Establishing a free trade zone between Iraq and Iran

There's a report from Basra in Al-Sabah Al-Jadeed that discusses the opening of a cross-border free trade zone under a convention agreed between the city authorities and the Iranian government. As part of the agreement the Iranians will cover the costs of rehabilitating: Side Notes: A few recent postings giving examples of the green zone government's increasing isolation and irrelevance are: Dire Straits - Part 1 Dire Straits - Part 2 "Diwaniya update:" on 'For Once I Believe General Casey' - markfromireland The Karmah bridge on the Shatt al-Arab. The road running from the Shalamjah area to the center Basra. The zone, (which on the Iraqi side is centered on Shalamjah,) is part of the development cooperation plan agreed between governorate authorities and the Iranians aims at boosting regional cross-border trade to more than three billion dollars annually.The agreement covers the export from Iran of: Agricultural Appliances Clothing Electrical Goods Foodstuffs Household Appliances Oil Products The (limited) export from Iraq of: Dates Leather markfromireland