Baghdad: The ambassadors of European countries praised the efforts and steps of the Iraqi government in achieving reconstruction, development, and investment in the energy sectors, stressing the desire of their governments to enhance joint cooperation in various fields with Iraq.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the British Ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Hitchen, urged the need for political blocs to form the government after the upcoming elections as soon as possible. Ambassador Hitchen emphasized during a dialogue session within the activities of the second day of the Iraq Energy Conference 2025 in Baghdad that the most important task after the elections is for the political elite to reach a solution and form a direct government swiftly. He highlighted Iraq's population growth from 8 million in the seventies to an expected 70 million by 2040 and cautioned against Iraq's reliance on oil and gas income, suggesting economic diversification as a necessary solution.
The British ambassador also expressed concerns regarding dependency on oil and gas, noting the signing of agreements for projects worth 12 billion pounds during Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's visit to London. He mentioned a strategic project to connect the national grid with the Saudi electricity grid, emphasizing the need for international investment in Iraq's education sector.
In turn, German Ambassador to Iraq, Christiane Hohmann, confirmed significant cooperation with Iraq in many areas. During the dialogue session, Hohmann identified electricity as a major issue for investors in Iraq, while acknowledging the presence of Iraqi businessmen investing in Germany. She highlighted the operations of German companies in Iraq's electricity sector and noted the existence of factories in Najaf. Hohmann emphasized the importance of providing job opportunities for Iraq's young population and the embassies' role in offering advice and investments.
Dutch Ambassador Hans Sandee also confirmed his country's efforts to enhance cooperation with Iraq. Sandee pointed out Iraq's reliance on oil and expressed a commitment to increasing joint cooperation and knowledge transfer. He acknowledged challenges faced by Dutch companies, particularly electricity, and advocated for private sector development and support for emerging companies. Sandee emphasized the importance of focusing on youth, education, and the private sector as critical areas for the Iraqi government's attention.