After a year of construction, the Zet International Crossing between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey is set to be officially opened this week.

The supervisor of the Soran Independent Administration, Halgurd Sheikh Najib, confirmed that an official ceremony would take place with officials from both the Kurdistan Regional Government and Turkey in attendance.

The crossing will initially be opened to tourists, with plans to launch trade in the second phase. The new crossing is located in the Sherwanmazen of the Mergasuri district of the Soran Autonomous Administration, providing a new international gateway between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey.

Brigadier Isa Ozer, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs of the Kurdistan Regional Government, accompanied by several military officials, visited the gate on May 7 to discuss the security situation in the region. The governor of Mergasur district hoisted the Kurdistan flag for the first time, symbolizing the region's autonomy.

The opening of the Zet International Crossing is a significant milestone for the Kurdistan Region, as it will facilitate the movement of goods and people between Kurdistan and Turkey. Currently, Turkey's only official land border gate with the Kurdistan Region is at Ibrahim Khalil in Duhok province near Zakho and Turkey's Sirnak.

The decision to open the crossing was made in mid-August 2018 between the Kurdish and Turkish governments. The Kurdistan Region heavily relies on Turkey for trade and investment, with the economy heavily favoring foreign imports of food and consumer goods paid for with oil wealth.

The volume of trade between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey is over five billion dollars every year, making the new crossing an important development for the region's economy. The opening of the Zet International Crossing is expected to further boost cultural exchange and economic growth between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey.