Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Friday Morning 9-26-25
Fair Distribution Of Wealth
Politics / Economy / Special Files Today| 274 After Years Of Conflict, Baghdad And Erbil Turn The Page On Oil Disputes With A Comprehensive Agreement. What Next? - Urgent
Baghdad Today – Baghdad After more than 18 years of disputes over the oil file between Baghdad and Erbil, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masrour Barzani announced a historic agreement under which the federal Ministry of Oil will hand over full control of the region's exports to the federal Ministry of Oil, which will be exported through the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO).
This announcement, described by al-Sudani as a long-awaited achievement and by Barzani as a historic step that will restore the region to global markets, sparked widespread reactions, with experts viewing it as a fundamental shift in the management of national wealth and a reshaping of the relationship between the central government and the region.
Oil and economic expert Ahmed Askar told Baghdad Today, "The announcement of a historic agreement between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government regarding the transfer of the region's oil exports to the federal Ministry of Oil represents a fundamental shift in the management of national wealth."
According to economic analysis, the agreement goes beyond regulating the export mechanism, but also lays the foundation for a long-term partnership between Baghdad and Erbil based on the constitution and applicable laws.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani described the agreement in a tweet on Twitter as an achievement Iraq has been waiting for for 18 years, emphasizing that it includes "the fair distribution of wealth, diversification of export outlets, and investment encouragement."
He emphasized that it opens the door to a new phase of unified oil decision-making and increased federal revenues.
For his part, Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani affirmed that the agreement is a "historic step" that removes one of the most significant obstacles to securing financial dues for the people of Kurdistan. He noted that it restores the region to global markets and emphasizes the need to adhere to constitutional rights.
These statements reflected a rare consensus in rhetoric between Baghdad and Erbil on an issue that has remained a symbol of chronic disagreements for years.
Askar explained that "this agreement opens the door to addressing one of the most complex issues that have remained unresolved for many years between the central government and the region, and establishes a new phase of cooperation based on the constitution and applicable laws, ensuring a fair distribution of revenues and protecting the rights of all Iraqis."
Historically, Kurdish oil has been a source of conflict since 2005, with the region insisting on its right to export independently via Turkey, while Baghdad rejected this route as an encroachment on the central government's authority. The 2023 international arbitration ruling to halt exports via Ankara constituted a major pressure point that prompted the acceleration of negotiations that led to the current agreement.
Askar added, "Unifying oil policy will contribute to strengthening financial and economic stability, increasing Iraq's negotiating power in global markets, and enhancing trust between Baghdad and Erbil, which will positively impact the investment environment and the national economy in general."
Research estimates indicate that the absence of a unified position has cost Iraq significant losses in its negotiating power with international partners, while the current agreement opens the door to an Iraq better able to attract investment and ensure longer-term financial stability.
However, Askar stressed at the same time that "the serious and transparent implementation of this agreement will be the true measure of its success.
This requires strong political will and careful professional oversight to ensure that oil resources are a tool for state-building, not a source of renewed controversy." Comparative experience shows that any oil agreement of this type remains at risk of failure unless it is implemented with high professionalism and protected from political manipulation.
It becomes clear that the recent oil agreement between Baghdad and Erbil is no longer merely a technical settlement, but rather a political and institutional transformation that reorganizes the relationship along constitutional lines and establishes a long-awaited national oil partnership.
Statements by al-Sudani and Barzani confirmed that the political will is present, but the real challenge lies in transparent implementation and ensuring the equitable distribution of wealth. If the experiment succeeds, the agreement could mark the beginning of a new phase of economic and political stability in Iraq.
However, if it falters, the issue will return to the cycle of disputes that have plagued the country since 2005. Source: Baghdad Today + Agencies https://baghdadtoday.news/283931-.html
Al-Sudani's Advisor: Iraq Is Experiencing A Rare "Price Boom" In Its Modern Economic History.
Energy and Business Shafaq News – Baghdad The Prime Minister's financial advisor, Mazhar Mohammed Salih, revealed on Thursday that Iraq is experiencing a rare "price boom" unprecedented in its modern economic history. This boom is driven by low inflation rates, a remarkably stable exchange rate, and improved unemployment rates, all due to effective coordination between monetary, fiscal, and trade policies.
Saleh told Shafaq News Agency, "The inflation rate in Iraq has remained below 3% over the past three years, which is a low rate compared to what the country has experienced previously or what neighboring countries are witnessing."
The government advisor attributed this success to "the cautious monetary policy pursued by the Central Bank of Iraq, in coordination with fiscal and trade policies, which contributed to maintaining the purchasing power of the dinar."
He explained that "unemployment rates fell from 17% to 14% in a relatively short period, supported by economic policies aimed at stimulating the agriculture, investment, and trade sectors, while supporting local production played a direct role in creating new job opportunities."
Regarding the dollar exchange rate, Saleh explained that "the official rate of 1,320 dinars has maintained its stability, which has helped calm markets and limit the role of the parallel market, thereby reducing import costs and limiting price pressures on consumers."
He stressed that "fiscal policy played a pivotal role in controlling prices, with approximately 25% of the general budget (equivalent to 13% of GDP) allocated to support agricultural products, the food and medicine basket, fuel, and electricity, in addition to tax and customs exemptions, which eased the direct burden on citizens."
Within the framework of trade policy, Saleh pointed to the establishment of a network of cooperative-price stores (consumer and construction) that would help break monopolies and provide direct alternatives for goods, as part of what he described as "price defense," an effective tool for regulating markets and preventing unjustified price increases, according to the spokesman.
Despite the positive signs, the financial advisor warned of a potential challenge at this stage: "Commodity leakage across borders, due to price differences between the subsidized Iraqi market and neighboring markets. This requires tightening customs and trade controls without harming legitimate trade."
Saleh concluded that "the current 'price boom' Iraq is witnessing, a rare phenomenon in its modern economic history, must be built upon by rationalizing support and directing it toward productive sectors to achieve sustainable development, rather than relying solely on stability and consumption." LINK
For current and reliable Iraqi news please visit: https://www.bondladyscorner.com