Basra:Iraqi industry is confronted with significant challenges, including high energy, transport, and raw material costs, in addition to weak infrastructure, administrative delays, and competition from low-cost imports. These issues impede domestic production, job creation, and efforts to reduce reliance on imports.

According to Qatar News Agency, Sabeeh Habib Al Hashemi, Chairman of the Iraqi Businessmen Union in Basra, emphasized the need for government action to protect local products. The Union has consistently called for measures to increase the market share of local production, create job opportunities, and reduce the outflow of hard currency due to the high import bill.

Al Hashemi suggested that supporting domestic industry requires implementing customs tariffs, enforcing stricter quality controls, and giving Iraqi goods priority in government procurement. He warned against the risks of excessive protectionism, which could lead to monopolies and price hikes, and stressed the need for competitive power and fuel supplies to factories.

Abdul Wahab Al Tarsheh, President of the Dhi Qar Chamber of Industry, identified high production costs as a primary challenge for Iraqi producers. Rising expenses for energy, raw materials, transport, and services directly affect final prices and reduce competitiveness against imports. Al Tarsheh highlighted the impact of unreliable electricity, which forces dependence on expensive generators, and called for the creation of integrated industrial cities to address these issues.

Wafiqa Al Mu'min, a member of the General Assembly of the Private Sector Development Council in Iraq, stated that the 'Made in Iraq' initiative requires practical policies to support local manufacturers. She emphasized the importance of reducing production costs, particularly for electricity, taxes, and raw materials, alongside regulating imports and quality standards. Al Mu'min advocated for an environment that enables efficient production rather than relying solely on promotional efforts.

Engineer Mustafa Nazzal, from the Iraqi Federation of Industries in Baghdad, noted the challenges faced by domestic products due to the high costs of raw materials, power, transport, labor, and regulatory fees. He called for enforcing import compliance and setting clear procedural timeframes, cautioning that support should aim at production development, quality improvement, and efficiency rather than becoming permanent protectionism.

Manufacturers agree that revitalizing Iraq's industrial sector requires a balanced approach combining regulated imports, a supportive environment for production, and fair competition. They stress that stable economic policies, infrastructure investments, and regulatory reforms are essential to leveraging Iraq's natural and human resources and diversifying the economy away from oil dependency.