Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al‑Zaidi will pay an official visit to the United States, bringing with him a delegation of business leaders, private‑sector representatives and banking officials, in an effort to boost investment and deepen economic ties with Washington.
Al‑Zaidi announced the trip during a meeting with business leaders, members of private‑sector development bodies, representatives of the Iraqi Economic Council and heads of private banks. He said the inclusion of private‑sector figures reflects the government’s focus on expanding joint investment opportunities and building stronger partnerships with international stakeholders.
The visit comes as Iraq seeks to attract foreign investment and diversify its oil‑dependent economy, while also balancing its relationships with global partners.
Energy cooperation, particularly in oil and gas development, as well as infrastructure investment, is expected to feature prominently in discussions with U.S. counterparts. Officials are also likely to explore concrete agreements and partnerships aimed at boosting economic growth and job creation.
Al‑Zaidi described the private sector as a key partner in the government’s development agenda, stressing that Baghdad is committed to supporting business activity and addressing investor concerns. He reiterated the government’s pledge to combat corruption and extortion, positioning reform efforts as central to improving Iraq’s investment climate.
The prime minister also announced plans to establish a development fund to support private‑sector projects, backed by a $10 billion contribution from the Central Bank of Iraq. He said citizens would be able to subscribe to the fund, with profits exempt from taxes, in a bid to encourage broader participation in economic growth.
The planned visit underscores Iraq’s push to present itself as a more competitive destination for international business, as the government faces mounting pressure to deliver jobs and reduce reliance on oil revenues. A date has not yet been announced, but it will be the first official foreign visit since al-Zaidi was elected on 1 May 2026.
Yemen’s Houthis have claimed responsibility for the recent drone and missile strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and at ...
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk...
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog, met on 14 October to discuss bilateral ties and key regional and inte...
Yemen’s Houthis have claimed responsibility for the recent drone and missile strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, vowing to carry out more attacks in the coming days.
Thousands of young Georgians leave the country each year in search of better economic opportunities, with many moving west. As questions grow over Georgia’s European path, AnewZ spoke to people who have emigrated about what it would take for them to return.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group toward Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling to accept the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to pilot drones. A source in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said the restrictions would make it harder for Kyiv's army to down Russian drones.
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to pilot drones. A source in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said the restrictions would make it harder for Kyiv's army to down Russian drones.
A 62-year-old man died on Wednesday after floodwaters swept his car into the sea on the Greek island of Rhodes, as torrential rain flooded roads, stranded vehicles and disrupted transport across the island.
A failure by the U.S. and Iran to reach an agreement on a UN-backed fertiliser shipping plan for the Strait of Hormuz within weeks could trigger a food security crisis in parts of Asia and Africa, a senior UN official has warned.
Pope Leo has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican says the tumour was detected during a routine health check, but its stage and whether it has spread remain unknown.
Greek students braved heavy rain to pitch tents outside parliament in Athens on Tuesday, demanding affordable housing and more education funding as rising living costs put university places beyond the reach of some students.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment