UK Ambassador: Optimistic about Iraq's Future

INA - BAGHDAD

The UK Ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Charles Hitchen, confirmed on Monday that Iraq is a country of opportunities and investments, expressing his optimism about the future of Iraq, for the creativity, courage, dignity and endurance of the Iraqi people.

"My mission will end in two weeks, and it is natural for us to start thinking about what conclusions we can offer and share with you several ideas after a beautiful experience with you in Iraq. I am optimistic about the future of your country and the source of optimism is the creativity, courage, dignity and endurance of the Iraqi people," Hitchen said, in a speech during the economic conference of the Iraqi-British Business Council - attended by the Iraqi News Agency - INA reporter. 

He added, "Despite the challenges and problems, you can see that the direction towards the future is more positive in the current year 2025, and this is better than the situation in 2020, which was better than 2015, which was better than 2007, and the direction towards the future is clear and the existence of challenges cannot be ignored or denied, and you know the size of the challenges ahead of you." 

"For 30 years, British ministers viewed Iraq as a country of crises, a dangerous region and a security challenge. Now, for the first time, we have changed our ideas and see Iraq as a country of opportunities and investments," indicating, "The presence of our embassy in Iraq is not because of the past, but because of the future, and this is a turning point in our ideas," he added.

Hitchen explained, "The Iraqi government is responsive to our ideas, and we have the Contact Group for the Iraqi Economy, which includes the G7 and the World Bank," explaining, "We spoke with government advisors with the aim of unifying economic ideas." 

"PM Muhammed S. Al-Sudani's recent visit to London was titled "Renewing Trade Relations" and announced projects worth 12 billion pounds sterling, as we have coordination and cooperation with the PM's Office to implement these projects in the coming period," he noted.

He pointed out, "The most important existential challenge is not Daesh or regional problems, but the demographic and economic situation before you. We expect, over the next 15 years, a decrease in the price of oil and an increase in the population, as in 2003 there were 23 million people, now there are 46 million people, and in 2040 the number will reach 70 million people. This is a big challenge."