Baghdad: The Ministry of Planning held a joint meeting with a delegation from the World Bank to discuss mechanisms for implementing several urban development projects across various Iraqi provinces. Mohammed Mohsen Al-Sayyid, Director General of the Regional and Local Development Department at the Ministry, highlighted that the meeting reviewed projects aimed at developing riverfronts and key development corridors in historic urban areas, along with other strategic projects within reconstruction and sustainable development plans.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the discussions addressed ways to capitalize on emerging development corridors, including the Baghdad circular railway line passing through Al-Jawahiri City, the development routes in Al-Nakheel City in Basra Governorate, and the ‘New Mosul Pulse’ project. Several development proposals in Hit and Saddat Al-Hindiyah in Babylon Governorate were also considered.

Al-Sayyid clarified that these projects present an opportunity for collaboration with the World Bank to establish financing mechanisms that support urban development efforts and reconstruction. He noted that many of these projects could potentially recover their costs and become self-financed through loans, while also enabling citizen and private-sector participation in funding processes.

He emphasized the projects’ significance in addressing citizens’ needs, improving social and economic conditions, and enhancing community engagement by encouraging shared responsibility in covering part of the implementation costs.

The meeting was attended by several World Bank representatives, along with officials from the Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works, and relevant departments within the Ministry.