Head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran called for the swift implementation of a free trade agreement (FTA) with Iraq which was signed two years ago.
In a meeting with a delegation from Iraq's Ministry of Trade in Tehran, Valiollah Afkhami-Rad said Iran and Iraq need to implement the FTA to boost trade exchanges, Tasnim News Agency reported.
To implement that agreement, Tehran and Baghdad can begin with preferential trade arrangements and subsequently eliminate tariffs reciprocally on certain goods, he added.
Iraq's Deputy Trade Minister Walid Habib al-Helou, who is heading the delegation, hailed Tehran's support for Baghdad in the fight against terrorism which has contributed to Iraq's victories over Daesh terrorist group, noting that it has further motivated Iraqis to boost trade exchanges with Iran.
In May 2014, Iran's first vice-president called for a major boost in Tehran-Baghdad economic ties, saying the two neighboring countries should draw up a plan to raise annual trade turnover to $20 billion.
Last week, chairman of Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce said Iran's share in Iraq's annual foreign trade is quite inadequate, saying China and Turkey have overtaken Iran in exports to Iraq.