KTFA
FRANK26: "ALL THREE AGREED ON 1310... OF COURSE NOT!!!"......F26
4/26/2025
Baghdad –
A high-ranking Iraqi delegation held talks with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, D.C.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Finance Minister Taif Sami Muhammad, Central Bank Governor Ali Al-Alaq, and their accompanying delegation participated in the annual Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF held in the U.S. capital. The meetings focused on global economic challenges, economic development, financial stability, and other related issues, including plenary sessions, seminars, and side consultations.
The statement noted that Minister Sami commenced her participation with an initial meeting with World Bank Executive Director Abdulaziz Al-Mulla, during which they discussed Iraq’s economic situation and the World Bank’s role in supporting Iraq’s reform programs. Topics included revenue enhancement, expenditure rationalization , digitalization, electronic systems, infrastructure, energy, and environmental projects.
The Minister also met with Hela Cheikhrouhou, IFC Regional Vice President, to address key obstacles facing investment in Iraq and explore solutions. They reviewed major projects overseen by the IFC in the transport, energy, and international trade finance sectors, with the IFC expressing readiness to support projects under the Iraq Development Fund.
The IFC emphasized its commitment to supporting Iraq’s private sector, as well as its agricultural and industrial sectors.
The delegation, led by the Finance Minister, also convened a high-level meeting with Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, to discuss the World Bank’s project portfolio in Iraq, particularly the railway project. Both parties agreed to review the portfolio to monitor project implementation, identify challenges, and devise solutions to ensure timely completion .
Discussions also covered Iraq’s government priorities for future projects, particularly in renewable energy, waste management, and transportation infrastructure—including metro systems, airports, and railways. Minister Sami and Mr. Dione also discussed human development in Iraq, emphasizing its inclusion in the World Bank’s future agenda to allocate funding and launch projects in education, healthcare, employment, and social protection sectors.
The Minister and the Central Bank Governor further participated in the ministerial meeting chaired by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, attended by finance ministers and central bank governors of IMF member states. The discussions centered on the global economic outlook, heightened uncertainties, their impacts on national and global economies, resilience strategies, macroeconomic stability, debt sustainability management, and the exchange of experiences related to economic reforms, enhancing governmental institutional performance, and strengthening the private sector’s role in ensuring economic sustainability across the region.
Ms. Georgieva reiterated the IMF’s humanitarian support for countries affected by conflicts, emphasizing the Fund’s commitment to assisting the people of Gaza, Yemen, Syria, and Sudan. She stressed the importance of implementing medium-term reforms, building economic buffers, and pursuing economic diversification to strengthen fiscal sustainability and macroeconomic stability.
The Iraqi delegation’s agenda also included participation in a meeting with IMF Executive Director Dr. Mohamed Maait, where discussions highlighted reforms aimed at enhancing the performance of Iraq’s financial sector and opportunities to expand partnership areas with the Fund.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Minister Sami held a coordination meeting with Jean Guillaume, IMF Mission Chief for Iraq, to discuss the prospects for Iraq’s economic growth under the government’s reform program, which seeks to strengthen both the oil and non-oil sectors and to maintain economic stability amid global uncertainties.
The Minister also engaged with the IMF’s technical and financial affairs team to discuss progress on technical support provided to Iraq’s General Commission for Taxes and General Customs Authority, particularly regarding the automation of electronic systems and legislative reforms. The IMF expressed readiness to deliver technical support and training for customs and tax staff.
Further discussions included completing the requirements for the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and reviewing the Ministry of Finance’s progress on this initiative. Proposals for technical assistance on pension and social security reforms were also discussed, with a report to be submitted to the Iraqi government outlining suggested reforms in this sector.
The Iraqi delegation also met with Jihad Azour, Director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, to discuss a range of economic issues and fiscal policy outlooks. Mr. Azour reaffirmed the IMF’s commitment to supporting Iraq’s financial, banking, and monetary reform initiatives.
It is noteworthy that these annual meetings bring together central bank governors, finance and development ministers, private sector executives, civil society representatives, and academics to deliberate on key global issues, including the global economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness.
