Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi urged Italian enterprises to take an active role in Iraq’s comprehensive development drive, affirming Baghdad’s commitment to deeper economic integration with Italy and the wider European Union, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Media Office on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
The remarks came during a formal meeting at the Government Palace with the Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Iraq, Niccolò Fontana. The two officials reviewed bilateral ties and explored mechanisms to expand strategic partnerships across the energy, industrial, and agricultural sectors.
Key Discussion Pillars & Diplomatic Highlights
- Economic Integration with Europe: Prime Minister Al-Zaidi emphasized Iraq’s strategy to broaden trade, technological transfer, and direct investment partnerships with Italy and European Union member states.
- Target Investment Sectors: Baghdad is prioritizing Italian industrial and engineering expertise to modernize domestic energy infrastructure, agribusiness/irrigation technologies, and manufacturing sectors.
- Italian Commitment to Bilateral Ties: Ambassador Niccolò Fontana reaffirmed Rome’s dedication to expanding cooperative frameworks and supporting private-sector participation in Iraq’s ongoing reconstruction and infrastructure programs.
The meeting aligns with the Iraqi government’s broader economic policy of diversifying international partnerships and attracting European industrial leaders to support non-oil industrialization, modernize water-efficient agricultural practices, and upgrade national infrastructure.
By engaging Italian firms, Baghdad aims to deploy advanced European technologies across capital investment projects while deepening institutional and commercial ties with Mediterranean and EU markets.
