Ankara: The Joint Committee for International Land Transport between the Republic of Iraq and the Republic of Turkey held a meeting in the Turkish capital, Ankara, to expand bilateral cooperation and strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries. Representatives from relevant transport and trade authorities participated in the meeting.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Ministry of Transport stated in a press release that the Iraqi side was headed by Murtadha Karim Al-Shahmani, Director General of the General Company for Land Transport, accompanied by Engineer Sattar Awda, Director of the Planning and Follow-up Department, and Engineer Israa Hanoun, Director of the Land Transport Department in the Ministry's Technical Directorate.

The Turkish side was represented by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, headed by Murat Bashtur, Director General of the Directorate of Transport Services Regulation, and included Hasan Boz, Deputy Director General, along with representatives from the Turkish Ministry of Trade, the Turkish local guarantor, and a number of specialists and experts in the fields of land transport and international trade.

The meeting addressed a number of shared issues related to the movement of goods and passengers between the two countries, focusing on the International Road Transport (TIR) Agreement and its implementation mechanisms. The pivotal role of local guarantors in Iraq and Turkey in facilitating transit and customs clearance procedures was also discussed, aiming to reduce transit time and operational costs for trucks crossing border crossings.

The meeting also included an exchange of official statistics and data on trade volume and land transport activity. Furthermore, it addressed the most significant challenges facing transport companies and truck drivers, exploring solutions within the legal and regulatory frameworks of both countries. This aims to enhance the smooth flow of transport and support shared economic interests.