Hassan Danaeifar made the remarks on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of Sumar border market in western Iran, located in a strategic point on borders between Iran and Iraq.
“The local people have been waiting for years for the economy to spin wheels in the deprived region of Sumar and now it has been finally inaugurated after 49 years,” he said.
According to Sanaeifar, excluding Sumar market, there already existed 8 trade hubs between Iran and Iraq, four of which situated in Kermanshah Province.
Danaeifar noted that the volume of trade between the two countries currently stood at $12 billion per year, but with the inauguration of Sumar market the volume is expected to reach $25 billion in coming years.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, the Deputy Interior Minister of Iraq Major General Hesam commended Iran's effort to help the Iraqi people in fight against the terrorist group ISIL.
He also noted that the opening of Sumar market marked a historical day for Diale province and was of great importance to the Iraqi people.
Present in the ceremony were the governor general of Kermanshah, his counterpart from Diale province, deputy Interior Minister of Iraq, Iran's ambassador to Iraq and a number of provincial officials.
Sumar border market is 155 kilometers from Baghdad and 230 kilometers from Karbala city in Iraq.
Some 52 percent of Iran's total exports to Iraq are handled through Parviz Khan boder market in Qasr-e-Shirin.
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