On Sunday, February 7, 2026, Dr. Eng. Farhan Al-Fartousi, Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, met with Ms. Gérardine Delannoy, representative of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA), to discuss ways of strengthening technical and institutional cooperation between the two parties. The meeting was held at his office at the company’s headquarter.

The Director General emphasized that “partnership with the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) constitutes a fundamental pillar in developing the navigational infrastructure of Iraq’s ports.” He noted that “the coming phase will witness the expansion of specialized training and qualification programs, the enhancement of technical expertise exchange, and the alignment of national systems with internationally recognized standards.”

He further affirmed that “Iraq Ports is committed to modernizing marine aids to navigation systems, improving workforce efficiency, and adopting advanced technological solutions in line with maritime safety and environmental protection requirements. These efforts will support maritime trade flows and strengthen Iraq’s position within the regional and international maritime transport map.”

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Director General for Technical Affairs, the Director General of the Iraqi High Maritime Authority, Iraq’s representative to IALA, Iraq’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as well as the ministerial team, the Director of the Marine Affairs Department, the Director of the Marine Control Department, the Director of the Marine Drilling Department, and the Director of the Communications Department.