Will international agencies raise Iraq's credit rating soon?
British report points to Baghdad's financial and administrative reforms as possible reasons for the expected move.
The report indicates a significant improvement in the level of financial transparency through the issuance of annual public reports on public revenues and expenditures,
Iraq is moving toward a new economic phase aimed at improving its credit rating with international institutions through a series of financial and administrative reforms and a significant increase in foreign direct investment.
A new report issued by the London-based Global Center for Development Studies finds that the Iraqi government , led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, succeeded in attracting foreign investment exceeding $87 billion in 2024, with expectations of this amount rising to between $120 and $150 billion by 2029, in vital sectors including energy, petrochemicals, agriculture, and religious tourism.
Reforms to boost international confidence
The British report identified clear trends in Iraqi economic policy aimed at diversifying sources of income away from oil, strengthening financial governance, combating corruption, and increasing the independence of the Central Bank and improving monetary policy management. This has been reflected in declining inflation rates and a stable dinar exchange rate.
Iraq faces significant economic challenges due to fluctuating oil prices, rising spending, a worsening fiscal deficit, and exchange rate instability.
he report points to significant improvements in financial transparency through the issuance of public annual reports on public revenues and expenditures, and the updating of more than 200 laws over two years, enhancing the business climate and limiting the penetration of corruption networks into the state's institutions.
Cooperation with international institutions
According to the report, Iraq is in the process of signing consulting agreements with two international companies. One will provide technical support to the Commercial Bank of Iraq in compliance with international financial standards, while the other will manage a public relations campaign aimed at improving Iraq's economic image and enhancing its chances of obtaining a better credit rating from international rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's, Moody's, and Fitch.
The report indicated that Iraq's agricultural sector recorded a growth of approximately 15 percent in wheat production over the past three years, while the petrochemical sector achieved a rise of approximately 10 percent in 2023. Religious tourism, meanwhile, recorded a significant increase in exports, with the number of foreign visitors exceeding 20 percent, making it a promising sector for diversifying national income sources.
Although Iraq's rating remains at a low level of B- by Standard & Poor's and Fitch, and Caa1 by Moody's, its high foreign exchange reserves, ongoing reforms, and improved transparency indicators are all positive factors that could contribute to a rating upgrade in the near future, according to the report. link