São Paulo – The general director of the Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Mining, Ali Saleem Omar, attended a meeting in Brasília this Friday (20th) aiming to gain better knowledge of Brazil’s experience at the World Trade Organization (WTO). According to information from the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Omar was welcomed by the Brazilian ministry’s secretary for Trade and Services, Humberto Ribeiro.
According to the Brazilian ministry, Iraq has filed for admission at the WTO and wants help from Brazil. According to Ribeiro, at the meeting in Brasília, Brazil’s services sector actions within the WTO were outlined. According to the Brazilian secretary, now that Iraq is a more stable, mature country, its admittance to the WTO represents an opportunity for Brazilian enterprises, especially those in the civil construction industry.
Following the meeting, Humberto signalled that cooperation may be established with Iraq in various fronts. Brazil and Iraq have been into major partnerships in the past, but in 1991 the Brazilian embassy in Iraq was shut down due to conflicts in the country. Early last year, the embassy reopened in Baghdad, after six years during which the bureau functioned at the Brazilian embassy in Amman, Jordan.
Last year, Brazilian trade with Iraq amounted to US$ 1.2 billion, as a result of US$ 288 million in Brazilian exports and US$ 962 million worth of Iraqi exports. Year-to-date through August, Brazilian exports stand at US$ 173.3 million and imports stand at US$ 356.7 million.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
