The Italian Ambassador to Iraq, Niccolo Fontana, expressed the readiness of regulatory institutions in his country to strengthen cooperation ties with relevant Iraqi authorities during a meeting with the Head of the Federal Integrity Commission, Mohammed Ali Al-Lami, on Wednesday,
where ways to enhance transparency and expand expertise exchange were discussed. Al-Lami highlighted the vital role of international agreements, notably the United Nations Convention against Corruption joined by Baghdad under Law No. 35 of 2007, stressing the necessity of activating
its provisions related to prevention, criminalization, law enforcement, and legal assistance. He also pointed out the importance of unifying local and global efforts to curb the destructive impacts of corruption, expressing his institution's ambition to forge partnerships with counterpart bodies
in Italy and expand communication channels with the financial police to benefit from their expertise, in addition to seeking an official memorandum of understanding with the Italian anti-corruption authority. Furthermore, the Head of the Commission invited Italian business sectors and
companies to invest in the Iraqi market, outlining government endeavors to create a secure investment environment protected from corrupt practices such as extortion and bribery. On his part, the Italian diplomat noted the heavy financial and economic losses incurred by
global markets and vital sectors due to corruption, affirming the readiness of regulatory bodies to build bridges of cooperation, develop legislation, provide legal support for the recovery of funds and fugitives, and train personnel and develop technical capacities.
