Koya Universities participated a series of seminars that held by the China Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) - the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO). Prof. Salah I. Yahya and Dr. Abdulbasit Kamel were represented KOU and IRAQ in this series of seminars, among 132 participants from more than 20 countries in the globe. The series of seminars consisted of 12 intenseve sessions for 3 hrs per each, for about 14 days, 14 Oct. 2021 - 27th Oct. 2021. Prof. Salah I. Yahya, has been selected to address the closing cermony, today 27th Oct. 2021, by a speech.

Address for the closing ceremony of 2021 Seminar on Building Smart Cities under Belt and Road Initiative
[Online video]

Professor Salah I. Yahya
Koya University, Iraq
October 27th, 2021

Dears;

Honorable Ms. LI Qinghua, Deputy Director of the Executive Department of AIBO.
Esteemed AIBO team members
Esteemed Seminar organization and presentation team members
Esteemed participants
Ladies and gentlemen

I bring you warm greetings and best wishes on behalf of my participant colleagues on this auspicious occasion that marks the Closing Ceremony of 2021 Seminar on Building Smart Cities under Belt and Road Initiative.
I am delighted to be part of this gathering of more than 132 participants from more than 20 countries and we are very grateful for this amazing and fruitful online seminar that brought new information and ideas about Building Smart Cities under Belt and Road Initiative.

One of the meaningful sentence I read about the Belt and Road Initiative which took my attention is: More silicon than silk… Belt and Road Initiative may have been inspired by ancient Silk Roads, but it’s a very modern project, driven increasingly by China’s approach to developing technology and trade.

The Chinese believe that Belt and Road Initiative, which was formally proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, provides new motivators for a new round of globalization and China’s economic development in the coming era. We believe that Belt and Road Initiative will provide new motivators for our countries’ economic development in the coming era, as well.

All know very well and aware to: (1) how the Belt and Road Initiative is important for the countries on the rout map and other countries in the globe, and (2) the short and long-term benefits that the countries may get. The Belt and Road Initiative will make it significantly easier to transport raw materials and individual components that are then used to produce finished products for industrial and commercial use, as well as for individual consumers. Areas where vital assets, be they mined ore or circuit boards, are expensive to acquire and could see those prices drop as travel between many different points becomes more standardized and easier to traverse. Companies will benefit from easier planning around receiving these materials as well as fewer expenses and less danger around the physical travel. Increased employment is an additional positive aspect facilitated by the massive infrastructure project. While some areas of the world economy are shifting toward increasing automation, there's no replacement for the many types of human labor, from highly to lightly skilled, needed to build modern infrastructure.

Many countries, like Pakistan, Ghana, Belarus, and others, took significant steps in cooperation with the Chinese government and companies towards further developments tied to the Belt and Road program. Other countries, where some of the seminar participants belong to, are on the first mile to be engaged with this initiative. We are sure that such a seminar is very important to get real and direct information on the Belt and Road Initiative from the distinguished professors who had presentation of 12 intensive sessions for about 14 days.

The unexpected outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 has negatively impacted the world economy in an unprecedented way. The pandemic also affects the promotion of Belt and Road Initiative, with delays and disruptions to China’s construction and investment plans overseas. However, the Chinese perspective is that the impact of COVID-19 on the Belt and Road is temporary and limited. Despite the impact, Chinese investment in Belt and Road partner countries increased. Making this seminar online on Zoom is one of the COVID-19 pandemic impact.

Cities acting as sub-state actors along the Belt and Road Initiative, have gained new momentum for displaying geographic significance and economic attractiveness. Smart cities and the experience of the China government and companies, and their great achievement during the past twenty years are other important and significant aspects that tackled by the seminar. We, as the participants of this seminar believe that the valuable information that presented by the distinguished professors and other future seminars and workshops may take an important role to help us and our bodies and countries towards a successful transformation of our traditional cities to Smart Cities.

As with all such events — and this seminar has been an outstanding example — our minds have been assailed by a torrent of ideas, information, statistics, interpretations and visions, and it will probably be some time before we can sift through them all consolidate our own personal perspectives. There is, indeed, plenty to reflect upon and, if this in any way enhances our individual and collective contributions to meeting our countries engagement with Belt and Road Initiative’s challenges and the transformation from the traditional cities to Smart Cities, then the seminar can truly be adjudged a success.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in thanking the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) in China, and the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO) for the wonderful organization of this online seminar. Our thanks are extended to this series of Seminars organization team, Ms. Kelsey and the presenters, who have worked tirelessly to ensure that this seminar is a success. I once again thank Ms. LI Qinghua, Deputy Director of the Executive Department of AIBO, for gracing this occasion and also thank all participants.

Thank you

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Koya University (KOU) is located in the city of Koya (Koy Sanjaq) which is 1.0 hr drive to the East of the Kurdistan Region capital Erbil (Arbil, Hewlér) in Kurdistan Region of F.R. Iraq. It is on the foothills of beautiful high mountain. Its campus has been carefully laid out to embrace the beautiful mountainous nature. . There are 4 Faculties and 2 Schools in KOU; Faculty of Engineering (FENG), Faculty of Science and Health (FSCH), Faculty of Education (FEDU), Faculty of Humanities and Social Silences (FHSS), Shcool of Physical Education (SPHE) and School of Medicine (SMED). Also, there are two research centers; Genome Center and Malai Gawra Center. Moreover, at KOU there is an English Language Center (BELC) at KOU has been opened with the sponsorship of IREX and American embassy in Baghdad as well as with the support of Spring International Language Center of The University of Arkansas. KOU has two Scientific Journals; ARO-The Scientific Journal of Koya University, which is indexed by Clarivate Analytics (ESCI), and Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS). KOU is a proactive member of Erasmus/ Marhaba Project and Erasmus+. KOU signed many Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) with many International Universities, e.g., The University of Arkansas (June 2015). The Lulea University in Sweden (April 2014), The University of Nottingham in the UK, The University of Buckingham in the UK (Oct 2008), Belkin University in Turkey (Sep 2009) and The University of Greenwich in the UK.