Iraq Eyeing Economic Opportunities in Iran’s Kish Island
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraqi Ambassador to Tehran Saad Abdul Wahab Jawad Qandil said that Baghdad is eager to have more economic cooperation with Iran specially on the Persian Gulf island of Kish, calling for direct flights between his country and the island.
“Kish Island has valuable capabilities for investment and if direct flights between Kish and Iraqi cities be launched, more tourists from Iraq will travel to the Kish Island for fun, travel and investment,” Qandil said on Sunday night in a meeting with Qolam Hossein Mozaffari, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kish Free Trade Zone Organization.
He emphasized that the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Kish administration and Iraq and launching flight between Kish and the cities of Basra, Erbil, Baghdad and Najaf is very effective in expanding tourism between Kish and Iraq.
The Iraqi ambassador citing to the remarks of Iran's Supreme Leader about the development of relations between Iran and Iraq due to religious, cultural and economic ties, said that the visit of the Iranian President to Iraq has been the basis for the expansion of cooperation between the two countries.
Abdul Wahab Qandil noted that increased exchanges and cooperation between the free zones and the industrial zones of Iran and Iraq, along with the establishment of joint industrial and free zones between the two countries, were among other agreed subjects in meetings of senior officials of the two countries.
Mozaffari said in the meeting said that Kish Island is an ideal destination for tourists, especially in the tourism sector of Halal and Health Tourism.
“As a Muslim and neighboring country, Iraq, through its religious, economic and cultural ties, can have expand trade and tourism partnerships with Kish,” Mozaffari said.
Mozafari stressed that establishing direct flights between Kish and Iraq cities is a necessity for the development of relations.
Back in March, Iran and Iraq issued a joint statement at the end of the 2nd day of President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to the Arab country, describing their relations as strategic, and vowing to continue joint efforts for putting the finalized agreements into practice.
The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Iraq issued a joint statement on March 12 and stressed development of relations between the two countries in all fields of mutual interest.
In the statement, warm welcoming of Rouhani by Iraq was described as the indicator of the depth of close relations between the two countries in all fields of mutual interest.
"Iraq stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran was the first country that helped Iraq for fighting terrorism with its logistic and consulting assistance and stood by the country in the fight against terrorism, and appreciated the Islamic Republic of Iran's stance in helping Iraq," the statement read.
In another part of the statement, it read, "The two sides held important dialogues in a brotherly, friendly and constructive atmosphere and expressed their willingness to develop political, security, economic, health, commercial, cultural, scientific and technological fields."
"The two sides also discussed a number of regional issues, common challenges, fighting terrorism, cooperation for strengthening security and stability in the region and establishing economic cooperation that are to the benefit of regional interests and welfare of the peoples of the region."
It also read, "The two sides also stressed their firm resolve to combat terrorism and organized transnational crimes that pose threats to security and peace of the region".
The statement continued, "The two sides also discussed issues of interest and signed memoranda of understanding in oil, trade, health, rail transportation between Shalamcheh and Basra, as well as issuing visas for tradespeople and investors of the two countries."
The statement also read, “The two sides agreed that tourism, pilgrimage and commerce visas will be free of charge for the citizens of both countries starting from April 1, 2019."
The two sides also urged commitment to the implementation of the 1975 Treaty and the expeditious dredging of the border river.
