Baghdad: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani affirmed that Iraq’s revival after decades of challenges cannot be achieved without investing in the potential of its youth, calling on all authorities and institutions to focus their efforts on addressing the issues they face.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Prime Minister’s media office stated that Al-Sudani received today the executive leadership of the Supreme Council for Youth and its coordinators in the provinces, on the occasion of the council’s second anniversary. At the beginning of the meeting, Al-Sudani extended condolences on the anniversary of the passing of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), stressing that the Prophet represents the ultimate role model for youth in honesty, integrity, and work.

He noted that the establishment of the Supreme Council for Youth is a significant milestone he personally values, emphasizing that the council was created to serve as an umbrella for coordination between ministries, institutions, and youth initiatives. He underscored the importance of launching well-structured plans based on sound foundations, away from emotions and transient circumstances.

Al-Sudani explained that rebuilding trust with young people requires a clear vision and defined priorities within an organized program, affirming that youth initiatives will not be allowed to be distorted or exploited for electoral or political purposes. He added that the entire national project is built on youth, who make up more than 60% of Iraq’s population.

He pointed out that the ‘Riyada’ (Entrepreneurship) project has attracted half a million applicants, of whom 91,000 have undergone training, 48,000 completed the qualification stages, and 20,000 finalized procedures to receive loans for small projects, which are planned to grow into medium-sized companies and eventually large enterprises.

The Prime Minister stressed that the government looks to the near future with optimism and is determined to double its efforts to match the trust young people have placed in this project, asserting that its success will counter attempts by certain parties seeking to stir crises at the expense of national interests.