ISTANBUL - Iraqi Deputy Trade Minister Fahri Rasan said on Monday that he was not informed about the restriction on foreign exchange outflow from Iraq with 10,000 U.S. dollars adding ''this is a decision not given by the central authorities, if there is a problem we will certainly sort it out.''
State Minister Kursat Tuzmen, Turkey Exporters Assembly Chairman Oguz Satıcı, Trade Consultant Metin Deger, Turkish businessmen working with Iraq, Iraqi Deputy Industry Minister Muhaannad A. Mujeeb Ala Addin, Iraqi Deputy Industry Minister Fahri Rasan came together in Turkey Exporters Assembly.
Responding to questions of journalists before the meeting, Iraqi Deputy Trade Minister Rasan said that ''the foreign exchange outflow should not be restricted, because Iraq is going for a market economy. We will have a convertible currency and selling and buying of foreign exchanges will be free.''
Addressing the opening of the meeting, Rasan said that there were many things that could be given by Turkey to Iraq as a close neighbour, adding that Iraq was in the transition process to free market economy. This would open a way for Turkish exporters, he said adding Turkish exporters were very talented in entering the Iraqi market.
Responding to questions of journalists, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that they continued their studies to lift the restriction of 10,000 U.S. dollars and that the decision would be examined again. Tuzmen said that such a decision would negatively affect the trade. Tuzmen stressed that they aimed to upgrade the Turkish-Iraqi trade.
In his speech during the meeting, Tuzmen said that they would review investment and trade opportunities with Iraq and that new projects could come to agenda.
(ÖŞ-AY) 20.10.2003