logo
Iraq advances digital transformation with the simplification of government procedures

Iraq advances digital transformation with the simplification of government procedures

Iraqi News05-02-2025
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Ministry of Finance, through its Government Procedures Simplification Team, actively participated in the annual conference of the Supreme Committee for Simplifying Government Procedures and Services. The event, held at Rashid Hotel in Baghdad, brought together key government officials, ministers, the Governor of the Central Bank, and representatives from various agencies to discuss the future of Iraq's public sector digital transformation.
A strategic shift in government services
The conference marked a major milestone in Iraq's administrative reforms, with the Council of Ministers approving the Strategic Management Guide for Services 2024. This guide, now circulated across all ministries and governorates, aims to modernize government services, streamline bureaucratic processes, and enhance efficiency.
During the opening session, Aqil Al-Khazaali, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Administrative Development Affairs and Head of the Procedures Simplification Committee, emphasized that public service is the foundation of the state's governance philosophy. He stressed the need for government employees to adopt a citizen-first approach in their work.
Ministry of Finance achieves 94% completion in service simplification
One of the highlights of the conference was the Ministry of Finance's presentation on its progress in streamlining services. The Government Procedures Simplification Team revealed that out of 38 identified government services, 36 have been fully optimized, achieving an impressive 94% completion rate.
Launch of the 'Service Platform' and digital transformation efforts
A key moment in the conference was the official launch of the 'Service Platform', a new digital initiative spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil, Eng. Hayan Abdul-Ghani Al-Sawad. This platform is designed to facilitate easier access to government services, reduce paperwork, and accelerate Iraq's transition to e-governance.
Additionally, the conference featured specialized training sessions on 'Zero Paper' initiatives, highlighting the use of barcode technology and digital documentation to eliminate reliance on physical paperwork.
A vision for 2025: Full digital transformation
The Supreme Committee for Simplifying Government Procedures and Services also outlined its vision for 2025, focusing on achieving a comprehensive digital transformation across Iraq's public sector. This initiative aligns with the Iraqi government's broader strategy to modernize governance, improve transparency, and enhance service delivery for citizens.
By embracing digital innovation and administrative efficiency, Iraq is taking a crucial step toward a more transparent, responsive, and citizen-centric government.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Iraqi Banking reform: Between necessary change and crippling conditions
Iraqi Banking reform: Between necessary change and crippling conditions

Shafaq News

timean hour ago

  • Shafaq News

Iraqi Banking reform: Between necessary change and crippling conditions

Shafaq News Iraq's banking sector is facing one of its most critical junctures in years as the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) rolls out new reform standards. While the measures aim to modernize the financial system and align it with global practices, economists and lawmakers warn they may be 'impossible to implement' under Iraq's current economic and political conditions. Reform Targets and Investor Reluctance At the center of the new requirements is a mandate for banks to raise their capital to 400 billion dinars (around $306 million) by the end of 2025. The target, however, appears increasingly unrealistic. According to economic expert Ahmad Abed Rabbo, investor reluctance—largely driven by US and international sanctions on dozens of Iraqi banks—makes such capitalization nearly unattainable. Speaking to Shafaq News, Abed Rabbo acknowledged that the reforms contain positive elements but insisted that many conditions require urgent revision. He described the capital increase as 'illogical,' particularly as many banks are barred from dollar transactions, suffer from low market value, and lack robust financial operations. The economist also criticized additional burdens, including $2 million in mandatory service fees for reform consultancy firms approved by the Central Bank. He dismissed the figure as 'exaggerated,' noting that banks had no prior agreement to allocate such sums. Another contested measure is the 10% ownership limit, which he argued deters potential investors, especially when most banks are already loss-making. Abed Rabbo called on the Central Bank to involve private banks in shaping a new reform framework tailored to Iraq's circumstances. Extending the timeline, he said, is essential to prevent forced liquidation or marginalization. 'Reforms are indispensable,' he emphasized, 'but they must be practical and context-driven—not a mechanism for eliminating banks from the financial system.' Strict Standards or Structural Weakness? Economic expert Mustafa al-Faraj described the Central Bank's conditions as 'strict and impossible' in the face of Iraq's fragile financial environment. In comments to Shafaq News, he criticized the lack of direct support from the CBI, saying the institution should prioritize technical and financial assistance, debt rescheduling, lower interest rates, and government-backed incentives before demanding capital hikes or foreign partnerships. He warned that without such support, many banks risk collapse, as the current climate is unsuitable for attracting foreign investors. Instead of strengthening the sector, 'the reforms could accelerate liquidations and forced mergers.' Al-Faraj acknowledged that the Central Bank's intent to reform is genuine but warned the approach is detached from reality: 'If the goal is to establish a resilient banking sector, the starting point must be real support and phased reforms—not measures that paralyze banks before they can recover.' Parliament's Alarm Over Sanctions and Oversight From the legislative side, Kazem al-Shammari, a member of the Parliamentary Economic Committee, pointed to an even deeper problem: sanctions. He revealed that about 30 of Iraq's 70–80 operational banks are currently under sanctions, while most others perform only basic transfer operations rather than comprehensive banking services such as deposits, lending, or financing. Al-Shammari argued that non-sanctioned banks, if properly supervised, could adapt to the reforms. Yet, he cautioned that weak regulatory oversight and political interference remain the biggest obstacles. 'Without effective monitoring, no real results can be achieved,' he said, stressing that government involvement in banking operations contradicts international norms of independence and financial freedom. He further questioned why only Iraqi and Lebanese banks are being penalized for dealings with sanctioned states like Iran, while no other regional institutions have faced similar consequences. 'This issue goes beyond Central Bank policy,' he explained, linking it to broader state-level decisions and political pressure. Between Compliance and Collapse For Al-Shammari, international standards are a double-edged sword. On one hand, compliance could open the door to foreign investment and integration with Gulf and global financial systems. On the other, applying such standards in Iraq's unstable environment risks undermining already fragile institutions. 'If Iraqi banks uphold transparency and integrity, they can attract major global partners and foreign investments,' he predicted, adding that success in this direction could lay the foundation for rebuilding Iraq's financial infrastructure.

