Baghdad: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani chaired a meeting of the Industrial Coordination Council, directing the council to meet periodically to tackle issues faced by industrialists.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the meeting led to several key decisions aimed at boosting the industrial sector. The council resolved to expedite the operation of base oil units in both southern and northern refineries to meet the private industrial sector’s demands. Additionally, investors are being invited to establish local pyrolysis production projects.

The government is prioritizing the localization of several industries, including precious metals like gold and jewelry, along with cosmetic products. Al-Sudani emphasized facilitating the establishment of local factories. Furthermore, measures will be implemented to monitor gold exports, ensuring remanufactured quantities are properly documented and returned under Central Bank supervision.

To support factory operations, certain government and industrial facilities will receive electrical energy outside peak hours. A plan is being developed to isolate industrial areas from residential ones to provide consistent electricity supply.

The coordination between ministries and the private industrial sector will be streamlined through the General Directorate of Industrial Development. No industrial project will be halted without this directorate’s coordination. The council also upheld a decision to maintain rental rates for industrial lands, following previous resolutions.

In an effort to address environmental concerns, the Ministry of Oil is tasked with transitioning brick factories from black oil to liquefied gas, reducing pollution. The Ministry is also examining the pricing of liquefied gas to incentivize this switch.

Raw materials imported by national factory owners will be exempt from inspection by the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control, a move aimed at facilitating industrial growth. This exemption, however, does not apply to finished materials, which will continue to undergo inspection.

Lastly, the importance of solar energy was underscored, with the National Investment Authority urged to install solar systems in residential projects and utilize insulating materials in construction, promoting sustainability and energy efficiency.