The head of the Border Ports Authority, General Omar Adnan Al-Waeli, discussed today, Sunday, with the head of the General Authority for Ports and Customs in Syria, Qutaiba Badawi, the facilitation of trade exchange and the resumption of passenger transit through the Al-Waleed border crossing.
A statement from the authority, received by the Video News Agency, said, "Based on the directives of the Prime Minister to diversify sources of trade and the economy and to open up to neighboring countries, the region, and the world, General Omar Adnan Al-Waeli made a field visit to the Al-Waleed border crossing in Al-Anbar province to directly observe the work situation and follow up on the measures taken to develop the performance of the crossing and improve the level of services provided and trade exchange with the Syrian Arab Republic."
The statement added that "the visit included a wide-ranging meeting with representatives of the departments and institutions operating at the crossing, during which the working conditions and coordination mechanisms among supportive bodies were reviewed, and the main obstacles facing procedural fluidity were discussed, while emphasizing the need to address them according to the approved legal and administrative frameworks, ensuring speed of completion and accuracy of procedures while also maintaining requirements for border control and oversight."
It was clarified that "Al-Waeli conducted a field tour that included the corridors, areas, and vital facilities of the crossing to assess the infrastructure status and the readiness level of the facilities and services for coordination with the province to complete them. The movement of trucks was monitored, and the actual needs that contribute to improving the work and enhancing the efficiency of the crossing were assessed."
He continued, "On the sidelines of the visit, Al-Waeli met with the head of the General Authority for Ports and Customs on the Syrian side, Qutaiba Badawi, and the senior staff of the Syrian General Authority, where several joint files were discussed relating to the development and enhancement of the efficiency of the Al-Waleed/Tanf crossing, facilitating trade exchange, as well as working to resume passenger transit after completing the necessary halls and roads in the coming days, in addition to discussing mechanisms for exporting petroleum derivatives and facilitating the flow of trucks involved in trade exchange and transit."
He pointed out that "the Syrian side confirmed, for its part, the importance of continuing coordination and joint cooperation, which enhances the transit and trade exchange and supports the shared economic interests between Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic."
The statement confirmed that "the visit comes as part of the direct field follow-up by the head of the Border Ports Authority, and his eagerness to develop the performance of the crossings and enhance their efficiency, strengthening their role as important economic gates that contribute to supporting trade and transport and developing non-oil revenues, with full commitment to the legal regulations and supervisory and security procedures in place."