Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Late Sunday Evening 9-13-26

PM Al-Zaidi Europe Trip Targets Energy, Investment

2026-09-13 / 05:47   Shafaq News- Baghdad  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s European tour is aimed at attracting investment and opening new channels for the country’s economy, Mohammed Al-Baldawi, spokesperson for the Sadiqoon parliamentary bloc, the political wing of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq, told Shafaq News on Sunday.  

 Al-Baldawi said the visit would focus on agreements and projects involving defense systems, energy, oil, industry, trade, and investment, adding that he expected the tour to be “effective and positive for Iraq.”  

Iraq, he said, favors broader international engagement and diversified relations, arguing that the country has an opportunity to strengthen its political, security, and economic standing in the region.

He also linked Iraq’s longer-term economic ambitions to the completion of Al-Faw Grand Port and the Development Road, saying they could strengthen the country’s role as a trade link between East and West.  

Earlier today, government spokesperson Haider Al-Aboudi confirmed that Al-Zaidi had left Baghdad for an official visit to France and Germany. The prime minister is beginning the tour in Paris, where he is scheduled to hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on bilateral relations and expanded cooperation.

 The visit is expected to include the signing of several understandings in investment, energy, industry, trade, technology, education, culture, and infrastructure before Al-Zaidi travels to Berlin.  

Read more: A guide to Ali Al-Zaidi's ministerial program

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Iraq/PM-Al-Zaidi-Europe-trip-targets-energy-investment

Iraq Is Redrawing The Regional Transit Map... Ministry Of Transport: Opening 7 New International Routes And Connecting The Gulf With Turkey, Europe, And Central Asia

Baghdad - One News - 9/13/2026  The Ministry of Transport announced on Sunday the opening of seven new international transit routes within eight months, as part of moves aimed at strengthening Iraq’s position on the international trade map and transforming it into a regional hub for transport and logistics linking the Arabian Gulf with Turkey, Europe and Central Asia.

The Director of the Land Transport Management Department at the Ministry, Israa Hanoun, said that the Ministry is working to consolidate Iraq’s position as a hub for transport and transit between the Arabian Gulf, Turkey and Europe, by developing the land and rail transport network and ports and linking them within a multimodal transport system.  

Hanoon added that the work includes activating and expanding the international land transport system “TIR”, opening new international routes and simplifying border and customs procedures, in addition to enhancing digital transformation and coordination between concerned parties, which reduces the transit time of trucks and raises Iraq’s competitiveness as a trade corridor.  

She explained that the “TIR” system, which came into effect in Iraq on April 1, 2025, contributed to the growth of transit traffic, while 2026 witnessed a clear expansion in international routes, with the opening of seven new routes within eight months, indicating the increasing use of Iraqi territory as a corridor for international transport.  

She explained that the goal is not limited to increasing the number of trucks passing through, but to gradually reach a large and sustainable transit movement, in conjunction with raising the efficiency of ports, roads and logistics services, allowing Iraq to attract a larger share of trade between Asia, the Gulf, Turkey and Europe.  

She noted that Iraqi transit routes are witnessing increasing traffic to and from Türkiye, the Gulf States, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, in addition to Iraq gradually becoming linked to routes extending towards Central Asian countries and Europe.  

She pointed to the operation of new routes towards Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan, while Türkiye represents a major gateway to European markets, giving Iraq an important position as a link between the Gulf and Turkey, as well as between the countries of the region and Central Asia.  

Hanoon stressed that the current infrastructure forms a basis that qualifies Iraq to play a larger regional role, but it still needs further development and expansion to accommodate the expected increase in transit traffic.  

She added that the next phase requires the development of inspection and waiting areas, logistics service centers, electronic connectivity, truck scales and rest stations, in addition to improving the efficiency of roads and ports and speeding up customs and border procedures.  

The Ministry of Transport confirmed that Iraq has already begun taking steps to transform into a regional trade corridor, through the operation of the international transport system, the expansion of transit routes, and the development of ports and roads.

 The next challenge lies in building an integrated logistics system that makes the country a competitive and sustainable option for regional and international trade.  https://1news-iq.net/العراق-يعيد-رسم-خريطة-الترانزيت-الإقل/

Australian Exports To Iraq Plunge 97.5% In Q2

2026-09-13 18:38   Shafaq News- Canberra/ Baghdad   Australian exports to Iraq fell to about $2.2 million in the second quarter of 2026, down sharply from the previous three months, Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed.

Exports totaled about $88 million in the first quarter before falling by $85.8 million, or 97.5%, in the April-June period.

Cheese and curd topped the exports in the second quarter at about $1 million, followed by pharmaceuticals at around $773,000 and sheep or goat meat at roughly $196,000.

Other exports included spirits, prepared fats and oils, machine parts, liquid pumps, measuring instruments and additive manufacturing machines. https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Australian-exports-to-Iraq-plunge-97-5-in-Q2