An Iranian official says enhancement of border transactions with Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) through Parviz Khan border crossing is among Iran’s top economic priorities.

Yavar Mohammadi, acting governor of the western Iranian city of Qasr-e Shirin, said on Tuesday that Parviz Khan crossing plays a significant role in the prosperity of the Iranian economy, Kermanshah Province in particular.

He added that half of non-oil exports from Iran to Iraq pass through this border crossing, therefore Iranians would like to witness a rise in the volume of exports to the Iraqi side through Parviz Khan.

Meanwhile, deputy governor of the Garmian District of Iraqi Kurdistan region lauded the good and friendly relations between KRG and Iran, and said Parviz Khan border crossing plays a valuable role in trade transactions between the two governments.

Sheikh Abdullah Anwar further noted that the substantial increase in the number of passengers and commodities passing through Parviz Khan has strengthened the need for border crossing to remain open round-the-clock.

Parviz Khan border crossing has been named the most active trade checkpoint out of 86 crossings between Iran and Iraq.

Iran is Kurdistan Regional Government’s second largest trade partner after Turkey. KRG officials say trade with Iran stood at USD 100 million in 2000. They expect the trade turnover between the two governments to exceed USD 4 billion this year./mrkd