Iran, Iraq agree to complete Shalamcheh-Basra railway

Tehran, The Gulf Observer: Iran and Iraq have agreed to continue their bilateral cooperation to establish joint industrial zones and complete the Shalamcheh-Basra railway.

“Over the last year, the relations between the two countries have improved a lot and it is time to create deeper ties in different economic fields beyond political issues,” Iranian Economy Minister Ehsan Khandouzi said during a meeting with Hazim Al-Khalidi, an advisor to the prime minister of Iraq, according to a Sunday report by the IRNA.

Khandouzi said Tehran is ready to negotiate with companies that have announced their readiness to be present in the joint free trade zones and industrial zones.

He added that Iranian officials are seeking to implement the agreements reached between the two sides on specific projects.

Al-Khalidi, for his part, said Baghdad is also pursuing the implementation of the agreements as soon as possible and the completion of the Shalamcheh-Basra railway project.

He also referred to the creation of free trade zones and the establishment of joint industrial zones with Iran as other issues emphasized by the Iraqi government.