‘Iraq aims to join WTO to boost trade, development’

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid has said that his country wants to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) to boost its trade system and achieve sustainable development.

He spoke during a meeting with Saqr al-Muqbel, the Saudi representative to the WTO who leads a team for handling Iraq's accession to the organization on Monday, reports Xinhua citing a statement from Rashid's office.

Rashid said Iraq is eager to meet the trade and economic standards needed to join the WTO and thanked the Saudi team for its efforts.

Iraqi Trade Minister Atheer al-Ghurairi said at a joint news conference with al-Muqbel that Iraq aims to be "an influential player" in the global economy through reforms.

Al-Muqbel said Saudi Arabia will support Iraq at the national, regional and international levels in its WTO bid.