Turkey, Iraq getting ready to open second border gate

Currently all road transportation between the two countries is made via Habur border gate, which is the only border gate along the Turkey Iraqi border.

Iraq's Mininster of Transportation Amir Abd al-Jabar Ismail, who attended the handover ceremony held Wednesday in Ankara for the 5 train cars Iraq purchased from Turkey, said that Habur border gate was insufficient in meeting the growing road transportation between the two countries, stressing that a second gate was necessary.  Â

Also speaking during that ceremony, Turkey's Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim, said he was pleased to hear that his Iraqi counterpart publicly acknowledged the need for a second border gate and announced that a second gate would be opened.

"The new gate to be opened, no doubt, will enhance the relations between the two countries in the field of commercial transportation and facilitate the services to be provided by Turkish ministries and private sectors," Yildirim was quoted as saying.

Official announcement by ministers of the two countries, pleased the business circles in the southeastern region of Turkey.

Tarkan Kadioglu Chair of Eastern and SouthEastern Industrialists and Businessmen Association welcomed the decision and said Thursday that a second border gate would enhance relations with Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries.