Baghdad: The Ministry of Planning, represented by the International Cooperation Department, held a joint meeting with the United Nations team in Iraq to advance discussions on the draft United Nations Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development for the years 2025-2029. A representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also attended the meeting.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the meeting was led by Saher Abdul-Kazem Mahdi, the Director General of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry. The discussions were centered around aligning the legal aspects of the framework with Iraqi national legislation and policies to reach a consensus. This consensus is crucial for signing the document, which will serve as a foundational reference for launching development projects and programs jointly.

Abdul-Kadhim noted that signing the framework is a critical step in strengthening the partnership between Iraq and the United Nations system. This partnership aims to achieve Iraq's national development goals in line with international development cooperation mechanisms and Iraq's sustainable development priorities.

The meeting concluded with the United Nations team agreeing to present any remaining observations on the document. These will be addressed through coordination between the Ministry and the UN team. The Ministry of Planning expressed its readiness to sign the document, which has already been approved by the Cabinet.