Sayyid Al-Hakeem Meets Basra's Elites, Commends Developmental Progress

During a visit to Basra, and in the presence of Governor Asaad Al-Eidani and several members of parliament representing the province, His Eminence Sayyid Ammar Al-Hakeem, Head of the National State Powers' Alliance, met with a large gathering of Basra's elites and professionals. H.E. congratulated them on the birth anniversary of Imam Al-Mahdi (May Allah hasten his reappearance) and recalled the Shaaban uprising's role in shaping Iraq's present reality.
H.E. praised Basra's remarkable development and reconstruction, describing it as an Iraqi success story. H.E. emphasized that the stability of the provinces directly reflects the political, security, and social stability achieved by the State Administration Coalition. H.E. called for leveraging this stability to attract investments, stressing the need for a conducive investment environment to stimulate the economy, create job opportunities, and foster a culture of investment within society.
H.E. highlighted the importance of building national interests based on state strength, noting that Iraq has faced numerous challenges impacting its people's interests. H.E. stated that the solution lies in restoring these interests under the state's authority and institutions. H.E. also expressed hopes for security and stability in Syria and praised Iraq's stance on regional issues, particularly in Lebanon and Palestine.
Regarding internal challenges, H.E. emphasized the need to address economic conditions and the impact of oil price fluctuations with awareness and wisdom. H.E. pointed to Iraq's vast potential, which could be harnessed through a national and sovereign vision. H.E. urged the transition from a rentier economy to a diversified one, focusing on five key sectors: agriculture, industry, tourism, investment, and technology, while highlighting the importance of keeping pace with technological advancements as a future challenge.
H.E. called for adopting an inclusive approach, expanding national commonalities, and stimulating the private sector by learning from successful administrative experiences in managing public services. H.E. supported allocating locally collected taxes to provincial projects to boost development and services, emphasizing the importance of implementing decentralization as a constitutional principle that strengthens Iraq's unity.
In conclusion, H.E. stressed the need to reform the banking system, stimulate the economy by supporting residential cities and land with essential services, and address war remnants and environmental pollution. H.E. highlighted Basra's significant potential as Iraq's economic capital, urging the enforcement of contractual conditions in investment projects to ensure job opportunities for Iraqi youth, along with specialized training programs to enhance their skills and integrate them into the labor market.