Local
The local economic landscape witnessed significant developments today, Monday, as the Ministerial Council for Economy held its thirteenth session, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Planning, Faleh Al-Sari, at the council's headquarters in the presence of relevant ministers and officials, as part of ongoing government efforts to address pressing challenges and improve operational and developmental efficiency across vital sectors in the country. In a related context, the session hosted the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Water Resources to discuss the water framework agreement projects between the Iraqi and Turkish sides. The discussions resulted in the council approving a formal recommendation to the Council of Ministers authorizing the Ministry of Water Resources to issue direct invitations to specialized and reputable Turkish companies to implement quality projects aimed at upgrading irrigation and developing water infrastructure across Iraq. On the service and social levels, the council responded to a request submitted by Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, approving the exemption of residents living in the "Al-Sunbula" decent housing complex from general application terms and conditions, provided that their files are thoroughly audited to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria for state policies aimed at alleviating poverty and supporting vulnerable groups. The meeting also addressed the organizational financial file by discussing the final accounts of the Republic of Iraq for the fiscal year 2020, along with a comprehensive review of the Federal Board of Supreme Audit observations regarding them. It was decided to recommend hosting relevant officials in the Ministry of Finance to complete technical and financial discussions in accordance with the audit report. Concluding the service decisions, the council discussed the agricultural sector file by hosting the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture. Based on the official request submitted, the council recommended that the Council of Ministers approve suspending the imposition of the additional customs duty allocated to protect local products on imported urea fertilizer, with the aim of securing sufficient quantities for the current agricultural season and bridging the shortage in local production, provided this measure remains in effect for a limited period not exceeding three months.
