Economic expert Abdul Rahman Al Mashhadani confirmed today, Friday, that the problem facing foreign investors in Iraq is not limited to the security and political situation only, but rather it is a complex problem.

Al-Mashhadani added to Al-Furat News Agency that “talking about attracting investments is not limited to a specific region, but rather depends on the general situation in the country.”

He explained that “the investment climate in Iraq requires several factors, including the political factor and the conflict between the blocs, in addition to the investment laws that need to be reviewed, as their number has reached about 40 laws.”

He pointed out that “there are paragraphs in these laws related to the economy in general.”

Al-Mashhadani pointed out that “the Iraqi government is moving towards a capitalist economy and following a market economy according to the principle of supply and demand, which means that the government cannot interfere in all economic details.”

He pointed out that “the current laws were enacted a long time ago, and are not compatible with the nature of the current stage.”

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Tishwash:  Al-Sudani: Iraq’s debts have fallen to their lowest levels and investments have exceeded 60 billion dinars

Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani said on Saturday, February 1, 2025, that Iraq’s external debts have fallen to their lowest levels, noting that foreign investments in Iraq have exceeded 60 billion dinars.

The International Monetary Fund  warned  in a report of a doubling of debt in Iraq, through an increase in the deficit, as it expected “the public finance deficit to reach 7.6% in 2024 and to widen further after that with the expected gradual decline in oil prices in the medium term,” leading to “a near doubling of public debt from 44% in 2023 to 86% by 2029.”

Al-Sudani’s media office stated in a statement seen by “Ultra Iraq” that “he opened the 48th Baghdad International Fair this evening, Saturday, with the participation of (1250) companies, in various specializations, representing 22 Arab and foreign countries.”

He also “delivered a speech in which he welcomed the representatives of the companies and entities participating in this year’s session, which witnessed the return of companies that had been absent from previous sessions, which is an important addition to establishing productive and promising partnerships and stronger cooperation that enhances facing challenges and draws a map of economic growth.”

Al-Sudani said, “The real standard for success is the citizen’s satisfaction and positive interaction with what the executive service apparatus provides, in addition to economic reform,” indicating that “Iraq is heading towards the widest urban movement in the field of housing, and work has begun within the new city projects to reach approximately one million housing units.”

He added: “We announced a project to add 15-20 thousand megawatts of electricity production to the national grid, and raise production to the highest levels in meeting the demand for energy.” He also said: “We worked to achieve actual participation in clean and renewable energy production projects after it was just talk and statements.”

He continued: “After implementing the reforms, foreign investments coming to Iraq exceeded 60 billion dinars, which is a clear indication of the reassurance of capital,” and “the government provided a business-friendly investment environment, and legal and moral protection enjoyed by investors and companies operating in Iraq.”

He pointed out to “building understandings and agreements with international partners and global financial institutions, and granting sovereign guarantees to the private sector to establish a strategic partnership with industrial countries and major economies,” stressing that “the government’s steps contributed to consolidating the position of the Iraqi economy, raising the level of credit confidence internationally, and reducing external debt to its lowest levels.”

He explained that “the people’s project development path will be the most effective to link Asia and Europe, passing through Iraq and the Middle East,” and that “the door is open to everyone to contribute to the development path, and the opportunities that will be available on both sides for industrial economic cities and free trade zones.”

Last year, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, Al-Sudani’s financial advisor, pointed out a “decrease in the amount of external debts due,” which appeared in the “allocations for external debt payments” in the 2024 budget compared to the 2023 budget schedules “with a difference of a decrease of more than one billion dollars,” due to “Iraq’s regularity in paying its external debts due annually, of which only about 20 billion dollars remain.”

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