ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Saturday said that his government will launch a “comprehensive” reform plan to strengthen several industries, and pledged to crack down on corruption.

The reform project will be aimed at building a “strong, diversified, and sustainable national economy that is not dependent on a single resource,” Zaidi said during a Saturday speech to the Iraqi people — his first public address since officially assuming the role.

Zaidi on Thursday had his program for government approved by a majority of the 270 lawmakers who attended the parliament sitting, with 14 of 23 ministerial posts having been successfully appointed.

“The reform program relies on stimulating industry, agriculture, tourism, and investment, and mobilizing national energies and Iraqi competencies,” the new premier said, adding that equitable opportunities will be created among all Iraqis, and the sectors of education and health will be improved.

Zaidi pledged that under his leadership, Baghdad will “work vigorously” to protect public funds against corruption, as it “constitutes an obstacle and delays the progress of the state.”

“We will work to consolidate security and stability, protect Iraq's sovereignty, and strengthen our Arab, regional, and international relations,” the premier said.

Later in the day, Zaidi held the first cabinet meeting where he gave a set of instructions to his ministers, calling for devising a “roadmap for implementing the government’s policies, goals, and priorities,” his office said.

The directives included a 30-working day period for each ministry to “be included in the government program,” which is set to be later discussed and approved by the cabinet.

Zaidi, a businessman-turned-politician has been widely seen as a compromise pick by the Shiite Coordination Framework, in an attempt to break the deadlock between former Prime Ministers Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and Nouri al-Maliki over the top post.

Zaidi’s appointment as prime minister was welcomed by a wide spectrum of domestic and foreign actors, including the US, with President Donald Trump personally welcoming the designation.