Baghdad – INA
The Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister, Mudher Mohammad Saleh, confirmed today, Tuesday, that Iraq's accession to the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation enhances investor confidence in Iraqi ports and reduces transport costs, noting that the step to join the international organization supports the development of Al-Faw Grand Port and the diversification of the Iraqi economy.
Saleh said in a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "this accession is not merely a technical or regulatory procedure, but rather carries important economic and strategic dimensions that will contribute to modernizing the Iraqi maritime navigation system and raising the efficiency of managing ports and waterways in accordance with modern international standards," explaining that this integrates with the strategy of Al-Faw Port and its importance in the future economic geography of Iraq with the world.
He added that "joining will contribute to enhancing maritime navigation safety, reducing risks and accidents, and improving the movement of commercial vessels in Iraqi ports—a matter that reflects positively on the fluidity of trade and the reduction of transport and delay costs," pointing out that "the adoption of international standards in pilotage and navigational aids will increase the confidence of global shipping and investment companies in Iraqi ports, thereby granting Iraq a greater opportunity to attract logistical and commercial investments, especially with the major strategic projects Iraq is working on, foremost among which is the Development Road project."
Saleh explained that "developing the maritime navigation and ports sector will contribute to stimulating non-oil revenues by increasing returns from port fees, logistical services, and maritime transport, which supports the state’s direction toward economic diversification and reducing dependence on rentier resources," noting that "accession allows Iraq to benefit from international expertise, training programs, and technical development, an aspect that helps build specialized national cadres capable of managing a modern and advanced maritime sector."
He emphasized that "this step represents a positive indicator of Iraq's orientation toward openness to specialized international institutions and organizations, and working to build an advanced maritime infrastructure that keeps pace with the requirements of the global economy and the movement of international trade."
He further clarified that the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation was established in 1957 under the name of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). It was a technical, non-governmental organization concerned with developing pilotage systems and marine aids to navigation, and unifying safety standards in maritime navigation around the world, before officially transforming on August 22, 2024, into an intergovernmental international organization after its respective convention entered into force.
The Cabinet had previously approved the draft law for Iraq's accession to the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation, and referred it to the Parliament.