On July 2nd 2021 UNIDO ITPO Italy participated in the roundtable with the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Khadimi at the Hotel Rome Cavalieri, in the framework of the project “Investment Promotion for Iraq – Phase II” funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by UNIDO.

The roundtable was organized by the Embassy of Iraq in Rome to facilitate the interaction among Italian major economic institutions and companies operating in the country. The event was also attended by the two Deputy Prime Ministers Ali Allawi and Fuad Hussein, respectively Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Suha Najar, Chairwoman of the Iraqi National Investment Commission.

The Iraqi delegation referred to the important plan of economic and social reforms launched the past year through a White Paper, also inviting the Italian companies to become more active in the development of the country, both in sectors of traditional interest - such as construction and maintainance of big infrastructures - and emerging sectors with new opportunities, such as ICT and agribusiness. The keywords of the day were “attract capitals” and “know-how”, for a transition towards a post-oil economy through to a more diversified industrial sector.

During the discussion, UNIDO ITPO Italy Head Diana Battaggia also had the opportunity to restate the ever-growing commitment and contribution of UNIDO ITPO Italy to strengthen industrial cooperation between Italy and Iraq and to support the development of the local private sector.