MOT: Iraq is a distinguished international corridor for the countries of the region

Baghdad - INA

Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadawi confirmed today, Wednesday, that Iraq is a distinguished international corridor for the countries of the region.

A statement by the ministry received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) stated: "Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadawi met with the Secretary-General of the International Road Transport Union, Umberto de Pretto, to discuss the TIR project and ways to facilitate the inter-trade process, which is one of the most important drivers of the global economy."

The statement added, "At the beginning of the meeting, which was attended by the head of the Parliamentary Transport and Communications Committee, Zahra Al-Bajari, and the Director General of Passengers and Delegations, Karim Kazem Hussein, the Minister expressed his thanks to the delegation of the International Road Transport Union, which included the Secretary-General of the Union, Umberto de Brito, the Director of Strategic Development, Vincent Erard, the Director of International Road Transport Services (TIR), Tatiana Re-Bellet, and the Union's Middle East Affairs Advisor, Rami Qarout, for their support for Iraq's accession procedures to the TIR Agreement, while he extended an invitation to the delegation to visit Baghdad and discuss joint cooperation."

Al-Saadawi stressed - according to the statement - that "the Iraqi government, specifically the Ministry of Transport, is keen on the TIR project, as it is an important project at the level of international trade movement, and it is also reflected in the economies of the member states," noting that "Iraq enjoys a strategic location linking the East and the West, and therefore it is a distinctive international corridor for the countries of the region." He stressed Iraq's keenness to "implement the requirements of the agreement, in conjunction with the ongoing work on the development road project, which we seek to be one of the best global corridors for transporting goods, as it will be the least expensive and safest."

In turn, Secretary-General Umberto de Pretto expressed his "thanks for the efforts of the Iraqi government to complete Iraq's accession to the International Land Union," considering that "approval for the passage of vehicles through Iraq is very important."

He stressed that "expediting this process makes things better, adding that this project opens up broad horizons for Iraq," noting that "TIR facilitates the trade process by 50%, and ensures the passage of vehicles with ease, and the benefits resulting from it are greater, in light of the existence of enormous capabilities that enhance this."

At the end of the meeting, the President of the International Union expressed his "admiration for the topics raised on the discussion table, especially the issue of the international visa, and the possibility of benefiting from Iraqi expertise in the success and organization of the TIR work system."

It is noteworthy that the Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadawi, participated yesterday, Tuesday, in the work of the 87th session of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) held in Geneva; where he delivered Iraq’s speech, in which he reviewed the government’s projects regarding ways to enhance sustainable connectivity for regional inland transport, and enhance climate action for inland transport, which includes establishing concepts of climate justice, to reduce carbon emissions.