Trade exchange between the Kurdistan Region and Iran on the rise

Slemani Governorate's administration announced on Tuesday that the volume of trade exchange between the region and Iran has risen over the past year to 6 billion dollars.

"The volume of trade exchange between the Kurdistan Region and Iran in 2021 rose compared to 2019, despite the outbreak of the Coronavirus," Slemani Governor Haval Abu Bakr told a press conference.

He also indicated that the value of trade exchange between the two sides reached 6 billion dollars, while the value of trade exchange reached in 2019 was $2.6 billion.

Abu Bakr attributed the reason behind this sharp increase to the good management in Slemani, the high level of coordination between them and the Iranian consulate, in addition to the great support from the Kurdistan Regional Government.

According to the Slemani Governor, there are currently 12 border crossings between Iraq and Iran, 6 of them are in Slemani, in addition to Slemani's International Airport. 

He also said that the opening of the new Sazan border crossing in Halabja is proceeding, as well as the (Tila Ko) border crossing in the future which will help in developing business and trade exchange between the two sides.

After 2003, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have become two important hubs for Iranian goods, bringing in much-needed foreign currency.

Iran’s trade volume with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region has stood at around 13 billion dollars in recent years, over half of which is through border crossings in the Kurdistan Region. Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, have repeatedly said that they want to increase the volume to 20 billion dollars in the coming years.



PUKmedia