Baghdad / Nina / Newspapers published in Baghdad today, Monday, March 4, focused on the importance of agricultural investment in supporting the Iraqi economy, the reality of Iraqi industry and its problems… and other issues.
Regarding the first topic, Al-Zawraa newspaper, which is published by the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, followed the efforts and endeavors of the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee to develop laws and legislation that promote agricultural investment.
Committee member, Rafiq Al-Salhi, said in an interview with Al-Zawraa: “The Prime Minister and his government are among their priorities to support the private sector, especially the agricultural sector, and today among the important resources to support the Iraqi economy is investment in agricultural land by investors in agricultural products.”
Al-Salhi stated: “Iraq’s doors are open even to foreigners to support investment and open the way and facilitate all signs of investment in Iraq, because if these lands are not invested properly to support the Iraqi economy, no economic development and growth will occur.”
He stressed: “There are important conditions and mechanisms for this aspect, including setting specific periods, setting priorities, and allocating budgets by the federal government, as well as economic feasibility, which plays an important role in this investment aspect.”
He continued: “Iraq must not remain dependent on oil only. Agriculture is also a permanent source of oil, and it is what provides the country’s food security and its agricultural status and identity. Therefore, land must be invested in the right direction.”
As for Al-Sabah newspaper, which is published by the Iraqi Media Network, it followed the reality of the Iraqi industry, and said in this regard: “Many may not be surprised if they learn that most of the Iraqi government factories are “losing,” with the exception of only two factories, but they will be surprised if they learn that the Iraqi employee ( In those factories, he costs the state many times his salary, which means that the loss is double, which prompts people to think about a radical solution that may be accompanied by pain.”
She added: “The Ministry of Industry is moving towards activating and invigorating government factories through partnership with the Iraqi and foreign private sectors, in order to take these factories to a higher level.”
She quoted the Ministry’s spokeswoman, Duha Muhammad Saleh, saying: “The number of factories affiliated with the Ministry of Industry is 295, of which 101 are stopped. A committee has been formed to study the reality of these stopped factories.”
The spokeswoman added: “Most of the factories are old, their lifespan has ended, so what can be rehabilitated and opened, such as (Babylon Tires) and cement factories, have been rehabilitated. As for those that cannot be rehabilitated, we have gone into partnership with the local and foreign private sector,” indicating that “many have been proposed.” Among the investment opportunities for a number of important industries such as phosphate, fertilizers, cement, petrochemicals, mining, etc., and we received offers from specialized international companies.”
She explained: “Sulfur projects have been referred to partnerships with the private sector, while phosphate offers submitted by specialized companies are being studied.”
Meanwhile, economic expert Adham Al-Fakhar called for liquidating the assets of public companies and turning to the private sector in industry.
Al-Fakhar told Al-Sabah: “The global economy does not mean the economy of governments, but rather the economy of the private sector, and projects that are feasible must be approved.”
He warned: “The survival of public companies means the survival of the oil economy, while we want to build a healthy, productive economy, which means heading towards finding an alternative to oil,” warning that “with the presence of public companies, we will not find an alternative to oil, and the solution is to return the assets of public companies.” To (state real estate) because it is not owned by those companies.”
In the agricultural issue as well, Al-Zaman newspaper followed the Youth and Agricultural Future Conference, which the Ministry of Agriculture will hold on the grounds of the Baghdad International Fair, coinciding with the start of the Fifth Agricultural Week.
It quoted a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture: “The conference, which lasts for the period from 6 to 8 March, is of interest to Minister Abbas Jabr Al-Maliki, as a preparatory committee was formed headed by the Director General of the Agricultural Investments Department, Iyad Al-Bolani, in addition to appointing the Director General of the General Company for Agricultural Equipment, Talib.” Al-Kaabi, in charge of providing logistical support for the conference and completing its related matters.”
The statement indicated: “The preparations have neared completion after a series of meetings with the Prime Minister’s Media Office and representatives of the Supreme Council for Youth, which is headed by Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani,” stressing that groups of young people from several governorates will be hosted to hold specialized seminars examining the role of youth. “Youth in advancing the agricultural and climate sector, as well as discussing multiple phenomena such as climate change and its impact on the agricultural reality, as well as proposed treatments, as well as presenting a vision on strengthening the role of youth and drawing up future policies for specialized young energies.”
Al-Zaman indicated that the Ministry of Agriculture had previously established a mechanism for importing meat and livestock and applied checks.
It quoted the Ministry’s spokesman, Muhammad Al-Khuzaie: “Opening the import of meat is conditional, to preserve animal health and human health, as the Ministry does not import from any country unless it is a reliable country in exporting livestock, whether it is cows or sheep.”
He added: “There is another condition that this country be a member of the World Health Organization and have common relations, and if they are not in the field of livestock, specialized veterinary health teams go to the country from which the import is to be made to see closely and on the ground the health status of the existing animals.” And to find out whether there are epidemic diseases or not,” stressing that after the import approvals are granted and it reaches the Iraqi border, there are specialized medical committees that examine the animals and meat to ensure that they are free of any epidemic disease./ End
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