Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The activities of the Baghdad Conference 2 were launched in the Jordanian capital, Amman, with European participation, through Foreign Policy Coordinator Josep Borrell, who arrived yesterday in Jordan, and French President Emmanuel Macron, who arrived today, shortly before the start of the activities of the conference, which came based on the decision issued by the first conference held in the month of August 2021 in Baghdad, at the invitation of Jordan's King Abdullah II, in coordination with the French President and Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia' al-Sudani, and in their presence. Also participating in the conference are the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf, and representatives of the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the European Union.
Muhammad Shayaa Al-Sudani, the Iraqi Prime Minister, said that the idea of establishing the Baghdad Conference stems from Iraq's desire to establish and strengthen the bases of cooperation and partnership between it and the geographical and regional neighboring countries, in addition to friendly countries, stressing that the Iraqi government adopts an open approach aimed at building regional and international partnerships. Based on common interests, including the establishment of complementary strategic projects to link Iraq with its regional environment.
Al-Sudani added, in his speech at the opening session of the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership in Jordan, that Iraq seeks to work with other countries, to transform into industrialized countries, by establishing joint industrial zones that benefit from the strengths and competition of each country, and enhance joint industrial capacity, and link value-added chains for each country. countries, within an integrated chain capable of competing in global markets, as well as launching mega projects in various sectors, such as oil and gas, agriculture, health, education and tourism.
He continued, "It is also necessary to focus on the service sector and its development, considering it one of the most important engines of the economy in our countries and our region, in addition to addressing the problem of unemployment through developing the productive private sector, improving working conditions in it, and providing the necessary guarantees for workers."
He stressed: "Iraq faces an existential threat due to water scarcity, and we are determined to work hard with our neighbors in the Turkish and Iranian Republics, in a way that helps support cooperation and achieve development and stability, and we have begun to promote the use of modern irrigation systems to conserve water."

Source: Agencies