
however, would require additional investment in infrastructure and
water-pumping projects, along with greater private-sector investment in
agriculture and manufacturing.

Beyond
traditional trade, participants also recommended establishing a research center
for Iranian-Iraqi economic studies at Ilam University. The center would provide
market data and research to help policymakers and businesses identify
investment opportunities, including in the digital economy and supply chains.

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