IRBIL
Half of all foreign companies operating within the regional administration in north of Iraq are from Turkey.
There are a total of 2,296 foreign companies working in north of Iraq, a region that considers Turkey as their window opening to the rest of the world.
47.87 percent of all foreign companies operating in north of Iraq are Turkish.
-Trade volume rises every day-
While Turkey's trade volume with Iraq was only four billion USD four years ago, this figure has jumped to 12 billion USD by end-2012.
In 2009, there were 480 Turkish companies operating in north of Iraq. This figure also sharply increased reaching 1,148 and shows the developing commercial relations between Turkey and north of Iraq.
Most of the clothing shops in large shopping centers are Turkish. Those shops selling Turkish products underline that their products came from Turkey before they speak about prices.
-No condition to establish partnership with local companies-
Foreign companies operating in north of Iraq are not required to establish partnerships with local companies.
Turkish brands carry high value for both Iraqi sellers and buyers, especially in the textile sector.
More than 50,000 Turkish citizens work in diverse sectors in north of Iraq, primarily in the construction sector.
Investments of Turkish companies in north of Iraq has gone over 700 million USD.
-"Government of regional administration give priority to Turkish companies"-
Speaking to the Anadolu Agency (AA), a high level official with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the regional administration in north of Iraq, Dilzar Selim indicated that 2,296 foreign companies were operating within their administration.
"Half of all foreign companies operating here are Turkish. Iran ranks second with the number of its companies working in north of Iraq, followed by US, Jordan, Lebanon and United Arab Emirates," Selim underlined.
The high number of Turkish companies working here prove the good neighborly relations between our two countries, Selim stated.
"At the same time, Iraq is a door for Arab countries. Iraq is a transit passage point between European and Arab countries. Arab countries love Turkish products. Since an investment law was adopted in the region in 2006, our government has been giving priority to Turkish companies. Our government wishes to welcome foreign companies. However, we give priority to companies from Turkey, as Turkey is our neighbor," Selim also said.
Reporting by Emrah Yorulmaz/Mustafa Kerim
