Important Initiatives announced at Arab Summit in Baghdad
By John Lee.
A series of important initiatives have been announced at the 34th Session of the Arab Summit, and the 5th Arab Economic and Social Development Summit, held in Baghdad on Saturday: Arab Food Security Initiative for Grains
The Baghdad Initiative to Enhance Arab Cooperation on Environmental and Climate Challenges
Arab Initiative to Provide Safe Havens for Disaster Victims and Strengthen Arab Housing Security
Comprehensive initiative to support Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force and Financial Intelligence Units
Arab Center for Environmental Protection from the Effects of War
Arab Center for Artificial Intelligence in Baghdad
Arab Council for Cultural and Public Engagement among Arab countries
Joint Arab Security Coordination Room
Arab Center for Counterterrorism
Arab Center for Combating Drug Trafficking
Arab Center for Combating Transnational Organized Crime
Council of Arab Ministers of Trade (proposed by Iraq)
Arab Solidarity Fund for the Reconstruction of Gaza and Lebanon (under the supervision of the Arab League, with Iraq as the first contributor) Statement from the Media Office of the Prime Minister:
Key Highlights from the Speech of Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani at the 5th Arab Economic and Social Development Summit Held in Baghdad on May 17, 2025
•••••••••• I extend my thanks to the Republic of Lebanon for presiding over the previous summit, and to the General Secretariat of the Arab League for its efforts in this regard.
The convening of this summit today in Baghdad reaffirms our collective commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and promoting integration.
Joint Arab action is the path toward progress that reflects our civilizational and historical stature.
This summit serves as a strategic platform to solidify Arab partnerships, activate development funds and mechanisms, create new opportunities for women and youth, and ensure the welfare of children.
It is essential to revive the momentum of developmental summits, which have been on pause since the 2019 Beirut Summit, and to activate mechanisms to follow up on and implement previous summit decisions.
We propose the establishment of a Joint Arab Mechanism to Evaluate Development Performance based on economic and social development indicators.
We must transition toward leveraging the knowledge economy, which offers an opportunity for advancement and an educational environment that supports entrepreneurship and innovation.
In response to current challenges, our government has launched a package of economic and financial reforms, in addition to vital infrastructure and development projects.
We have supported the sectors of education, healthcare, digital transformation, and private sector empowerment, while promoting the tourism sector-culminating in the launch of Iraq's National Development Plan 2024-2028.
We announce the launch of the Arab Economic Reform Pact for the Next Decade, which aims to create an integrated and shared Arab investment environment, liberalize trade, and establish free trade zones.
We have embraced this goal through the Development Road strategic project, linking Al-Faw Grand Port on the Gulf to Türkiye and onward to Europe.
The Development Road project offers vast opportunities for Iraq and the region, including industrial and investment cities along its route and integration into global transport and energy networks.
Iraq reaffirms its openness to all productive partnerships in its investment environment. Arab and foreign investments in Iraq have reached nearly $89 billion.
The invitation remains open for our Arab brothers to contribute to the Development Road and its accompanying opportunities.
The pact also involves developing infrastructure including road and railway networks, renewable energy facilities, and enhancing industrial and agricultural integration through joint industrial cities and Arab companies for production and agricultural marketing.
We confirm the launch of several initiatives under the umbrella of this summit, including the Arab Food Security Initiative for Grains, and The Baghdad Initiative to Enhance Arab Cooperation on Environmental and Climate Challenges.
We announce the Arab Initiative to Provide Safe Havens for Disaster Victims and Strengthen Arab Housing Security, as well as a comprehensive initiative to support Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force and Financial Intelligence Units.
We announce the establishment of the Arab Center for Environmental Protection from the Effects of War, and the Arab Center for Artificial Intelligence in Baghdad, as well as the Arab Council for Cultural and Public Engagement among Arab countries.
We launch the Joint Arab Security Coordination Room, and announce the founding of the Arab Center for Counterterrorism, the Arab Center for Combating Drug Trafficking, and the Arab Center for Combating Transnational Organized Crime-all headquartered in Baghdad.
Iraq has proposed the creation of the Council of Arab Ministers of Trade to serve as the coordinating and executive body overseeing Arab trade and crafting collective responses to regional and international challenges.
We are pleased to launch the Arab Solidarity Fund for the Reconstruction of Gaza and Lebanon, under the supervision of the Arab League, and Iraq will be the first to contribute to it.
These initiatives represent a roadmap that requires collective cooperation from governments, the private sector, and civil society.
There is no security without development, and no development without genuine Arab economic integration.
We hope this summit marks a turning point in the trajectory of Arab development and that its resolutions are translated into tangible actions on the ground-for the benefit of our peoples and the future of our coming generations.
(Source: PMO) Tags: Arab League, Arab League Summit, Arab Summit, cg, featured
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