Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani officially launched the first phase of the “Eduba” Project on Monday, an initiative to construct 600 modern school buildings across Iraq.
The project is part of the Iraq Development Fund’s broader strategy to drive infrastructure development, with implementation spearheaded by the private sector after finalizing all technical and preparatory work.
During the launch ceremony, contracts were signed with the global consulting firm “Meinhardt” and “Yerim Contracting,” one of 12 private companies involved in this phase. The agreements were finalized by the executive director of the Iraq Development Fund, Mohammed Al-Najjar, signaling the start of construction activities.
In his address, Prime Minister Al-Sudani highlighted the project as a pivotal step toward achieving Iraq’s developmental goals. He underscored the government’s commitment to fostering a robust and sustainable economy, emphasizing the critical role of private sector partnerships in advancing national prosperity and stability.
Key points from the Prime Minister’s speech include:
- Iraq requires 8,000–10,000 new schools to meet the growing demand in the education sector.
- Preparations for the Iraq Development Fund are complete, with a bill ready for submission to Parliament to formalize its operations.
- The Iraqi private sector has demonstrated its capability and resilience, contributing significantly to infrastructure projects despite challenges.
- The project adopts modern designs and technologies to ensure sustainable services and maintenance for the new schools.
- Coordination between the Ministry of Education and local governorates is essential for land allocation and adherence to technical specifications, with consultants overseeing project execution.
- Future phases of the Iraq Development Fund will focus on addressing housing shortages, including plans for residential complexes under a “rent-to-own” model, prioritizing families of martyrs and the injured.
Al-Sudani also emphasized the importance of sovereign guarantees in supporting economic reforms and strengthening private sector involvement. He revealed a funding agreement with Spain’s Testa Foundation, valued between 200 million to 1 billion euros, in coordination with the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI).
