By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani met with Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, to discuss strengthening cooperation and advancing development projects in Iraq. The discussions emphasised initiatives to diversify Iraq's economy, reduce oil dependency, and create employment opportunities, with a focus on private sector […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Cabinet has approved significant banking reforms, including the establishment of a new, innovative financial institution named Rafidain First Bank [Rafidain Al-Awal Bank]. The new bank aims to lead regional financial markets and provide advanced digital banking services. Key Details: New Bank Creation: Rafidain First Bank will operate as a joint-stock […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Planning organized a workshop to discuss updates and enhancements to the Iraq Development Management System (IDMS). Sief Falah Hassan, head of the Office Monitoring and Project Management Department, highlighted that the system integrates various components, including international cooperation, proposed and approved projects, a comprehensive project bank, national development […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Planning held a meeting with the World Bank's Reform, Recovery, and Reconstruction Fund team to discuss a proposal for advisory services and support for implementing selected reform strategies. The $3.6-million project, funded by the World Bank, aims to enhance transparency and the efficiency of public services through policy […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired a meeting of the Higher Committee for Restructuring State-Owned Public Companies on Sunday, to assess the restructuring of state-owned public companies. The meeting was attended by key ministers from departments such as Oil, Electricity, Transportation, Trade, Construction Housing Municipalities and Public Works, Agriculture, Water Resources, and […]
By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has directed new measures to develop electronic payment systems. The initiative includes expanding salary payments to private sector employees through digital channels, similar to government payroll, with the Ministry of Labor and the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) collaborating on the framework. Additionally, all ministries and […]
By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has directed an accelerated shift from paper to digital transactions within the customs system as part of a key economic reform. During a meeting to review the detailed plan for the second phase of customs automation, Al-Sudani emphasized the need to complete fiber-optic connections across all […]
By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired a meeting focused on the reform of Iraq's banking sector, particularly Rafidain Bank, with representatives from Ernst & Young (EY) presenting recommendations. Key proposals included updating the bank's legal status, capital structure, and strategy to align with global banking standards. The recommendations will be submitted […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Cabinet has revised an earlier decision to merge its Agricultural, Industrial and Real Estate Banks. At the start of 2024, the Cabinet approved a contract with UK-based professional services firm Ernst & Young (EY) to study the merger of Industrial Bank, Real Estate Bank, and Agricultural Bank [Agricultural Cooperative Bank?] into […]
By John Lee. US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Wally Adeyemo, and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa' al Sudani met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss Iraqi banking sector reform, financial relations with the United States, and combatting illicit finance. Deputy Secretary Adeyemo congratulated Prime Minister Sudani on Iraq's significant progress […]
By John Lee. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Labour Organization (ILO), and World Bank have issued a detailed report on the reform of Iraq's pension system. The report, titled "Towards an Inclusive, Equitable and Sustainable National Pension System in Iraq", highlighted the following key points: Importance of Pension Systems: Central to social protection. Ensures […]
By Marsin Alshamary, for The Clingendael Institute. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. A scramble for legitimacy: Iraq's political elites since the October 2019 protests Iraqi political elites exhibited a variety of responses to the 2019 October protests, the largest demonstrations in […]
