What Does the Economy Minister Carry in His Bag for Baghdad to Save Exports?

Minister of Economy and Trade Dr. Amer Bsat held a meeting with private sector representatives and relevant administrations, discussing export challenges, practical solutions that open the way for Lebanese products, and preparations for his visit to Iraq on November 8 and 9, heading a delegation comprising representatives from both the public and private sectors.

Bsat stressed that "the visit stems from the difficulties faced by industrialists, farmers, and exporters, and carries key files for discussion with Iraqi officials. The goal is to convert available opportunities to enter the Iraqi market into actual exports, by addressing tariff and non-tariff barriers to facilitate the entry of Lebanese products."

The mission representing the public and private sectors will carry specific priorities, including clarifying the legal status of the bilateral free trade agreement between Lebanon and Iraq signed in 2002 to reactivate it, and identifying sensitive goods for both parties to formulate a bilateral protocol regulating their treatment.

It will also discuss updating the mutual recognition agreement between the two countries through the Lebanese Accreditation Council (COLIBAC) and the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control in Iraq (COSQC), and working to develop a protocol for accepting results of industrial and food tests issued by recognized Lebanese laboratories, in coordination with the relevant ministries. In parallel, talks continue with the Syrian side to address difficulties in transit of Lebanese goods to Arab countries, considering that facilitating access to markets also requires addressing obstacles faced by exporters via land transport.

These preparations come within joint government efforts based on the results of previous communications and visits, including the Minister of Agriculture's visit to Iraq, with the involvement of the private sector in determining the priorities and proposals carried by the delegation.