Muscat: An Iraqi government delegation visited the Sultanate of Oman to enhance cooperation in the field of social protection, with support from the European Union.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Ministry of Planning stated in a press release that an Iraqi government delegation arrived in the Sultanate of Oman on Monday. The delegation includes representatives from the Ministries of Planning, Labor and Social Affairs, Trade, and Education. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly countries in the field of social protection, with support from the European Union and in cooperation with UNICEF, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the World Food Programme (WFP).

The statement explained that the visit will last for three days, during which the delegation will learn about the Omani social protection system and the mechanisms for designing and implementing its programs. This will enhance opportunities to benefit from successful experiences and develop frameworks for institutional cooperation.

He added, “This visit comes within the framework of expanding cooperation between Iraq and the Sultanate of Oman, particularly in the social and developmental fields, in line with the reform and development priorities that both sides are working on.”

The Director General of Human Development at the Ministry of Planning explained that Iraq is moving forward with preparing a national social protection strategy, emphasizing that learning from the pioneering Omani experience constitutes an important contribution to supporting efforts to reform the social protection system in Iraq, thereby enhancing social justice and institutional sustainability.