TNT:
Tishwash: US Chargé d’Affaires: Al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington opened new horizons for the Iraqi-American partnership
The US Chargé d’Affaires in Iraq, Steven Fagin, affirmed on Saturday that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington opened new horizons for the Iraqi-American partnership.
Fagin stated in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that “relations between Baghdad and Washington are on the cusp of significant development,” noting “a shared commitment to strengthening the economic partnership and expanding opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.”
He emphasized that “Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington last summer came with a mandate from the Iraqi people to build a sovereign, secure, and prosperous Iraq,” adding that “Iraq today is not viewed as the Iraq of yesterday, but rather as a country brimming with great opportunities.”
He further stated that “US President Donald Trump has aspirations regarding bilateral relations, which are embodied in establishing a fruitful partnership with the Iraqi people based on real and tangible results.”
He explained that “the agreements signed during al-Zaidi’s visit covered the energy, healthcare, technology, and financial sectors, with a total value of $60 billion.”
Fagin emphasized that his goal during his tenure as Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq was to deepen economic opportunities and achieve accomplishments that benefit both countries.
He noted that the United States and Iraq stand on the cusp of a transformative phase in their relationship, highlighting a shared interest in expanding trade opportunities.
He concluded by saying that the two countries can continue this fruitful partnership, achieving tangible results and real progress to ensure the prosperity of both the United States and Iraq. link
Tishwash: Al-Zaidi’s visit to Europe: A step towards global economic openness
Economic experts and specialists confirmed that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi’s European tour, which will begin in France and Germany, aims to strengthen economic partnerships and attract investments between Iraq and the European Union countries, noting that it will witness the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding in economic fields.
Member of Parliament, Nasser Turki, said: “Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi’s visit to France, Germany and European countries will be important, because it aims to make Iraq a leading country in international relations that are open to the world, based on mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs, and based on common interests that serve all parties.”
Turki explained that “among the most important files that the Prime Minister pays great attention to are the files of energy, electricity, oil, technology and the petrochemical industry, as well as attracting foreign capital to support the industrial, agricultural, transportation and communications sectors,” stressing that “the Prime Minister is very determined that this visit be practical and not just paper agreements, but a practical reality that brings good and tangible results to Iraq and its people.”
Important agreements
For his part, economic researcher Jalil Al-Lami stressed that “the Prime Minister’s European tour to France and Germany carries great economic importance, because it aims to move the relationship with the two largest and most influential economies in the European Union from the level of trade exchange to the level of investment, industrial partnerships and technology transfer, especially in the energy, electricity, industry, transportation, infrastructure and technology sectors.”
Economic partnership
Al-Lami explained in an interview with Al-Sabah that “the European Union represents an important economic partner for Iraq, as the volume of trade in goods between Iraq and the EU countries reached about 18.2 billion euros during 2025, of which 12.7 billion euros were Iraqi exports to Europe compared to 5.5 billion euros in European exports to Iraq, while machinery and transport equipment alone accounted for about 2.3 billion euros, or 41 percent, of European exports to the Iraqi market.”
He added that “the volume of trade between Iraq and Germany reached about 2.85 billion euros during 2025, of which 1.416 billion euros were German exports to Iraq and 1.431 billion euros were German imports from Iraq,” noting that “the balance of German direct investments in Iraq did not exceed 25 million euros according to the latest data for 2024, which is a very modest figure compared to the size of the two economies and the opportunities available in Iraq, and therefore the visit could aim to raise the level of German investment and not just trade.”
German companies
He pointed out that “there is an important Iraqi proposal that was put forward before the visit, which is to establish a joint Iraqi-German fund to finance projects for developing Iraqi industry in cooperation with the German side, which may open the way for German companies to enter into the rehabilitation of factories, energy, electricity and technology, and the transfer of production lines and expertise.”
“Inside Iraq.”
