BAGHDAD, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The 45th session of Baghdad International Fair was kicked off Saturday in the Iraqi capital with participation of more than 700 local and foreign companies from 18 countries.

The opening ceremony of the 10-day exhibition was attended by the Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who said in his speech that "one of the essential priorities of the government is to develop the Iraqi economy."

"We have to provide a suitable environment and special protection for companies investing in Iraq," Mahdi noted.

Mohammed Hashim al-Aani, the Iraqi Minister of Trade, said that Baghdad International Fair is a "clear message that Iraq is determined to promote the Iraqi market through development and investment, and establish economic relations with all countries."

Al-Aani said at the opening ceremony that "the launch of the fair's events and the outstanding attendance comes from the government's keenness to establish investment projects with all Arab and foreign countries, as Iraq is a fertile ground to create an investment environment."

The exhibition was held under the slogan of "Determined to build, like liberation and victory."

It refers to the liberation of Iraqi territories by Iraqi forces in late 2017 when they defeated the extremist Islamic State (IS) militants who once seized large swathes of Iraqi territories in northern and eastern the country.