The Basra and Arabian Gulf Studies Center at the University of Basrah organized a symposium on the future of Iraqi-Japanese relations from a diplomatic point of view.
The symposium, in which the Iraqi Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Abdul Karim Tohme, lectured, touched on the depth of the Iraqi-Japanese relations through Japanese companies and that it was the second country in importing cars after the United States, and what Japan contributed to in providing services during the period from (2004-2006) in Iraq, as it forgave about 80% of its debts owed to Iraq, in addition to providing many grants and development loans to Iraq in amounts that reached seven billion dollars.
The symposium addressed the problem of soft loans from Japan, the necessity of moving towards fair partnership, and the state of disharmony between Japan’s requirements and Iraq’s conditions for implementing projects there.
The symposium recommended increasing trade exchange between the two countries to exceed its current barrier, estimated at half a billion dollars, and the need to provide a suitable climate to attract Japanese investments to the Iraqi market.
The symposium concluded with the distribution of shields of excellence to His Excellency Ambassador Abdul Karim Tohme and the Deputy Governor of Basra, Mr. Durgham Al-Ajoudi, and the dedication of books from the Iraqi Ambassador’s works to Dr. Muhammad Najah Al-Jazairi, Director of the Basra and Arabian Gulf Studies Center.
