By John Lee. In a follow-up to last week's report on the state of the Iraqi economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a more comprehensive 64-page report on its findings. The full document package includes: A Press Release. The Staff Report prepared by a staff team of the IMF for the Executive Board's […]
By John Lee. In a follow-up to last week's report on the state of the Iraqi economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a new 19-page report titled: "Unlocking Iraq's economic potential: The role of structural reforms in boosting medium-term non-oil growth." Click here to download the full report. To browse our comprehensive library […]
By John Lee. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that Iraq's economy is facing considerable headwinds, with non-oil sector growth slowing from 13.8 percent in 2023 to an estimated 2.5 percent in 2024, impacted by reduced public investment, a weaker trade balance, and financing constraints that led to the accumulation of arrears. Real GDP […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has issued a press release claiming extensive praise from an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Jean-Guillaume Poulain, following meetings from 4th to 13th of May, 2025. The CBI statement, widely reported in local and international press, cites the post-meeting report from the IMF, which […]
By Padraig O'Hannelly. Iraq is embarking on a comprehensive restructuring of its banking sector with the assistance of leading international consultancy firms, according to Dr Salih Salman, Advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, speaking at the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) Spring Conference in London on Tuesday. The Iraqi government has appointed Ernst & Young […]
By John Lee. Under the patronage of Central Bank Governor Ali Mohsen Al-Allaq, a workshop has been launched to support the implementation of the bank's new strategy to increase private sector lending, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In his opening remarks, Governor Al-Allaq emphasised the bank's commitment to addressing challenges in […]
By John Lee. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is set to commence operations in Iraq this September, following the country's accession to the European Union Bank. Ali Mohsen Al-Allaq, Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), received an EBRD delegation in Baghdad to discuss the final steps required before operations begin. […]
By John Lee. A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded a visit with Iraqi officials, concluding: Economic Challenges: Iraq faces a highly uncertain global environment, declining oil prices, and acute financing pressures, which are harming economic activity and deepening existing vulnerabilities. Urgent Measures Needed: Contain the fiscal deficit by increasing non-oil tax […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani chaired a high-level meeting with the heads of Iraqi banks on Monday, reaffirming his government's commitment to banking reform as a pillar of broader economic revitalisation. He directed all banks to simplify procedures, embrace modern technologies, and encourage public confidence by stimulating deposits. The Prime Minister announced […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has issued a warning to the public regarding the circulation of foreign banknotes - including authentic, withdrawn, and counterfeit currency - used by fraudsters to deceive citizens. According to the CBI, criminals lure individuals into exchanging these notes for Iraqi dinars at inflated rates under the […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired a high-level meeting on Saturday to assess the economic and trade impact of the United States government's decision to raise customs tariffs on imports from multiple countries, including Iraq. The discussion addressed potential effects on global markets, crude oil prices, and Iraq's domestic economy. According to […]
By Ahmed Tabaqchali, Chief Strategist of AFC Iraq Fund. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Banks End a Second Year with a Bang The market, as measured by the Rabee Securities U.S. Dollar Equity Index (RSISX USD Index), continued with the process […]
