TEHRAN – Following the visit of a high-ranking Iraqi delegation to Tehran, Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) hosted an Iran-Iraq business forum on Sunday.

The event was attended by several senior officials from both sides including Iran’s First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi as well as Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian, Iraqi Minister of Electricity Louay Al Khateeb, Iraqi Trade Minister Mohammad Hashim Abdul Majid Jasim, Iranian Industry, Mining and Trade Minister Reza Rahmani, Head of Basra Chamber of Commerce Majed Mozan, and Gholam-Hossein Shafeie, the chairman of ICCIMA, along with representatives of private companies.

During the event, the two sides called for further expansion of the trade ties between the two countries and the officials delivered speeches addressing various trade related issues.

In his speech, the Iranian vice president mentioned Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to Iraq in early March, saying that the visit of Iraqi delegation less than a month after President Rouhani’s visit to their country is an indication of the two sides’ determination for expanding economic ties.

He also pointed to the desirable talks and agreements which have been reached during the Iraqi delegation visit to Iran and noted that “following the agreements reached during president Rouhani’s visit to Iraq these new agreements can provide a reliable basis for future cooperation between the two countries’ private sectors.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, for his part expressed his country’s eager determination for expansion of relations with Iran in all areas and noted that the two countries should join hands in order to reach a level of development which they deserve.

The official further called on Iranian private sector to cooperate with their Iraqi counterparts in reconstruction of Iraq’s infrastructure.

He mentioned some of the memorandums of understanding (MOUs) which were signed between the two sides, including an agreement on building a cross-border railway, easing travel conditions and exports of electricity and gas from Iran to Iraq and called for the two sides’ all-out efforts for their realization.

During the event, Reza Ardakanian, Gholam-Hossein Shafeie and Majid Mozan also delivered speeches, stressing the two countries’ willingness for expansion of economic relations.

Heading a high-ranking economic and political delegation, Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi arrived in Tehran for a two-day visit on Saturday.

The visit came after Rouhani’s landmark visit to Iraq in March.

EF/MA