Iran’s amb. opens trade fair in Karbala

KARBALA / IraqiNews.com: Iranian ambassador in Baghdad Hassan Kazemi-Qomi inaugurated an Iranian trade-industrial fair in the holy Shiite city of Karbala on Monday, praising in statements economic ties between the two neighboring countries. “Trade relations between Iraq and Iran have developed a great deal as trade exchange hit $4 billion annually, hopefully to go up to $10 billion,” Kazemi-Qomi said in a speech on the occasion. “There are common religious ties between the two sides and this should help bilateral relations to be excellent,” said the Iranian envoy. Meanwhile, an official from the fair told IraqiNews.com news agency said that some 150 Iranian companies are participating in the five-day event, were there will be no direct transactions with visitors. “The exhibit only aims to broaden vistas of trade cooperation among Iraqi merchants and industrialists,” he said, pointing out that top-notch Iranian firms in the fields of foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, construction, household appliances and heavy industries will attend the event. AmR (P) 4