With regard to the private sector, the minister reviewed the problem of the state’s handling with the private sector and the need to free it and not be restricted by the government bureaucracy, as well as the control of the bourgeoisie classes (as described by the minister). He also touched upon the rampant corruption that prevents the private sector from working well, or undermines its ability to contribute to support the various sectors that are already suffering from a severe shortage of resources.

On the other hand, the Minister of Planning stressed that economic policy should be the umbrella for all policies in the country. The Minister clarified the relationship between the Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Finance, describing it as an integrative relationship based on coordination and deliberation. With regard to investment, he said that there are bureaucratic obstacles and complex routine procedures that amount to 71 signature for one investment opportunity.

In the press conference held by His Excellency the Minister with Dr. Hassan Al-Zubaidi, Director of Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue RCD, he explained that there is a clear confusion in granting licenses to complete postgraduate studies outside Iraq as some of them have an impact on quality as they are quantitative and not qualitative. Regarding the population census, he stated that it will be postponed to the next year because of financial and technical reasons, and it will be done through electronic devices, of about 150,000 devices, and there is a need to train specialized cadres, and there are no political obstacles to implement the population census.

Then Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue RCD organized a series of individual meetings between a number of citizens and His Excellency the Minister to manage matters related to his ministry and present the existing problems in order to solve them, and to exploit the opportunity of his presence in Najaf Governorate.