As a follow-up activity to the technical assistance provided by UNIDO to the Iraqi Industrial Cities Corporation (ICC) under the Ministry of Industry of Iraq for the development of a policy framework for future industrial cities in the country, three industrial cities in the governorates of Najaf, Karbala and Anbar were visited by UNIDO representatives between 10th and 13th June 2024, in order to assess their performance and identify opportunities to improve their management, environmental, social and economic sustainability.

The three industrial cities are under the supervision of ICC, with the one of Anbar being developed by the ICC itself. The results of the assessment will provide insights to ICC on what could be improved, in order to develop these new industrial cities according to the best international practices — such as the eco-industrial park requirements developed by UNIDO, World Bank and GIZ — as well as to be considered as a model for other industrial cities in Iraq.

Consultations with main local stakeholders — including meetings with the General Directorate of Industrial Development of the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Environment of Iraq, the Osoul Economic and Sustainable Development, the National United Company for Production and Distribution of Renewable Energy (NUPADER), the Green Bank, the General Company for Iraqi Railways and the National Investment Commission (NIC) — were undertaken, to understand and distill the needs of key stakeholders on industrial cities development, both in terms of policies and technical cooperation.

In this framework, a 2-day training for ICC and Ministry of Industry representatives, private developers and managers of industrial zones, and other government representatives was organized in Baghdad on 11th and 12th June, to introduce the eco-industrial park concept and provide practical examples and guidance on how to develop new industrial cities according to best international practices, with a focus on greenfield industrial zones.

The initiative was part of thr project “Investment Promotion for Iraq - Phase II”, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by UNIDO ITPO Italy.