News, Rumors and Opinions Friday 7-17-2026
KTFA:
Clare: Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office
Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi Meets with President of the World Bank Group (WBG) in Washington
Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi met in Washington yesterday evening, Wednesday, Baghdad time, with President of the World Bank Group (WBG) Ajay Banga and the accompanying delegation, which included IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop and a number of senior World Bank officials.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Al-Zaidi affirmed that Iraq is experiencing a high level of stability, which will have a positive impact on the country’s economic and investment environment. He noted that the Iraqi economy is expected to achieve clear growth in light of the policies and reforms the government has begun implementing.
The Prime Minister stated that the government attaches particular importance to reforming the banking sector and adopting program-based budgeting to ensure the efficient allocation of resources toward achieving development. He also stressed the government’s commitment to shaping a new economic identity for Iraq based on diversification, reform, and sustainability, while increasing oil production to meet development requirements in parallel with developing non-oil sectors and enhancing their contribution to the national economy.
Prime Minister Al-Zaidi explained that the government is moving forward with the establishment of the Development Fund, which will finance investment projects across all governorates and expand the financing available to qualified Iraqi banks, while supporting and empowering Iraq’s private sector to serve as a key partner in the country’s development process.
For his part, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga expressed his admiration for the progress Iraq has made in recent years in consolidating stability and peace. He affirmed that Iraq possesses strong resources and capabilities that can drive broad economic transformation if properly utilized.
Mr. Banga also expressed the World Bank’s readiness to provide Iraq with technical and advisory support in the areas of program-based budgeting and banking sector restructuring. He further proposed studying the establishment of a major Iraqi bank holding company through the merger of several state-owned banks, in a manner that would enhance the efficiency of the financial sector and support the country’s economic reform process.
Media Office of the Prime Minister
July 16, 2026
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Clare: Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office
Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi Meets with Representatives of Leading Global Energy Companies in Houston
Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi met in Houston with representatives of leading global energy companies to discuss prospects for expanding cooperation and investment in the energy sector, as part of his official visit to the United States.
The meetings included representatives of Halliburton, Shell, Honeywell, Weatherford, and Baker Hughes, during which the participants discussed opportunities for cooperation in developing Iraq’s oil and natural gas sectors and benefiting from the advanced expertise and technologies these companies offer.
Prime Minister Al-Zaidi emphasized the importance of building long-term strategic partnerships with leading global energy companies, stressing that the Iraqi government is moving forward with creating an attractive investment environment and is prepared to provide all necessary facilities to ensure the success of companies’ operations and the implementation of their projects in Iraq.
The Prime Minister noted that the government attaches great importance to developing natural gas investment projects, increasing production, and strengthening industries associated with the energy sector, in a manner that supports the national economy.
For their part, the company representatives expressed their interest in expanding their operations in Iraq and their readiness to contribute to the implementation of major energy projects, particularly in the oil and natural gas sectors. They also affirmed their confidence in Iraq’s significant potential and the investment opportunities it offers.
Media Office of the Prime Minister
July 17, 2026
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Courtesy of Dinar Guru: https://www.dinarguru.com/
Militia Man What's happening in Washington right now is not a routine diplomatic trip. The fact that the meetings are scheduled across a full 7 days already signals seriousness. Most high-level visits of this type are much shorter. A 7-day window gives both sides time to go deep into complex files instead of rushing through the surface level discussions...They even programmed a special lunch that wasn't on the plan..
Stephen I have a hard time understanding how people don't see Iraq as a very viable country but also their currency. Do you think they're going to do all these economical things moving forward [On Trump/Zaidi meeting] with a currency that's worth 1310 per US dollar? One tenth of a penny? I have a hard time believing that...Everything happening is positive. I have nothing negative today. This is all good, good stuff. If you are a dinar investor you should be very positive.
Frank26 Since the 10th of July the value of the Iraqi dinar [market rate] has been going up. It may be moving like an inchworm, a little bit at a time, but it's doing the predictable. It is doing what it was set up to do, scheduled to do, positioned to do. The numbers are encouraging. They should be decreasing to the point where it will reach 1 to 1 so that it can play fair with the American dollar...You're going to enjoy watching it grow..
Gold, Silver Await Fed’s Historic Moment…
Arcadia Economics: 7-17-2026
Everything was lining up for Trump to get his way with lower interest rates, until the Iran war sent inflation soaring and made everything a lot more complicated.
That's left the gold and silver prices in a holding pattern as the Fed approaches an historic moment with no easy choices.
But to find out where that leaves us, and what to expect in the second half of 2026, click to watch this precious metals week's update now!