$53 million in goods exported to Iraq via Ilam (27/02/05)

The head of Ilam province customs department, Mohsen Jameh Bozorgi, last week put the value of the goods already exported to the neighbouring Iraq via Mehran checkpoint in the current Iranian year (ends 20 March 2005) at $53 million.

Fruit is one of Iraq's major export items

He told reporters that fruits, vegetable, cement, plastic materials and ironware comprised the major export items and estimated the weight of the exported goods at 24,000 tons.

"The closure of Mehran marketplace in anticipation of the national assembly elections in Iraq and the mourning ceremonies marking Imam Hossein's martyrdom anniversary account for the drop in export of goods from Mehran in the past month," added Jameh Bozorgi.

Mehran checkpoint is not only frequently used by pilgrims, but goods exported from Iran to Iraq are also taken through it. The temporary Mehran market handles the goods exported to Iraq and is warmly welcomed by Iranian and Iraqi tradesmen.

Source: Iraq Directory