The event also features workshops, regional briefings, press conferences, and other activities focusing on global economics, international development, and the global financial system.
A high-ranking Iraqi delegation held talks with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, D.C.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Finance Minister Taif Sami Muhammad, Central Bank Governor Ali Al-Alaq, and their accompanying delegation participated in the annual Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF held in the U.S. capital. The meetings focused on global economic challenges, economic development, financial stability, and other related issues, including plenary sessions, seminars, and side consultations.
The statement noted that Minister Sami commenced her participation with an initial meeting with World Bank Executive Director Abdulaziz Al-Mulla, during which they discussed Iraq’s economic situation and the World Bank’s role in supporting Iraq’s reform programs. Topics included revenue enhancement, expenditure rationalization , digitalization, electronic systems, infrastructure, energy, and environmental projects.
The Minister also met with Hela Cheikhrouhou, IFC Regional Vice President, to address key obstacles facing investment in Iraq and explore solutions. They reviewed major projects overseen by the IFC in the transport, energy, and international trade finance sectors, with the IFC expressing readiness to support projects under the Iraq Development Fund.
The IFC emphasized its commitment to supporting Iraq’s private sector, as well as its agricultural and industrial sectors.
The delegation, led by the Finance Minister, also convened a high-level meeting with Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, to discuss the World Bank’s project portfolio in Iraq, particularly the railway project. Both parties agreed to review the portfolio to monitor project implementation, identify challenges, and devise solutions to ensure timely completion .
Discussions also covered Iraq’s government priorities for future projects, particularly in renewable energy, waste management, and transportation infrastructure—including metro systems, airports, and railways. Minister Sami and Mr. Dione also discussed human development in Iraq, emphasizing its inclusion in the World Bank’s future agenda to allocate funding and launch projects in education, healthcare, employment, and social protection sectors.
The Minister and the Central Bank Governor further participated in the ministerial meeting chaired by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, attended by finance ministers and central bank governors of IMF member states. The discussions centered on the global economic outlook, heightened uncertainties, their impacts on national and global economies, resilience strategies, macroeconomic stability, debt sustainability management, and the exchange of experiences related to economic reforms, enhancing governmental institutional performance, and strengthening the private sector’s role in ensuring economic sustainability across the region.
Ms. Georgieva reiterated the IMF’s humanitarian support for countries affected by conflicts, emphasizing the Fund’s commitment to assisting the people of Gaza, Yemen, Syria, and Sudan. She stressed the importance of implementing medium-term reforms, building economic buffers, and pursuing economic diversification to strengthen fiscal sustainability and macroeconomic stability.
The Iraqi delegation’s agenda also included participation in a meeting with IMF Executive Director Dr. Mohamed Maait, where discussions highlighted reforms aimed at enhancing the performance of Iraq’s financial sector and opportunities to expand partnership areas with the Fund.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Minister Sami held a coordination meeting with Jean Guillaume, IMF Mission Chief for Iraq, to discuss the prospects for Iraq’s economic growth under the government’s reform program, which seeks to strengthen both the oil and non-oil sectors and to maintain economic stability amid global uncertainties.
The Minister also engaged with the IMF’s technical and financial affairs team to discuss progress on technical support provided to Iraq’s General Commission for Taxes and General Customs Authority, particularly regarding the automation of electronic systems and legislative reforms. The IMF expressed readiness to deliver technical support and training for customs and tax staff.
Further discussions included completing the requirements for the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and reviewing the Ministry of Finance’s progress on this initiative. Proposals for technical assistance on pension and social security reforms were also discussed, with a report to be submitted to the Iraqi government outlining suggested reforms in this sector.
The Iraqi delegation also met with Jihad Azour, Director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, to discuss a range of economic issues and fiscal policy outlooks. Mr. Azour reaffirmed the IMF’s commitment to supporting Iraq’s financial, banking, and monetary reform initiatives.
It is noteworthy that these annual meetings bring together central bank governors, finance and development ministers, private sector executives, civil society representatives, and academics to deliberate on key global issues, including the global economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness.
The event also features workshops, regional briefings, press conferences, and other activities focusing on global economics, international development, and the global financial system.