The Central Bank of Iraq has raised its gold reserves to 170 tons and plans to remove zeros from the dinar to reduce cash volume and strengthen the national currency.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani’s adviser on industry says local pharmaceutical production has risen from 10 to 40 percent since the cabinet began its work. Two additional factories have opened, and Iraq plans to start producing cancer drugs domestically within five years.
Iraq’s Commerce Ministry has drafted a new plan to regulate vehicle imports, covering new and used cars, and will submit it to the Council of Ministers for approval.
Iraq’s Water Resources Ministry announced an agreement with Turkey to increase river discharge, ensuring sufficient drinking water supply this year amid expectations of heavy rainfall.
Rebwar Awrahman of the Oil and Gas Committee said the outgoing government plans to raise oil and fuel prices, despite Prime Minister Sudani’s offer to supply subsidized fuel to the Kurdistan Region.
Iraq has banned the import of chickens and poultry from 39 countries, including Turkey and Iran, due to bird flu outbreaks. The ban will remain until the disease is officially declared eradicated.
The Iraqi Electoral Commission has distributed over 1.3 million biometric cards across 1,079 centers and started coordinating with observers and media for the upcoming elections.
Iraq’s oil exports to the U.S. increased by 8,000 barrels last week, reaching 135,000 barrels per day. U.S. crude imports from the top 10 suppliers totaled 5.53 million barrels per day, led by Canada and Mexico.
The Iraqi Election Commission has begun training 230,000 employees for the November 11 parliamentary elections. The training will continue through October, as the New Generation Movement contests with List 288 under the slogan "They are lying again"
The Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education has banned smoking in all public and private universities and colleges for the 2025–2026 academic year. Violators, including teachers, staff, and students, will face fines ranging from 10,000 to 25,000 Iraqi dinars.
SOMO calls Exxon Mobil agreement a strategic boost for Iraq’s oil exports. Iraq says the deal will strengthen its global market presence and improve export capacity rather than expand production.
Iraq’s financial advisor Mazhar Saleh says the country has successfully stabilized its currency and reduced inflation, with unemployment falling from 17 to 14 percent — marking strong economic progress.
Iraq’s election commission says it is fully prepared for the upcoming elections, having distributed over three million biometric cards and trained polling officials. Mobile teams are also delivering cards to citizens’ homes.
The Iraqi Customs Board announced a 150% year-on-year increase in customs revenue, the highest since 2003. The board plans to launch an advance notification system in December to regulate imports and combat smuggling.
Iraq and ExxonMobil have signed a new deal to boost oil and gas production. The agreement is part of Iraq’s plan to raise capacity to six million barrels per day by 2028.
Iraq plans to boost gas production across all oil fields to achieve self-sufficiency. Officials say the move will strengthen energy security and increase electricity generation.
IHEC has excluded four candidates from the upcoming parliamentary elections for misconduct and defamation. The commission says it will continue enforcing disciplinary measures to protect electoral integrity.
Iraq’s financial adviser says salaries for 2026 have been fully secured, with no payment concerns ahead. The 2026 budget is currently being finalized and will soon be presented to parliament.
IHEC has distributed over one million biometric cards and urged citizens to collect theirs. Family members can now receive relatives’ cards, with stations open on Friday and Saturday.
The World Bank forecasts Iraq’s economy to grow by 6.7% in 2026, the highest in the Arab world, driven by oil exports, infrastructure investments, and economic diversification efforts