The Ministry of Agriculture explained, on Sunday, the positives of the expected accession of the Republic of Iraq to the International Olive Oil Council, in light of the government’s efforts to achieve this goal .
The Undersecretary of the Ministry, Mehdi Sahar, said: “During the visit of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani to the Kingdom of Spain, a meeting was held with the President of the International Olive Council, and the Iraqi government expressed great interest in Iraq joining the Council .”
He added, “After the ratification of Law No. (20) of 2024 regarding the Republic of Iraq’s accession to the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives of 2015, the procedures for Iraq’s accession as an active member of the Council have begun to benefit from the advantages provided by the Council to its members .”
He added, “Iraq’s accession will allow it to benefit from exchanging expertise, learning about the experiences of member states, and transferring modern technology in the field of olive oil cultivation and production to Iraq .”
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stressed during his visit to Spain last Friday, and his meeting with the CEO of the International Olive Council, Jaime Lillo Lopez, that “Iraq is ready to return strongly to be an active member of the Council, especially since it is currently one of the olive producing countries, and is preparing to prepare the lands for the production of large farms that also have climatic importance.” The President of the International Olive Council pointed to “the necessity of Iraq’s return as an active member of the Council, given its enormous potential to be an olive exporting country, not an importing one,” stressing “the Council’s readiness to send laboratories and researchers to Iraq, and to assist in optimal water management projects .”
