The Kurdistan Region is enhancing its agricultural exports, with over 7,500 tons of fruits and vegetables shipped to various Iraqi provinces. This move is part of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) strategy to develop the agriculture sector and reduce dependency on petrochemicals. Erbil, Sulaimani (including Halabja), and Duhok are the main provinces involved in these exports.
According to Hoshyar Jalil, head of agricultural customs supervision in Erbil, there is support for 300-400 trucks daily to transport domestic produce to central and southern Iraq. Sulaimani and Duhok are also contributing significantly to these efforts, with Sulaimani issuing up to 75 support letters for trucks, and Duhok reporting a notable increase in exports, reaching nearly 40,000 tons of vegetables and fruits to Iraqi provinces this month.
The diversification of the economy and the utilization of the Region's agricultural potential are key objectives for the KRG, aiming to expand beyond its traditional oil-based economy. This includes the historic export of pomegranates to Gulf countries, marking a significant step towards broadening the Region's economic base.
Source: rudaw.net