Baghdad: The Ministry of Planning held an introductory workshop on the international standards ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 on Sunday. The workshop was attended by the Director General of the Investment Programs Department, Tahseen Mahmoud Muthanna, the Director of the Field Monitoring Department, Haider Abbas Manati, and several representatives from various governorates. This initiative aligns with the Ministry’s efforts to enhance the efficiency of government project management, improve institutional performance, and promote the application of international standards and specifications throughout the various stages of project preparation, implementation, and monitoring.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the workshop aimed to introduce the concepts of the two international standards, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001, and highlight their importance in government projects. It also reviewed the requirements and mechanisms for implementation at different project stages, presented key examples and practical experiences, and discussed the results achieved. Furthermore, the workshop sought to raise awareness of the importance of occupational safety and health, environmental management, and the principles of sustainability.

It was noted that the successful implementation of these standards is not solely dependent on technical aspects, but also requires building the capacity of staff working in government institutions, strengthening coordination and cooperation among various stakeholders, and translating knowledge of international standards into practical applications that improve project quality and outputs.

The workshop included a presentation by Dr. Ashwaq Shihab Ahmed, Director of the Technical Reports Evaluation Division in the Department of Economic and Financial Policies, addressing the role of international standards ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 in project risk management and environmental compliance, from decision-making to implementation.

Representatives from the Council of Ministers and several governorates, including Baghdad, Najaf, Maysan, Karbala, Kirkuk, Anbar, and Diyala, attended the workshop.