Regarding France, Al-Lami explained that “France has a larger investment base in Iraq, most notably Total Energies’ integrated energy project, with investments amounting to approximately $27 billion, in addition to new cooperation between the Iraq Development Fund and the French state investment bank to support investment opportunities.”
“And the business between the two countries.”
French trade deficit
He expected that “the tour will witness memoranda of understanding and economic agreements in the fields of investment, energy, industry, technology and trade.”
He stressed that “the government has confirmed that the goal is to turn understandings into executive paths and practical partnerships, and information related to the Paris visit indicates that it is likely to witness the signing of several memoranda of understanding,” stressing that “what is most important for Iraq is not the number of memoranda that will be signed, but rather the volume of investments that will actually turn into contracts, projects, job opportunities and technology transfer within Iraq.”
Development relations
For his part, economist Abdul Hassan al-Shammari told Al-Sabah newspaper that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi’s European tour to France and Germany may be followed by another foreign visit. He predicted that the Prime Minister’s visit to France and Germany would result in important economic and development agreements, most of which would be in Iraq’s favor. He explained that these visits would contribute to building strong, robust, and cohesive economic and political relations with other developed countries, based on mutual benefit and partnership.
Ongoing economic activity.
Concluding agreements
He stated that “the European tour indicates that Iraq has begun to develop under the leadership of Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi,” and predicted that “the visit will witness the signing of joint economic agreements and memoranda of understanding.” Between Iraq and those countries. link
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Tishwash: CBI tightens rules for state bank advisers
Iraq’s central bank (CBI) has tightened oversight of advisers at state-owned banks, requiring licensed financial institutions to clearly define consultants’ responsibilities and keep their roles separate from executive management, Shafaq News learned on Saturday.
In an official circular, the CBI noted that the rules apply to both Iraqi and foreign advisers, stressing that experts cannot be given authority to perform executive duties. They are also barred from holding positions or serving on the board of the bank they advise or any other bank supervised by the CBI.
Financial institutions will bear legal responsibility for any violations of the directive, according to the circular.
An informed source also told Shafaq News that some advisers had received substantial payments and benefits, while allegations had emerged that bribes were offered to certain consultants.
Other cases involve specialists who were believed to have followed up on, promoted or facilitated banking transactions, raising potential concerns about conflicts of interest and blurred lines of responsibility.
The source also pointed to individuals who allegedly had little attendance or no clearly defined duties corresponding to their contracts, despite receiving substantial compensation.
“Some contracts may have resulted from favoritism, personal connections or ties to administrative officials,” he said, calling on the government, parliament and the Finance Ministry to review advisory and expert contracts at state-owned banks. link
Tishwash: Al-Yakti told Ultra Iraq: Baghdad and the region reached an understanding on the budget, oil, and ASYCUDA.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) confirmed on Saturday, September 12, 2026, that there are understandings between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government regarding the budget, the oil file, and ASYCUDA.
SOMO is in charge of the oil file in the Kurdistan Region.
Ahmad al-Harki, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, told Ultra Iraq that “there are currently positive understandings between Baghdad and Erbil regarding the budget and ways to address oil issues and non-oil revenues.”
He explained that “the relationship between the federal government and the regional government is based on the constitution and mutual rights and duties, with a sincere intention on both sides to eliminate crises and resolve outstanding problems.”
He noted that the oil marketing company “SOMO” will handle the oil file in the region, and it was agreed to implement the ASYCUDA system for customs in the region to unify procedures with the rest of Iraq.
He said that “the Iraqi economy has been negatively affected by the repercussions of regional tensions, and has been unable to make optimal use of rising oil prices due to its total dependence on a rentier economy.”
He explained that “the political forces are committed to the need for cohesion on the home front, with a political will to move forward with the enactment of vital laws such as the Oil and Gas Law and the Federal Council Law.”
He added: “Attention must be paid to the issue of employee salaries and ending the crisis of promotions and allowances that have been suspended since 2016 in order to ensure fairness and equality among all employees in Iraq.”
