Iraqi President Reaffirms Iraq’s Commitment to Knowledge-Driven Economy

Iraqi Presidency

Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid's meeting with the Arab Congress for Innovation.

Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to building a knowledge-driven economy as he welcomed Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, President of the Arab Congress for Innovation, and his delegation at Baghdad Palace.

The Iraqi President received Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, President of the Arab Congress for Innovation, along with his accompanying delegation, at Baghdad Palace on Monday, 6 October 2025. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in innovation, technology, and the development of a knowledge-driven economy.

President Rashid highlighted Iraq’s wealth of human talent capable of contributing to innovation and driving forward diverse development initiatives. He stressed the importance of investing in these capabilities, creating an environment that nurtures growth, and implementing programmes that empower young people in technological and knowledge-based fields.

“Iraq is determined to build a modern and capable state founded on competence, creativity, and knowledge,” President Rashid stated. “Our goal is to embrace innovation as a cornerstone of progress. Through cooperation and the exchange of expertise with the Arab Congress for Innovation, we aim to open new horizons for partnership in scientific research, digital transformation, and the knowledge economy — helping to create a regional environment that fosters creativity and scientific advancement.”

Commending the objectives of the Arab Congress for Innovation in promoting Arab cooperation, the President noted Iraq’s growing experience in digital transformation as a promising regional model. He welcomed initiatives aimed at launching projects in key sectors, encouraging private-sector investment, and enhancing the role of youth and women in driving innovation and entrepreneurship.

“Launching the Arab Congress for Innovation from Baghdad reaffirms Iraq’s leading position as a regional centre for creativity and innovation,” he added. “We are proud to see Baghdad once again emerge as a hub for ideas and forward-looking initiatives.”

For his part, Abu-Ghazaleh expressed gratitude for the President’s warm reception and reaffirmed the Congress’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Iraqi institutions. He underlined the Congress’s commitment to enriching Iraq’s innovation landscape with the latest Arab and international experiences and technologies.

He explained that the Arab Congress for Innovation — the first of its kind in Iraq and the wider region — represents an ambitious vision for a pioneering Iraqi and international platform and that it seeks to bring together leaders, thinkers, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the Arab world and beyond to develop practical solutions that advance sustainable development and strengthen the knowledge economy.



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