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AMMAN — Baghdad’s recent decision to close the border with Jordan has not affected the flow of agricultural exports to Iraq, an official said Monday.
Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin was quoted by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, as saying that 61 Jordanian trucks laden with fruits and vegetables have entered Kuwait since Friday, of which 45 continued their way to Iraq.
The Iraqi government notified authorities in Jordan of the decision to close the border last week.
Haddadin said Jordan had been sending fruits and vegetables to Iraq through Kuwait even before the closure.
He also said that 206 Jordanian trucks have carried around 4,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables to the Gulf Arab states and Iraq since Friday, the first day of Eid Al Fitr.
According to official figures, the country exported 100,000 tonnes of produce to 23 markets in June, registering a 10.7 per cent increase compared to June last year and a 29 per cent increase compared to May.
Fruit constituted 37.6 per cent of June’s exports due to the increase in production.
