Türkiye-Iraq Economic and Trade Relations

Iraq’s National Economy (2023):

GDP (billion $)

254,4

Real GDP Growth Rate (%)

-2,2

GDP per capita ($)

5.870

Export (billion $)

115

Import (billion $)

85

Rate of Unemployment (%)

NA

Foreign exchange reserves (billion $)

112,3

External debt (public) (billion $)

15,9

External debt /GDP (%)

22,7

Budgetary deficit/GDP (%)

7,7

Consumer price inflation (%)

4,4


Major Trade Partners:
China, India, Türkiye, U.S.A., South Korea, UAE, Iran

Major Export Items: Crude oil and oil products.

Major Import Items: Machinery, Motor vehicles, cereals, iron and steel


Bilateral Commercial and Economic Relations

Major Exports to Iraq: Jewelery items, machinery, furniture, textiles, milling products, plastic products, construction materials, iron and steel products, garments, food products.

Major Imports from Iraq: Crude oil, jewellery, copper and copper products.

Number of Iraqi tourists visiting our country: 1.051.721 (2023 / Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye)

Weekly flights: 17 flights per week from Istanbul to Baghdad, 17 flights per week from Istanbul to Erbil, 4 flights per week to Basrah, 3 flights per week to Najaf.


Bilateral Cooperation Mechanisms:

- Joint Economic Commission (JEC): The latest and 19th of the JEC meetings was held in Baghdad on 21-22 November 2023.

- Business Council: Türkiye-Iraq Business Council was established in 2001. The Turkish side co-chairmanship of the Council is carried out by Halit Acar (Acarsan Holding), and the Iraqi side co-chairmanship is carried out by Cafer Resul El-Hamadani (President of the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce). Within the scope of the official visit of President Erdoğan to Iraq on April 22, 2024, the Turkey-Iraq Economic Forum Round Table meeting was held in Baghdad, organized by DEIK. During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between DEIK and the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce.

- Land Transport Joint Commission: The latest meeting was held in Baghdad, on May 23, 2017.

- Turkey-Iraq Business Forum: It was launched by former Minister of Trade, Ms. Ruhsar Pekcan, and Iraqi Minister of Trade, Dr. Mohammed Hachim Al-Ani, on 20 June 2019. Türkiye-Irak Business, Investment and Contracting Forum was held in İstanbul, on November 19, 2021.

- Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO): During the visit of President Erdoğan to Iraq on April 22, 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Türkiye and Iraq regarding the establishment of JETCO. First meeting of JETCO was held in Istanbul on 2-3 December 2024, between the Ministries of Trade of the two countries.