TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Minister of Road and Urbanization Abbas Akhoundi underlined the importance of trade exchanges with Iraq, and said the country will complete construction of a highway which will link Iran's Western borders to Iraq soon.


"The Mehran four-lane highway to Iraq will be completed by the end of this (Iranian) year (March 20, 2015) in a bid to facilitate travelling for people," Akhoundi said in the border city of Mehran, Western Iran, on Wednesday.

He explained that Mehran has turned into a highly special and important trade hub, and said since the Iranian and Iraqi people enjoy strong religious and trade relations, the two countries' officials should provide them with the necessary facilities to helpt them further expand their ties.

Iran and Iraq have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, during the 2003 US invasion of the Muslim country.

A senior trade official announced in April that Tehran and Baghdad will increase the value of their trade transactions to $20 billion in the current Iranian year (March 21, 2014-March 21, 2015).

"The value of trade transactions between Iran and Iraq is due to hit USD 20 billion in the year 1393," the official in charge of Iraq Affairs at the Iranian Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Majid Qorbanifaraz said.

Qorbanifaraz pointed to the high volume of Iran's exports to Iraq, and said, "Iran exported around $5.2 billion in the first 11 months of the last Iranian year (March 21, 2013-February 21, 2014) and values of the country's export of technical and engineering services exceeded $600 million."

By Fars News Agency

 

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