Printer-friendly VersionThe Kurdish Globe
The likelihood of mutually economic benefits and other bonuses spurs the two regions to work closer together.
Administrative authorities from the Iranian Western Azerbaijan Province neighboring Kurdistan Region's Erbil Province showed their readiness and willingness to begin cooperation with Kurdistan Region and especially with neighboring Erbil, Kurdistan Region's capital city.
One of the most important areas of cooperation is power supply. Iranian authorities are considering providing Erbil Province with electricity, and some border areas of Erbil already use power from the Western Azerbaijan power network according to an agreement between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
According to a news report by the Iranian Fars News Agency, Jamshid Mohammed-Zadeh, Deputy Governor of Western Azerbaijan, has announced that air travel between Erbil and Urumia City, Western Azerbaijan Province Center, will begin in the near future.
Mohammed-Zadeh said that the opening of Haji Omeran International Border Point between Erbil and Western Azerbaijan and bus service between Iran, Kurdistan, and Syria were extremely important factors for the success of the trade, tourism, and culture industries.
In August 2008, Iranian and Kurdish authorities agreed to officially open Haji Omeran Border Point as an international border point. Since then, trade has taken hold and travel agencies transport tourists and other people across the border directly from Erbil to Urumia.
After the opening of the border in early August, a travel agency launched bus service between the two provinces. Travelers between Erbil and Urumia mainly consist of merchants, tourists, and those who seek medical treatment in Iran.
Another aspect of cooperation between the two provinces will be post service.
In a September 6 meeting in Urumia between the heads of the Erbil and Western Azerbaijan post offices, the two parties agreed to help each other with post issues. The Iranian side promised to begin post service between Erbil, Urumia, and European countries. Service is expected to be further facilitated with the launch of air travel between the cities.
Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran have a long history of trade relations, and Iranian products currently compose a great portion of imported goods to Kurdistan. Food and construction materials are among the most important imports from Iran.
A statistic published by the KRG Ministry of Trade shows that the value of trade on the Kurdish-Iranian border points was US$1 billion in 2007 alone. Thus, it is easy to understand why maintaining a good relationship between the Kurdistan Region and Iran favors both Kurds and Iranians. Kurds depend mainly on Iranian products, and Iranians see Kurdistan as a strong potential market and source of income.
This became clear when Iran closed its border points with Kurdistan earlier this year due to security issues related to the presence of PIJAK fighters on the border. The closure continued for more than two days, which led to an increase in prices in the region's markets and raised concern about the negative economic effects associated with it.