Al-Zaidi from the Baghdad Dialog Conference: There is no retreat from the fight against corruption and the project of one million plots of land will be implemented soon

The Prime Minister, Mr. Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi, announced on Friday the continuation of the implementation of a package of economic and development reforms, stressing the government's continued fight against corruption, and work to prepare one million residential plots of land for citizens who do not own real estate or residential land, while stressing the limitation of arms in the hands of the state, support for the private sector and strengthening the economic and regional position of Iraq.

This came during the Prime Minister's participation in a dialog session within the activities of the 8th Baghdad Dialog Conference organized by the Iraqi Institute for Dialog in the capital Baghdad, where he addressed a number of files related to the priorities of the government program, especially the economy, energy, services, investment and financial reform, as well as security and political files and Iraq's relations with its Arab and regional surroundings.

Al-Zaidi stressed that the government's approach is based on building the state and the economy, pointing out that Iraq has the opportunities, assets and will that enable it to overcome the challenges, and that the country is moving towards being one of the most stable and strong countries in the region in the fields of development and economy.

Salaries, Budget and Energy

And in the financial file, the Prime Minister confirmed that the government was able to secure the salaries of employees and government payments, in addition to finding alternative paths to export oil, indicating that the government will present a budget that will serve as a "map of the economic future of Iraq."

And he explained that work is underway to develop a plan to cover financial needs for the coming years, while next year's budget will focus in particular on the electricity sector, through support for production, distribution and transport, in conjunction with the expansion of the use of solar energy.

Al-Zaidi said the government has implemented reforms to deal with local fuel consumption, and he expects to achieve a financial surplus of 17.8 trillion dinars within a full year.

Increasing Oil Exports and New Export Pathways

And in the oil sector, the Prime Minister revealed the work to expand Iraq's exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, in addition to the presence of export movements through Baniyas and Aqaba, which provides Iraq with multiple routes for oil exports and enhances its ability to face any challenges that may affect export outlets.

He also stressed that the government is working to increase Iraq's export share through OPEC, noting that the goal is to reach production between 8 and 10 million barrels per day within six years.

Al-Zaidi justified the demand for a larger export quota for Iraq by saying that the country fought the terrorist organization ISIS on behalf of the region and the world, and it is fair, according to his expression, that Iraq gets an oil share commensurate with its population and the size of its oil reserves.

Combating corruption and tightening contract controls

In the anti-corruption file, Al-Zaidi stressed that the government "does not retreat from the fight against corruption," noting that this path enjoys broad support from political forces.

The Prime Minister singled out the excessive prices of contract clauses and projects as one of the most prominent foundations of corruption, stressing that the government changed the control mechanisms by moving from subsequent scrutiny to prior scrutiny, and controlling the moderation of prices before signing contracts.

And in the fiscal and customs framework, he explained that the government will work to pre-fill tax revenues on imports when opening the transfer, ensuring that revenues enter the state treasury, with the possibility of recovering the amounts in the event that the import process is not completed.

He also pointed to the reduction of customs duties on some goods in order to facilitate the right path to pay government revenues to merchants.

One million plots in less than three years

And in the housing file, the Prime Minister announced that the project of one million residential plots is close to actual implementation, stressing that the project targets citizens who do not own any real estate or residential land.

And he said that the last citizen covered by the project will receive his plot of land in less than three years, noting that the National Investment Authority will announce opportunities to distribute land according to modern and modern designs that take into account the requirements of future expansion.

And the government's approach to the land file was not limited to the residential side, as Al-Zaidi revealed a plan to provide agricultural plots to agricultural engineers and veterinarians, while providing them with loans according to a studied economic model, in order to support agricultural activity and enhance investment opportunities in the sector.

$100 billion development fund

And in the development and investment axis, Al-Zaidi announced that the capital of the Development Fund will reach $100 billion, indicating that its financing will depend on the contribution of the Central Bank, the public subscription, as well as the contribution of international and regional financing institutions.

He stressed that development in Iraq cannot be achieved without a strong private sector, stressing that the government seeks to put in place mechanisms that encourage the transition from the public sector to the private sector, as this is one of the necessary paths to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on the state to provide jobs.

State Control of Arms

And on the security front, the Prime Minister confirmed the existence of a consensus among the political forces to continue to limit weapons to the hands of the state, and to work to put in place mechanisms for handing over weapons.

He stressed that there are no intentions or prospects of any military clash, stressing that the government will not allow the enemies of Iraq to exploit any opportunity to destabilize the internal situation.

Al-Zaidi linked security stability to the investment environment, explaining that the presence of weapons outside the framework of the state constitutes a repelling environment for investment, something he described as unacceptable and not in the interest of Iraqis.

Iraq from a battlefield to a bridge for negotiation

Regarding foreign policy, Al-Zaidi stressed that Iraq is a pivotal and important country in the region, and it cannot be cut off from its Arab and regional surroundings, noting that the government has sensed a "strong desire" among the countries of the region to open up to Iraq.

He said that the government supported the transformation of Iraq's role from an arena of conflict to a bridge for negotiation and understanding, stressing that the weight of Iraq can be influential and decisive in achieving regional stability.

Not running for a second term

In a remarkable political stance, Al-Zaidi announced that he had committed himself not to run for a second term, stressing that the reform programs implemented by his government will show their results during the work of future governments.

These statements come within the framework of the Prime Minister's assertion that government reforms are not linked to the person of the current government, but rather aim to set long-term paths for the economy and the state, to ensure the continuation of development projects and programs after the end of the current government cycle.