Iraq seeks cooperation with Nokia on digital transformation
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, said on Monday that Iraq is eager to continue working with Nokia to secure the infrastructure for the digital transformation initiative in government agencies, as well as across several industries.
Al-Sudani's remarks took place during his meeting with the Finnish Ambassador to Iraq, Anu Saarela, and officials from Finland-based Nokia, which specializes in telecommunications and information technology, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
The Iraqi prime minister stated that the government has created a framework for the necessary legislation, established institutions focused on the advancement of this technology, and supplied the required equipment.
Additionally, Iraq presented significant initiatives on digital transformation and artificial intelligence at the 34th Arab Summit, according to Al-Sudani.
The PMO said earlier that Iraq's digital transformation is an essential part of the country's plan for digital business and artificial intelligence.
During his meeting in November with the Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), Deemah AlYahya, Al-Sudani emphasized that the government has included digital transformation in its economic and administrative reforms, as well as electronic payments.
Al-Sudani discussed the government's ability to make a significant shift in this area as well as its readiness to work with the DCO to create projects that help Iraq and the region in the framework of digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
In March, the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), Ali Al-Alaq, revealed that the government is developing a plan for a full-scale digital transformation.
In a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Al-Alaq clarified that the government is operating in accordance with a strategy aiming to shift to a digital government. He noted that Iraqi ministries will take the lead, as actions have already been taken, initiatives have been introduced, and a data center has been established.
Paper transactions at the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) have decreased by 50 percent over the past year and are expected to be eliminated soon, according to Al-Alaq.
The Iraqi official added that a digital currency is being developed by the CBI, noting that collaboration is ongoing with Arab and international organizations, as well as the Arab Monetary Fund, on this significant project.
In February, Al-Alaq revealed that the CBI is planning to create a digital currency to replace paper notes in transactions with central banks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Iraq Business
an hour ago
- Iraq Business
Will Maritime Dispute with Kuwait sink Iraqi PM's Political Fortunes?
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Will maritime dispute with Kuwait sink Iraqi PM's political fortunes? Following decades of mistrust and tension following Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, relations between the two neighbours have thawed in past years. However, renewed controversy over the Khor Abdullah waterway-a 120km (74.5 miles) maritime passage separating the two countries-has stirred fresh diplomatic friction. The full article can be viewed here.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Iraqi MP accused of exploiting oil job Issue for votes
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, an Iraqi labor rights official accused members of parliament in Basra of exploiting a long-standing employment issue in the oil sector to boost their campaigns ahead of Iraq's upcoming elections. Speaking to Shafaq News, Hakim al-Aidani, director of the Center for the Defense of Workers in Oil Fields, pointed to the renewed spotlight on the long-demanded 'safety passport,' a certification required by many seeking jobs in the province's oil industry. 'The issue first emerged when BP began operating in the fields,' al-Aidani recalled. 'Thousands of young people appealed for action, but the file remained ignored for years.' The current version of the document, known locally as the 'red passport,' is not accepted by oil companies, even for entry-level jobs such as cleaners at fields like Rumaila. Job seekers who obtain it are often rejected when they apply. Al-Aidani noted that Total, which now oversees multiple projects in Basra, requires a different type of certification. This shift follows earlier patterns, including a period when a Chinese operator invalidated the previously used 'green passport.' Each transition, he added, renders older documents useless and forces applicants to restart the process. He also questioned the move to offer the passport free of charge, after years during which applicants paid more than $500 to obtain it. 'Where were officials when young people were bearing these costs?' he asked.
Shafaq News
7 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Crippling local economy: Strategic Iraq-Syria border crossing remains shut
Shafaq News/ The strategic al-Qaim border crossing between Iraq and Syria remains closed, dealing a heavy blow to the economy of Iraq's western border province of al-Anbar, according to local officials who are pressing Baghdad to intervene. Al-Qaim's district administrator, Turki Muhammad Khalaf, told Shafaq News that the crossing is 'completely shut down at the moment, except for trucks carrying wheat as humanitarian aid to Syria.' He warned that 'this ongoing closure has deeply hurt the district's economy, which depends almost entirely on trade through this vital lifeline.' Khalaf said that the final decision to reopen the crossing rests with the Prime Minister's Office, urging the federal government to act quickly and restore trade flows. 'Reopening al-Qaim is crucial to bringing life back to the local economy, which is facing a clear downturn because of the stalled trade with Syria,' he added. The crossing's prolonged closure follows the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government last December and the subsequent withdrawal of Syrian forces from al-Bukamal, the town opposite al-Qaim on the Syrian side. Only Iraqis returning from Syria have been allowed to cross since. For Iraq, the stakes are high. Al-Qaim crossing has long been a key trade hub, with bilateral commerce exceeding $1B in 2024, according to the Iraqi-Syrian Business Council. Last month, Syria's port and land border authority confirmed that talks to reopen both al-Bukamal and al-Qaim crossings are in advanced stages.
