Halit Acar Re-Elected Chair Of Turkey–Iraq Business Council

Halit Acar has been re-elected as Chair of the Turkey–Iraq Business Council under Türkiye’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) for a third term, underlining continuity in efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.

During 2024 and 2025, the Council stepped up its activities to expand bilateral economic relations through high level engagements across several Iraqi cities. These included meetings with the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office, relevant ministries and investment authorities,  aimed at enhancing business-to-business dialogue and facilitating investment and trade.

A key milestone was a large Turkish business delegation visit to Baghdad in August and September, which brought together around 40 Turkish business leaders and their Iraqi counterparts to explore concrete opportunities in investment, infrastructure, industry, logistics and trade. Additional business missions to Mosul, Erbil, Najaf and Karbala further broadened the scope of economic engagement.

Acar’s re-election took place during the 2025 Electoral General Assemblies of DEİK Business Councils, coinciding with the Turkey–Iraq Business Council receiving the ‘Media Visibility’ award at the Commercial Diplomacy Awards ceremony, reflecting the Council’s active presence on both the economic and media fronts.

Looking ahead, the Turkey–Iraq Business Council aims to deepen trade ties between Turkey and Iraq, increase direct engagement between business communities, and continue translating commercial diplomacy into tangible, on the ground economic outcomes in 2026.

Source: Dış Ekonomik İlişkiler Kurulu (DEİK)