He called for “adopting a responsible national discourse that focuses on commonalities and higher national interests instead of exchanging accusations,” expressing his “optimism about the possibility of reaching a comprehensive national pact formula.”
A few days ago, a high-level delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government, including the Ministers of Finance and Economy, Natural Resources, the Head of the Cabinet Office, the Secretary of the Cabinet, the Head of the Coordination and Follow-up Department, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Planning, arrived in Baghdad to conduct a series of intensive meetings with relevant ministries and authorities in the federal government, with the aim of participating in the “preparation of a draft federal general budget law for the year 2027,” by meeting with officials of the federal Ministry of Finance, and holding extensive discussions with the Ministries of Planning and Oil, to review “issues of dispute and reach common understandings.”
The delegation came to Baghdad with the agenda for the talks including “the Kurdistan Regional Government’s vision and demands regarding salary allocations and financial entitlements for all employees and salary recipients, as well as job classifications and financial grades, allocations for investment projects and provincial development, the operational budget, in addition to resolving the pending oil file,” according to a statement issued by the Kurdistan Regional Government, which confirmed that it “seeks to end the financial disputes and formulate a comprehensive agreement and common understanding with the federal government that guarantees the inclusion and confirmation of the region’s full rights and shares within the 2027 general budget law before it is referred to Parliament.”
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan member Mahmoud Khoshnaw said that “the ongoing negotiations between Baghdad and Erbil aim to develop a strategy for the 2027 budget, and the current solutions will remain temporary and patchwork until a fair oil and gas law is enacted.”
In an interview with Ultra Iraq, Khoshnaw noted that “there is a mutual and serious desire this time between Baghdad and Erbil to reach understandings that contribute to overcoming previous financial crises, even though the energy file has witnessed a relative breakthrough thanks to the resumption of oil exports and the preliminary agreements that govern the marketing of oil through SOMO.”
He continued: “Clear standards for actual spending must be adopted instead of previous estimates to ensure a fair share for the region with full equality in financial rights and allocations for Peshmerga fighters with their counterparts in the Federal Ministry of Defense.”
He explained that “sovereign and governing expenses must be deducted from the state budget as a whole, while ensuring social justice in the distribution of appointments and job grades, as the region seeks to establish 60,000 employees on a contractual basis on a permanent basis in accordance with legal and constitutional contexts.”
He explained that “the Iraqi constitution has set clear frameworks for the distribution of revenues and fair representation, and adhering to them is the only way to end the engines of conflict and establish stability. Therefore, Baghdad must choose, either to adopt accurate population ratios or to estimate actual spending so that the region can then manage its funds and cover the entitlements of retirees and other sectors.”
On Saturday, a statement was issued by the Kurdistan Region’s negotiating delegation with the federal government, which was reviewed by Ultra Iraq. The statement read, “As part of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s participation in the ongoing preparations for drafting the Iraqi federal budget law for the fiscal year 2027, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s negotiating delegation held a meeting today, Saturday, September 12, with the Kurdistan Democratic Party bloc in the Iraqi Parliament.”
During the meeting, the negotiating delegation reviewed “the results of its recent meetings and discussions in Baghdad with the federal ministries of finance, planning, and oil. Extensive discussions were also held regarding the regional government’s main visions and proposals concerning the 2027 budget.” The statement added that “those present emphasized the importance of securing the constitutional and financial rights and entitlements of the Kurdistan Region, particularly ensuring the continuous and timely payment of salaries and various financial entitlements in the region, and keeping the issue of salaries separate from financial and political disputes.”
The participants also stressed the importance of coordination at all stages of preparing and approving the draft budget law, as well as highlighting the importance of continuing dialogue and coordination with all Kurdish blocs and representatives of the Kurdistan Region in the Iraqi Parliament without exception, in order to formulate and develop a unified position, with the aim of protecting the rights and entitlements of the people of the Kurdistan Region in the federal budget for 2027. link
