On May 20, 2025, Nawzad Ghafour, President of the Sulaymaniyah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, participated in a joint meeting in the Kurdistan Province (Sanandaj) of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The meeting included heads of chambers of commerce from the Kurdistan Region, Iranian border provinces, and Iranian governmental economic officials and private sector activists.
The meeting addressed challenges causing a decline in trade between the Kurdistan Region and Iran. In his speech, Nawzad Ghafour emphasized that the Sulaymaniyah Chamber of Commerce has strong ties with Iranian provinces, contributing to expanded commercial, industrial, and cultural activities.
He stated: “We support establishing a free trade zone at the Bashmakh border crossing, which would become a vital commercial and industrial hub between both sides, fostering significant trade growth in the region and benefiting merchants from both parties.”
He also mentioned a proposal to form a joint committee between the two sides to monitor issues and resolve any trade-related disputes among merchants.
Ghafour highlighted international exhibitions, noting that the Sulaymaniyah Chamber owns an international exhibition facility and collaborates with authorities in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq to organize exhibitions dedicated to Iranian goods.
Attendees included: Dr. Haval Abubakr (Governor of Sulaymaniyah), Omed Khoshnaw (Governor of Erbil), Nushirvan Nasih (Governor of Halabja), Dr. Ali Tatar (Governor of Duhok), alongside heads of chambers of commerce and industry from Sulaymaniyah, Erbil, Duhok, and Halabja, as well as directors of border crossings in the Kurdistan Province (Sanandaj), aiming to strengthen economic and commercial ties between both sides.