A Tiberias-based company, Tanur-Gaz Industries, may be the first Israeli company to trade with the new administration in Iraq.
Israeli Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu signed a permit on Monday authorizing trade with Iraq, following an order stating that Iraq is no longer regarded a hostile country, according to the Israeli business daily Globes. The authorization was in coordination with Israel’s Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom and it will include commercial and financial links with Iraq, particularly the supply and transportation of goods, and the payment and transfer of funds.
Although to date no direct trade is taking place between the two countries, Tanur-Gaz Industries, which manufactures industrial kitchen appliances for large institutions, is likely to be the first company to benefit from the new authorization.
The Media Line spoke to Itai Perry, International Marketing Manager of Tanur-Gaz. The company started exporting its products to Europe a couple of months ago, where it was introduced to a businessman, formerly from Iraq. The tradesman proposed to act as a mediator with the Iraqis and a deal was put in motion.
“It’s quite amazing,” Perry said. “We will be able to send a truck from Tiberias to Baghdad in just four hours.” He added that a preliminary deal has already been drawn and they are awaiting the final approval. If everything goes as planned, they will start launching their products to Iraq within just a few weeks, where they will be purchased by humanitarian organizations.