Al-Sudani outlines reconstruction, economic reform

SULAIMANIYAH — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visited the Kurdistan Region’s Sulaimaniyah on Wednesday to attend the Ninth Sulaimani Forum, hosted by the American University of Iraq–Sulaimani.

In his address, al-Sudani outlined ongoing government efforts aimed at public service delivery, youth empowerment, infrastructure development, and economic reform.

He praised the forum’s location, calling Sulaimaniyah a city that “continues to undergo development” and one that “stood against the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.” He reiterated his government’s focus on building a stable, service-oriented state through “economic diversification,” repeating the administration’s slogan: “The Government of Services.”

“Our people have endured long years of oppression, dictatorship, economic sanctions, terrorism, and flawed financial and economic policies,” al-Sudani said. He described the current period as one of “reconstruction,” citing projects across multiple sectors.
The prime minister reported progress in infrastructure delivery, stating that roads, bridges and municipal services have reached previously underserved residential areas. He said the country’s water and sewerage network has doubled in size compared to three years ago.

Major urban housing initiatives have been launched, and the number of stalled projects has dropped below 850, down from thousands in previous years. The projects include developments in health care, education and school construction.

Al-Sudani also emphasized government work in the electricity sector, highlighting rehabilitation of the power grid and expansion of renewable energy and generation capacity.

“We have begun reforming the banking sector to pave the way for private sector engagement and improve Iraq’s investment environment,” he said.
He pointed to a 70% drop in gas flaring and said the country expects a complete halt to the practice by 2028. He also stressed efforts to diversify Iraq’s economy beyond oil and reported growth in private-sector job creation, describing it as evidence of a shifting labor market.

“There is an ongoing development movement that does not stop,” al-Sudani said. “Youth are our first weapon in facing future challenges. We trust in achieving the ambitions of our people.”
He said infrastructure projects have expanded in every Iraqi city and placed strong emphasis on youth development through initiatives focused on skills training, entrepreneurship and digital transformation.

Al-Sudani also rejected what he described as politicization of service delivery.

“Delivering services and ensuring a dignified life for Iraqis will never be reduced to a political slogan or an election campaign issue,” he said.
The prime minister announced that Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been invited to attend the upcoming Arab Summit, scheduled to take place in Baghdad on May 17.

He also criticized political opponents, saying smear campaigns and polarizing rhetoric threaten civil peace.

“It is unacceptable for political competition to devolve into smear campaigns that obscure facts,” he said. “We have witnessed unconstructive political behavior in this regard.”
Al-Sudani reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to neutrality in regional conflicts and reiterated the country’s stance on the Palestinian issue, as well as developments in Gaza and Lebanon. He said Iraq seeks to be “a reliable partner and an active contributor to regional stability.”

He added that the government has informed the U.S.-led coalition that the security landscape in Iraq today differs significantly from 2014, the year Baghdad first requested international assistance to combat the Islamic State group.