Clearday-TRForce
11-18-2006, 04:24 AM
The target for trade between Turkey and Iraq is $15 billion by the end of 2008, said State Minister Kürşad Tüzmen, who attended the signing ceremony of the Turkey-Iraq Joint Economic Commission protocol (KEK) on Friday. Tüzmen on behalf of Turkey and Iraqi Petroleum Minister Hüseyin El Sehristani co-signed the protocol.
Through this protocol a new road map has been drawn between Turkey and Iraq, said Tüzmen. In 2005 the volume of trade between the two countries was 7.8 billion, however, this year we didn't see much progress due to the growing instability both in Iraq and the Middle East, said Tüzmen, adding that work conditions were also negatively affected by that situation.
Trade between Iraq and Turkey is expected to reach $10-$12 billion in 2007 but that number completely depends on the stability of Iraq, said Tüzmen. If stability is provided then the trade volume between the two countries may reach $15 billion, including transit trade and contractor services.
The possibility of adding a secondary pipeline to the Kirkuk-Yumurtalık pipeline system was also talked about during the meeting. That line was destroyed during the war, reminded Tüzmen. Construction of a natural gas pipeline was also among the topics of the meeting along with studies to increase the electricity transmission capacity between Turkey and Iraq, said Tüzmen. There are serious studies related to a natural gas pipeline said Sehristani. Rich natural gas reserves are located in northern Iraq and the western Sahra province with excess natural gas transferred to European markets via Turkey.
Second and third borders gates on the way:
The Habur boarder gate is not enough to meet the needs of the rapidly growing commercial and economic relations between Iraq and Turkey, therefore we need a second and even a third border gate, said Tüzmen.
New gates have to be located at the intersection of highways and railroads anticipated to be built in the future, with the purpose of connecting the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf. It is also necessary to complete the construction of roads leading to the border gates at a low cost as soon as possible, said Tüzmen.
p-)
regards,
CDTRF
Through this protocol a new road map has been drawn between Turkey and Iraq, said Tüzmen. In 2005 the volume of trade between the two countries was 7.8 billion, however, this year we didn't see much progress due to the growing instability both in Iraq and the Middle East, said Tüzmen, adding that work conditions were also negatively affected by that situation.
Trade between Iraq and Turkey is expected to reach $10-$12 billion in 2007 but that number completely depends on the stability of Iraq, said Tüzmen. If stability is provided then the trade volume between the two countries may reach $15 billion, including transit trade and contractor services.
The possibility of adding a secondary pipeline to the Kirkuk-Yumurtalık pipeline system was also talked about during the meeting. That line was destroyed during the war, reminded Tüzmen. Construction of a natural gas pipeline was also among the topics of the meeting along with studies to increase the electricity transmission capacity between Turkey and Iraq, said Tüzmen. There are serious studies related to a natural gas pipeline said Sehristani. Rich natural gas reserves are located in northern Iraq and the western Sahra province with excess natural gas transferred to European markets via Turkey.
Second and third borders gates on the way:
The Habur boarder gate is not enough to meet the needs of the rapidly growing commercial and economic relations between Iraq and Turkey, therefore we need a second and even a third border gate, said Tüzmen.
New gates have to be located at the intersection of highways and railroads anticipated to be built in the future, with the purpose of connecting the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf. It is also necessary to complete the construction of roads leading to the border gates at a low cost as soon as possible, said Tüzmen.
p-)
regards,
CDTRF