TEHRAN (ISNA)- Representative of Iraq's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Tehran Nazem Dabbagh said Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan Region plan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Saturday in a bid to expand the further mutual cooperation on economy and trade.

"The MoU includes business, economy, investment and supporting private sector. It also includes some recommendations for border offices and organizations to facilitate these issues," Dabbagh told ISNA.

Managing Director of Iran's Physical Education Organization Ali Saeedlou, Secretary of Iranian Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili and Head of Iran-Iraq economic cooperation headquarters Hassan Kazemi Qomi will attend the ceremony.

Also Iraqi Kurdistan's Minister of Construction and Housing in the Development of Housing Units Kamran Ahmed Abdullah will arrive in Tehran on Saturday to join the ceremony.

Iran and the Iraqi Kurdistan region have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, during the 2003 US invasion of the Muslim country.

Dabbagh announced in July that the value of the trade ties between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan region will exceed $4bln this year thanks to the two sides' growing cooperation.

He voiced Kurdistan's willingness to boost trade ties with Iran, and noted, "The present and the future of Iran and Kurdistan are tied to each other. They should always have continued contacts with each other."

Also in July, Deputy Head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Barham Salih was in Iran to explore avenues for the further development of the bilateral relations between the two sides.

During the five-day trip, Salih discussed consolidation of PUK relations with Iran as well as the role, importance and expansion of Iraq's ties with the Islamic Republic.

End Item