Iraq asserts government's openness to enhance economic, trade relations with US

INA - BAGHDAD 

Minister of Trade, Atheer Al-Ghurairy affirmed on Wednesday, the government's full openness to developing economic and trade relations with Washington.

Al-Ghurairy and his accompanying delegation, arrived in the capital of the United States of America, Washington at the invitation of the US Grains Council, to discuss mechanisms for joint cooperation between the two parties with regard to supply US wheat to Iraq, according to a statement by the Ministry of Commerce, received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

The statement added that Al-Ghurairi visited the American Chamber of Commerce in Washington, and participated in the dialogues of the Iraqi-American Business Council, to discuss the prospects for joint economic and commercial cooperation between Iraq and the United States of America, as well as the challenges facing the work of American companies in Iraq.

The attendees included the Director General of the Department of Economic Relations, Riyad Fakher Al Hashemi, Director General of the Legal Department, Farah Hikmat, the Iraqi Chargé d'Affairs and the Commercial Attache in Washington, and on the American side, the President of the American Chamber of Commerce, Steve Luits, and representatives of a number of American companies.

Al-Ghurairy said, "During the dialogue, it was noted that the Iraqi government and the Ministry of Commerce are fully open to developing and enhancing economic and trade relations with the American side, opening new horizons for joint cooperation in all fields, and converging views between businessmen in both countries."

He stressed, at the same time, that he "will adopt work to address all issues, observations and challenges posed by American companies to work inside Iraq with the competent Iraqi authorities."

The Minister of Commerce pointed to "the importance of the presence of the American Chamber of Commerce and companies to participate in the upcoming Baghdad International Fair, to be held in November."