Damascus, SANA – The Federations of Chambers of Commerce in Syria and Iraq on Monday signed an agreement to bolster bilateral relations and enhance joint cooperation in foreign trade, particularly export, import and transit operations.

The signing ceremony took place at the end of a meeting with the Iraqi businessmen currently visiting Syria at Damascus Chamber of Commerce in the presence of the Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Minister Abdullah al-Gharbi.

The agreement provided for exchanging information, expertise, studies and bulletins, doing joint researches, organizing fairs and encouraging businessmen to establish investment projects that enhance national economy.

It also stipulated for activating the trade exchange movement between Syria and Iraq via al-Tanf crossing in Syria and al-Waleed crossing in Iraq, increasing flights between the two countries, providing necessary facilitations for tradesmen and businessmen, exchanging visits and exchanging trade and industrial opportunities, in addition to establishing a Syrian permanent trading center in Iraq and a joint Syrian-Iraqi Chamber of Commerce in Syria.

According to the agreement, a trade center or a permanent exhibition for Syrian products will be established in Iraq and an Iraqi trade center will be opened in Damascus. It also calls for establishing business incubators to encourage investments and support small and medium-sized enterprises.

The two sides agreed on forming joint technical committees to follow up the executive programs and draw a joint vision to boost trade and economic cooperation.

Minister al-Gharbi described the agreement as “good”, adding that it would contribute to developing trade transactions between Syrian and Iraqi businessmen.

The agreement was signed by Chairman of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce Ghassan asl-Qala’a and his Iraqi counterpart Jaafar al-Hamadani.

Later, the1st exhibition for export techniques wrapped up activities. The 3-day event was organized by the Syrian Exporters Union, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade at the Damascus-based Dama Rose Hotel in the presence of an Iraqi delegation of 200 tradesmen and industrialists.

R. Raslan / Ghossoun