The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has announced plans to import potatoes and rice from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, signaling a significant advancement in trade relations between the two regions.

Bashar Mshair, the owner of K.H. Investment and Export Company, confirmed the development today during an interview with Kurdistan24. He stated that Jordan has shown strong interest in sourcing agricultural products from the Kurdistan Region, with several steps already taken toward this goal.

According to Mshair, potatoes grown in Kurdistan's farms have been sent to scientific laboratories in Jordan for quality testing. If the potatoes meet Jordanian standards, the export process will begin, with 10,000 tons of potatoes scheduled for delivery in two phases, each consisting of 5,000 tons.

This move follows successful exports earlier this year, where 5,000 tons of Kurdistani potatoes were shipped to the UAE and 600 tons to Syria. Expectations are high for additional exports to the UAE, Syria, and other Gulf countries in the coming months.

Mshair also highlighted Jordanian officials' strong interest in Kurdish rice, particularly rice from the Aqrah district, which has garnered significant admiration. Discussions are ongoing regarding the import of Kurdish rice, although the exact quantities have yet to be finalized.

This development aligns with recent talks between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Jordan. On Sunday, August 25, 2024, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Jordanian Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat to explore further collaboration in trade, agriculture, food industries, and the marketing of agricultural products.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the agricultural ministries of both regions. The agreement, overseen by Prime Minister Barzani, lays the groundwork for enhanced cooperation in agriculture and food production, starting with the import of potatoes from Kurdistan and potentially expanding to other agricultural products.