On 3 March 2021 UNIDO ITPO Italy hosted online the launch event of the project “Investment Promotion for Iraq – Phase II”, presenting to the Italian business community the activities of ITPO Italy in the framework of the project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by UNIDO.

Notably, the panel discussion featured the interventions of several representatives of prominent institutions and international organizations from both Iraq and Italy: Ms. Diana Battaggia, Head of UNIDO ITPO Italy, and Mr. Fabio Russo, UNIDO project coordinator; H.E. Safia Taleb Al Souhail, Ambassador at the Embassy of Iraq in Italy and H.E. Bruno Antonio Pasquino, Ambassador at the Embassy of Italy in Iraq; Mr. Filippo Covino, Head of the Italian Trade Agency in Amman; Mr. Michele Morana, Head of the AICS office in Amman; and Mr. Andrea Carapellese, Investment Promotion Expert of UNIDO ITPO Italy.

In line with the goal of the project, all panelists emphasized the importance of fostering business synergies between the Italian and the Iraqi private sector through international partnerships and institutional networks, and highlighted in this regard UNIDO’s pivotal role in providing support and capacity building services to promote business and investment opportunities for inclusive and sustainable economic development.

Thanks to the final Q&A session of the online event, the almost 100 participants had also the opportunity to engage directly with the panel, furthering the debate by asking ITPO Italy insightful questions about the project, its geographical areas and core sectors of interventions – namely agribusiness, food processing, agricultural machineries, energy & environment, construction, oil & gas and more, showing great interest and paving the way for potential future collaborations during its next stages.