Basra: The General Company for the Ports of Iraq-GCPI on Wednesday discussed measures to contain the repercussions of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz with experts from the German Agency for International Cooperation -GIZ.

According to Iraqi News Agency, the Economic Response Cell in Basra province discussed the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on trade, maritime transport and supply chains, with the participation of Haitham Kadhim, senior chief marine engineer and technical deputy director of GCPI, as well as GIZ experts, via videoconference.

The meeting, attended by representatives of government institutions, the private sector and other relevant bodies, addressed potential challenges facing the economic, commercial and transport sectors, as well as measures and solutions aimed at mitigating the effects of the crisis and ensuring the continuity of transport and commercial exchanges, the statement said.

The meeting also discussed ways to strengthen the resilience of supply chains and logistics services and improve coordination between government institutions and the private sector to ensure continued commercial activity and limit potential economic repercussions for Basra province and Iraq more broadly.

Kadhim said the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz to trade and maritime transport meant Iraq was among the countries affected by its closure, according to the statement.

He added that the company, acting on the instructions of Transport Minister Wahib Al-Hassani, was studying appropriate measures to address the situation, respond to emerging developments and draw on specialized international expertise.