Baghdad: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed the government’s continued support for the private sector in all sectors. The Prime Minister’s Media Office stated in a statement that Al-Sudani inaugurated, via closed-circuit television, three pivotal projects: the Al-Dawari Iron and Steel Factory in Suleiman Bek District, Salah al-Din Governorate, the (Hydrogen) Factory for the manufacture of cancer drugs in Karbala Governorate, and Al-Fatha Bridge on the Tigris River, which links Salah al-Din and Kirkuk Governorates.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Sudani expressed his appreciation for the efforts of governors, officials, and private sector companies involved in these significant projects. He emphasized that infrastructure projects are a priority within the government program, focusing on both stalled projects and those impacted by ISIS terrorist activities. Al-Sudani noted that investment in transportation infrastructure could drive job creation and stimulate agricultural and industrial activities in the medium and long term.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the Al-Dawari Iron and Steel Factory is a successful private sector initiative, implemented with modern specifications. The factory provides raw materials and iron sections crucial for the ongoing construction movement, addressing the growing demand for construction materials driven by the development of over one million housing units currently under construction under investment licenses.
Furthermore, Al-Sudani underscored the strategic importance of the pharmaceutical industry, particularly the (Hydrogen) Factory, as a pioneering platform in the region. This initiative aims to deliver complex medicines affordably while localizing pharmaceutical production, thus conserving foreign currency and employing individuals with scientific and pharmaceutical expertise. The factory’s first phase involves producing seven types of cancer drugs, with a second phase planned for injectable cancer treatments.
Regarding the Al-Fatha Bridge, Al-Sudani noted that it was a stalled project that reached completion following a directive to overcome obstacles and secure necessary allocations. The bridge, stretching 540 meters, serves as a critical passage for agricultural products, goods, and oil pipelines from Kirkuk, enhancing connectivity between Salah al-Din and the northern governorates via Kirkuk.