ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Plans are underway to build an automobile assembly plant in Erbil in partnership with China’s IAT Automobile Technology, an official from the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry said on Wednesday.
Ma’ruf Azizkhan Harki, deputy head of the chamber, told Rudaw that “a preliminary agreement has been made to start an automobile assembly plant in Erbil” with the Chinese company, aimed at boosting investment in the automobile industry sector.
Harki said IAT, which specializes in automobile design and spare parts manufacturing, “has presented a major project to establish an automobile assembly plant. They perform their work in China and then bring the parts to Kurdistan.”
He added that a project site has been identified. The location of the plant is being considered, he said, noting that the next steps include budget allocation and official approvals.
“After obtaining approval from the relevant ministry, an investor will take charge of the project,” Harki said.
Harki said the chamber had reviewed multiple proposals before striking a deal with IAT.
The group “provides its products according to user demand and with high quality,” he said. “The Kurdistan Region also needs these types of industrial plants.”
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Beijing, IAT describes itself as one of China’s early state-recognized high-tech enterprises and a leading independent automobile designer, with a focus on research and development and parts manufacturing, according to the company’s website.
A Chinese delegation headed by Amir Saadat, commercial director of the IAT Group, is scheduled to hold further talks with the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday at the Erbil International Automobile Exhibition, known as the Erbil Autoshow.
Harki said the long-term objective is “to establish a large, specialized automobile assembly plant in the Kurdistan Region in the near future.”
The chamber intends to provide facilities to ensure the project’s success, Harki added.
Chinese firms have maintained a strong presence at regional trade events. During Erbil’s Autoshow in March 2024, half of the participating companies were Chinese.
Trade and economic ties between the Kurdistan Region and China have grown significantly in recent years, driven by Chinese investments in infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing. China and Iraq conduct an estimated $55 billion in trade annually.
Ma’ruf Azizkhan Harki, deputy head of the chamber, told Rudaw that “a preliminary agreement has been made to start an automobile assembly plant in Erbil” with the Chinese company, aimed at boosting investment in the automobile industry sector.
Harki said IAT, which specializes in automobile design and spare parts manufacturing, “has presented a major project to establish an automobile assembly plant. They perform their work in China and then bring the parts to Kurdistan.”
He added that a project site has been identified. The location of the plant is being considered, he said, noting that the next steps include budget allocation and official approvals.
“After obtaining approval from the relevant ministry, an investor will take charge of the project,” Harki said.
Harki said the chamber had reviewed multiple proposals before striking a deal with IAT.
The group “provides its products according to user demand and with high quality,” he said. “The Kurdistan Region also needs these types of industrial plants.”
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Beijing, IAT describes itself as one of China’s early state-recognized high-tech enterprises and a leading independent automobile designer, with a focus on research and development and parts manufacturing, according to the company’s website.
A Chinese delegation headed by Amir Saadat, commercial director of the IAT Group, is scheduled to hold further talks with the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday at the Erbil International Automobile Exhibition, known as the Erbil Autoshow.
Harki said the long-term objective is “to establish a large, specialized automobile assembly plant in the Kurdistan Region in the near future.”
The chamber intends to provide facilities to ensure the project’s success, Harki added.
Chinese firms have maintained a strong presence at regional trade events. During Erbil’s Autoshow in March 2024, half of the participating companies were Chinese.
Trade and economic ties between the Kurdistan Region and China have grown significantly in recent years, driven by Chinese investments in infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing. China and Iraq conduct an estimated $55 billion in trade annually.
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