Rome, September 2nd 2013. UNIDO organized, in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Third meeting of the UNIDO Iraq Programme’s Project 'Enhancing Investments to Iraq through Industrial Zone Development' Steering Committee, in the presence of representatives of all partners for the project.

The meeting was held at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and counted on the presence of high level Iraqi institutional counterparts, such as the Prime Minister's Advisory Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Finance, representatives from Kurdistan, Basra and Najaf, the Iraq Embassy in Italy, as well as UNIDO experts involved in the project and the Iraq Task Force of the Italian Cooperation for Development, the donor organization for the project.

During the meeting, Ms. Diana Battaggia delivered her speech, emphasizing the growing cooperation between UNIDO, Italy  and Iraq. “We have a sound and credible track record of cooperation and we should continue to work together with the clear aim of providing essential elements for the sustainable and long-lasting development of Iraq and his people”, she said.

During recent years, the activities organized by UNIDO ITPO Italy for Iraq have been a valid instrument to facilitate the dialogue with the Italian entrepreneurs, allowing further concrete actions, such as the achievement of partnerships and agreements for industrial and institutional cooperation.

UNIDO is supporting Iraq through an overall technical framework for developing and managing industrial zones in line with international best practice. For this purpose, study tours and technical seminars are prepared to expose Iraqi decision-makers to different models of planning, financing, management and promotion.

Besides, concerning regulatory matters, in addition to the Iraqi structure and the policy framework, a set of laws and regulations are being evaluated and discussed in order to support the development of industrial zones. On this regard, a pre-feasibility study for Basra zone and the feasibility for Najaf zone are scheduled to start during September 2013. The studies will be associated with an assessment of the private sector needs, a SWOT analysis and an analysis of the industrial structure in the two provinces.

At the concluding remarks of the Steering Committee, Minister Alessandro Gaudiano, recently appointed as the new Head of Iraqi Task Force at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thanked all the participants and invited them to stay engaged and build upon what has been achieved so far.

The Steering Committee held in Rome constitutes the first stage of the Italian mission organized in the framework of  UNIDO Iraq project. The following stage involves a study tour in Lombardy with the aim of exposing Iraqi representatives to Italian know how and experience in industrial zone/cluster development and it will consist of field visits and technical seminars.