Iraq, Jordan trade relations to flourish 'soon'

Jordan and Iraq have agreed on the final procedures related to allowing the Jordanian goods-loaded trucks and containers to enter the Iraqi markets, AlRai reported yesterday, quoting a Jordanian official.

“Jordan’s borders with Iraq are currently open to all the kingdom’s trucks carrying goods to the Iraqi market,” Jordanian transport minister, Anmar Al-Khasawneh, said, adding that his country would receive oil imports from Baghdad “soon.”

“This reflects the depth of the relationship between us [Jordan and Iraq], in addition to its contribution to the development of our national economy, Al-Khasawneh noted. Bilateral trade between Jordan and Iraq, he reiterated, would expand the “horizons of cooperation between the two countries.”

READ: Jordan awaiting Iraqi government’s approval for oil pipeline

The chairman of Amman’s Truck Owners Syndicate, Mohammed Al-Daoud, recently pointed out that the Jordanian containers arrived in Iraq through the Karameh Border Crossing. “About 3,000 – 5,000 trucks, out of a total 21,000, have been equipped to load Jordanian goods and head to Iraq,” he explained.

Last week, the Iraqi government said it would extend the Basra-Aqaba pipeline to export one million barrels of oil per day to the international markets through Jordan.

Moreover, Baghdad and Amman recently concluded six bilateral agreements to develop their relations, most notably in the oil and energy sectors. The two governments said the agreements aimed at “revitalising” their economies and strengthening ties between Iraq and Jordan.