Eco
The relevant governmental authorities in the country are seeking to bring about a qualitative leap in the agricultural and economic sectors through integrated plans aimed at enhancing the contribution of non-oil products in foreign markets. In this context, the Ministry of Trade is planning to expand the horizons of date exports by shifting from exporting the raw material in its traditional form to focusing on converting it into processed and semi-processed products, as part of a comprehensive strategy targeting the opening of new outlets and markets in both Arab and European countries to enhance the global presence of the local product. The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Trade, Mohammed Hanoun, confirmed during press statements that dates are among the most prominent products in which Iraq has a productive advantage, indicating that the current direction focuses on expanding the non-oil export base and opening modern marketing channels for Iraqi goods. He added that these steps necessarily require providing the necessary support to the local product, raising its competitive efficiency, and effectively utilizing the export support fund, which directly contributes to diversifying national income sources and enhancing the presence of national products in various regional and international markets. Regarding the agricultural and productive aspects, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Qusay Al-Hattab, revealed serious efforts aiming to increase the number of palm trees across the country from twenty-two million to thirty-two million palms, through a national program dedicated to this purpose. He pointed out that the ministry pays great care and attention to the palm sector, especially in the central and southern governorates, while proceeding to develop agricultural methods and rely on modern tissue culture date palm cultivation techniques. In conclusion, Al-Hattab explained that Iraq has indeed reached the stage of self-sufficiency in date production, clarifying that the Zahdi variety alone accounts for about seventy percent of the total production volume. Despite the country possessing huge export capabilities, this requires completing all regulatory procedures, preparing the appropriate environment, and overcoming some existing obstacles, as the ministry is conducting consultations and continuous coordination with specialized authorities to find radical solutions that ensure the enhancement of date exports and the achievement of their desired success.
