The Ministry of Trade confirmed on Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with international companies from Germany, China, and Brazil to open car production lines in Iraq. It noted that the vehicles produced will run on natural gas and will be available on installments.
The ministry’s official spokesperson, Mohammed Hanoun, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), “The project to open global car assembly lines in Iraq is proceeding according to technical and regulatory procedures with multinational companies.” He explained that “the project represents a step towards the ‘Made in Iraq’ slogan and aims to employ local workers and provide economical and environmentally friendly cars.”
He added, “The matter has not been delayed, as some believe. An official visit was organized, headed by the Minister of Trade and a number of officials, to several countries, and agreements were reached with Brazilian, German, and Chinese companies to open branches in Baghdad and other governorates.”
He added, “These companies have signed memoranda of understanding and bilateral agreements to open assembly lines in Iraq, within the framework of industrial and economic cooperation. Special sites have been prepared for the project in southern Baghdad and other areas of the country, pending the completion of technical procedures for the companies.”
Hanoun explained that “the project will achieve multiple goals, most notably employing at least 50% of the Iraqi workforce, developing the national industry, and the possibility of exporting a portion of the production if large quantities are available to cover the local market.”
He explained that “the cars that will be assembled in Iraq will be advanced, from various sources, environmentally friendly, and run on gas as an alternative to gasoline. They are also economical, allowing low-income citizens to purchase them on installments with very low interest.”
