Tishwash: Central Bank of Iraq: Decrease in public spending and stability in domestic debt
The Central Bank of Iraq revealed on Wednesday a decline in public spending and a stabilization of domestic debt in April 2025.
The bank indicated in a report reviewed by Shafaq News Agency that the state’s public spending in April amounted to 9.49 trillion dinars, registering a 6.69% decrease compared to March, which amounted to 10.17 trillion dinars. Spending also decreased compared to the same period in 2024, which recorded 12.07 trillion dinars.
The report indicated that domestic public debt stabilized at 58.54 trillion dinars in April, the same level recorded in March, but an 11.13% increase compared to the same period in 2024, when it reached 76.97 trillion dinars. link
Tishwash: The Ministry of Commerce discusses with the ITC the latest developments regarding Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization and enhancing technical support.
The Ministry of Trade announced today, Tuesday, that the Department of Foreign Economic Relations held a meeting with representatives of the International Trade Centre (ITC) to discuss the latest developments related to Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and ways to enhance technical cooperation to support this process.
A statement issued by the ministry’s media office, quoting the department’s director general, Riyadh Fakher Al-Hashemi, stated that the meeting discussed prospects for joint cooperation in reviewing the technical files prepared by the accession team in coordination with the technical committees emanating from the relevant national committee.
The statement emphasized the importance of the technical and technological support provided by the International Trade Centre, particularly during this critical phase, given its significant role in enhancing the efficiency of national teams and strengthening institutional readiness for accession requirements.
The meeting also addressed efforts to update the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) document, in coordination with sectoral bodies, in line with government policies aimed at integrating environmental and sustainability concepts into economic and trade policies.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Al-Hashemi stressed that the meeting was part of the department’s ongoing efforts to develop Iraq’s trade policy and enhance institutional and technical capabilities, supporting Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization and strengthening its presence in the multilateral trading system.
For their part, representatives of the International Trade Centre praised the progress made in the accession file and the level of coordination with the Department of Foreign Economic Relations, stressing their readiness to continue providing the necessary technical support to complete the accession requirements link
************
Tishwash: Al-Sudani: It is time for our people to feel the services in all regions.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani affirmed, today, Wednesday (July 30, 2025), that the collective effort made by the government contributed to producing tangible work effort for citizens, noting that “it is time for our people to feel the services in all regions.”
The Prime Minister’s media office said in a statement received by Baghdad Today that “Al-Sudani launched, today, Wednesday, the executive works of the Al-Krayat Bridge project on the Tigris River, as part of the campaign to rebuild the holy city of Kadhimiya, which is the first development project in the (Fifth Division) area, which aims to open the military zone closed for decades, and allocate its lands to establish service facilities, cultural and religious centers, and multiple rest cities for visitors.”
Al-Sudani, according to the statement, praised the efforts of the executive team, which included ministers, the Director of the Prime Minister’s Office, officials and technicians, the Ministry of Housing, the Baghdad Municipality, the Investment Commission, the Kadhimiya Shrine, and the Hanafi Shrine, as the collective effort produced a tangible reality for the citizen. He pointed to the government’s realistic, planning, and comprehensive vision for the service sector, which took into account the specificities of each district, city, and sub-district.
The Prime Minister also announced the Fifth Division area, with an area of 400 dunums, as an investment opportunity for all companies, stressing that it will be announced in a transparent and clear manner, and that it will not contain any residential project, in addition to its distinguished strategic location, close to the shrine of the two Imams Al-Kadhimiya (peace be upon them), where a museum will be built with an area of 12,500 square meters, to be a witness to the dark dictatorial era, and the practice of the most heinous violations, and the museum is a guarantee that tragedies will not be repeated, as citizens will see the ugliness of that era.
Al-Sudani said, “Baghdad’s population exceeds 9.5 million, and the capital hasn’t seen any rehabilitation projects commensurate with its capacity or a distinct identity to address the problems it faces.” He explained that, “Kadhimiya hasn’t received any attention for decades, but today it’s witnessing a qualitative shift that takes into account its Islamic identity and the number of visitors, and ensures smooth flow of traffic during special occasions.”
He pointed out that “the programs and plans of ‘Baghdad More Beautiful 1 and 2’ and the plans of the ministries and the Baghdad Municipality all aim to pursue comprehensive and integrated rehabilitation, emphasizing the government’s commitment to Islamic architectural standards in the projects planned for this area.”
He added, “The reconstruction campaign includes shops and neighborhoods in Kadhimiya, across all sectors, schools, and other service institutions. He emphasized the need to adhere to accuracy, inventory, and specifications in accordance with the plan, and to work with high quality and speedy implementation.”
The Al-Krayat Bridge project is a vital component of the second package of traffic congestion relief projects. It will also include the construction of numerous service facilities and approaches, including passageways and axes connecting it to the Mohammed Al-Qasim Expressway and the Army Canal.
The campaign to rebuild the holy city of Kadhimiya continues, which includes the rehabilitation and expansion of (15) main streets for five neighborhoods, the establishment of (38) schools, the restoration of (4) heritage schools, the cladding and paving of (12) residential neighborhoods, the development of garages, the construction of bridges, in addition to the establishment of recreational areas for families.
The campaign also includes the construction of six entrances to the city, the rehabilitation of the sewage station, the provision of services to agricultural areas, the rehabilitation of the city water project, the Fattah Pasha Street Boulevard, and other projects, in addition to the transfer of the headquarters of official departments outside the city. link
