The Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government of Iraq have reached a final agreement to implement the global customs system ASYCUDA at border crossings. The process will start at the Ibrahim Khalil crossing as the first phase.
Dr. Sami Jalal, head of the negotiation team and legal advisor at the Ministry of Interior, said talks have entered the final stage of agreement. He explained that both sides are close to completing the technical and administrative framework. The final report will go to the Iraqi Higher Economic Council next week. After approval, it will move to the Council of Ministers for a final decision. Then, the system will expand to all border points.
Nawzad Sheikh Kamil, Director General at the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, said authorities have already approved the system. He added that technical committees now supervise the project. They will also set up special operation rooms at each border crossing to manage the system.
The Ibrahim Khalil crossing will serve as the pilot site under the plan. If the system works well there, officials will expand it to other crossings across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
The Kurdistan Regional Government set a nine-month deadline for full implementation. This timeline is shorter than similar projects in Iraq, which have taken up to two years.
Training for border staff has already begun in Erbil and other crossings. Trainers focus on how to use the ASYCUDA system effectively. Erbil and Baghdad have also agreed on main operational rules. Only minor technical details remain before full rollout begins.
