By Peregraf
Turkish companies aim at the Kurdistan Region markets vying to boost their relationship with Kurdish businessmen to fill the gap created by the US sanctions against Iran.
A delegation of Turkey's Diyarbakir and Batman Chambers of Commerce visited the Kurdistan Region and signed a protocol with the Sulaimaniyah counterpart on Monday, November 25, to maintain and activate their commercial relationship.
They held a press conference afterwards. Yasin Rahim, vice president of Sulaimaniyah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the Turkish delegation of entrepreneurs promised to help Kurdish entrepreneurs with two issues: lifting the ban on the Sulaymaniyah International Airport and resolving the problems of the banks in Kurdistan Region in a bid to strengthen the banking system. Such moves, he said, were requested by the host delegation in the first place. Part of the new cooperation aims to diminish the business obstacles.
“Our association has been scaled down for a long time. Their visit is to revive commercial and industrial projects,” Yasin Rahim said.
Muhammad Kaya, the head of the Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, focused on the need to lift the ban on Sulaymaniyah International Airport and reinforce the commercial relationship between both parties. He also stated that if they revive their business and economic relationship, it will have an impact on solving political issues. “We will speak with the Turkish Government to solve the issues, and the Turkish Government knows that we should resume our commercial and economic relationship,” Kaya stated. “We can see that communication has become easier through Ibrahim Khalil border crossing and we hope that Turkey solves the issue of Sulaymaniyah airport very soon,” he added.
The meeting coincides with the implementation of the second stage of American sanctions on Iran, which made the country to ban exporting tens of its products in a bid to keep the situation under control.
US sanctions against Iran affects Iraq generally, and the Kurdistan Region specifically and Sulaymaniyah governorate in particular since Sulaymaniyah has a robust commercial relationship and a long border with Iran. The situation, in turn, gives more space to Turkish companies to further their role in Sulaimaniyah and Kurdistan Region markets.
In response to whether the Turkish companies are capable of filling the gap made by the absence of Iran, vice president of Sulaymaniyah Chamber of Commerce said, “Turkey is strong in all areas, especially industry, and the businessmen know what market needs and import goods accordingly."
He said what makes it easier is that there are no restrictions for any product to be imported into Kurdistan from Turkey.
Turkey and KRG have a robust economic relationship. Kurdistan Region oil is exported independently by KRG through Turkey. Furthermore, Ibrahim Khalil border crossing is an essential economic point that connects Tukey with Kurdistan Region and Iraq.