A delegation from the Iraqi Kurdistan region headed by the governor of Sulaimani Heval Abubakir arrived in the western Iranian city of Mariwan on Monday to meet with Iranian economic officials including the secretary of the Supreme Council of Free and Special Economic Zones, Saeed Mohammad who is visiting the western Iranian province of Kurdistan.

The Iraqi delegation entered Iran after crossing the Bashmaq international border crossing near the border town of Mariwan.

The Iranian and Iraqi delegation will likely sign a memorandum of understanding on establishing a shared free trade zone on the shared border between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan, Mehr News Agency reported.

The acting deputy governor of Kurdistan for economic affairs Kamal Hosseini told reporters that "The visit of the Iraqi delegation is in line with a previously signed MoU between Kurdistan governor office and the Iraqi Kurdistan region and Sulaimani province,"

Hosseini added that the Iraqi Kurdish side has already expressed readiness to invest in the Baneh and Mariwan special economic zone.

He expressed hope that a memorandum of understanding will be signed with Iraq to establish a joint free zone to lay the ground for further development of the region.

Reporter's code: 50101