BAGHDAD, Feb 15 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi on Thursday hailed as "a resounding success" Kuwait International Conference on Reconstruction of Iraq (KICRI).
"To be honest, we did not expect such level of international financial assistance under the current economic difficulties in many parts of the world including even the Gulf states and the United States," he said at a press conference.
Al-Abadi vowed that his government would adopt extraordinary measures to ensure that the funds will go to the set targets.
"We are very careful to channel the funds to the priority projects in the economic development, reconstruction, humanitarian, services and poverty alleviation fields in certain cities in Iraq.
"The number of world leaders, representatives of international organizations and investors at attendance in the conference was three times more than previously expected," Al-Abadi pointed out.
The level of participation reflects the confidence of the international community in the government of Iraq and the country's ability to restore stability after the victory over terrorism, he went on.
The Prime Minister expected the Iraqi economy to take a quantum leap forward in the coming three or four years thanks to the foreign investments and financial assistance.
The KICRI, held on February 12-14, resulted in aid pledges amounting to USD 30 billion. (end) ahh.gb