ISTANBUL: Minister of Trade Athir Dawood Al-Ghariri, representing Iraq, has called for a unified approach to address the challenges posed by accelerating global events and crises during the fortieth session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMSC) in Istanbul. The ministerial meeting, attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and trade and economy ministers from 57 member states, focused on economic and commercial cooperation among Islamic countries.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Minister Al-Ghariri highlighted the urgent need to address issues such as food insecurity, particularly in the Middle East, which have been exacerbated by ongoing regional unrest. He emphasized the importance of collective action to develop economic and commercial strategies that can mitigate the adverse effects on the economic and social conditions of the populations in member states.

The Minister urged participants to expedite efforts
in joint initiatives and to work towards translating shared visions into practical outcomes. He noted the Iraqi government’s commitment to e-commerce and digital transformation as key components of its strategy to align with international developments, referencing recent meetings chaired by the Iraqi Prime Minister aimed at accelerating digital transformation and enhancing infrastructure.

In addition, Al-Ghariri expressed Iraq’s support for international efforts to hold the global community accountable for taking decisive actions to halt aggression by the Zionist entity and to ensure safe passage for aid to Palestinians, as well as medical assistance for the injured.