100+ lawmakers push for PMF Law vote
100+ lawmakers push for PMF Law vote

Shafaq News

timean hour ago

  • Shafaq News

100+ lawmakers push for PMF Law vote

Shafaq News – Baghdad More than 100 Iraqi lawmakers have endorsed a request for an extraordinary parliamentary session to vote on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Authority Law, MP Ibtisam al-Hilali disclosed on Sunday. Al-Hilali, a lawmaker of the Iran-aligned Shiite Coordination Framework, told Shafaq News that the signatures will be submitted to parliament's leadership to set a date, stressing that the legislation is 'essential' and must advance despite external pressures to block it. The proposed law seeks to regulate the PMF, a powerful umbrella of armed groups integrated into Iraq's security apparatus after the 2014 war with ISIS. Supporters argue it secures fighters' rights, while critics caution it could formalize the influence of the groups beyond full state control. Parliament has remained frozen since August 5, when a clash between Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and Deputy Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi over chairing authority stalled proceedings, leaving major bills — including the PMF Law — in limbo as political blocs shift focus to the November 11 elections. Independent MP Jawad al-Yasari confirmed

Iraq FM: Conflict spillover would devastate Iraq, diplomacy is the only shield
Iraq FM: Conflict spillover would devastate Iraq, diplomacy is the only shield

Shafaq News

timean hour ago

  • Shafaq News

Iraq FM: Conflict spillover would devastate Iraq, diplomacy is the only shield

Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein warned that any attempt to drag Iraq into regional wars would 'destroy' the country and the armed factions, stressing that Baghdad rejects the notion of unified battlefronts and insists Iraq's arena is solely its own. In a televised interview aired Saturday on Shams TV, Hussein outlined Iraq's approach to armed groups, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Law, relations with Iran and the United States, the Erbil–Baghdad dispute, regional conflicts, and the future of Kurds in Syria. وزير الخارجية العراقي فؤاد حسين: لولا قوات التحالف الدولي لكان تنظيم "دا.عــ.ـش" يسيطر على أجزاء واسعة من العراق. #العراق #فؤاد_حسين — Shams TV قناة شمس (@shamsnewstv) August 17, 2025 Avoiding Regional War Hussein credited Iraq's survival amid neighboring conflicts to a dual-track approach: dialogue with armed groups at home and diplomacy abroad. He revealed Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Shia leaders had warned faction commanders of the dangers of unilateral actions, while Baghdad reached out to Washington and European capitals to prevent Israel's war from spilling into Iraq. 'We made it clear that Iraq has only one arena, which is Iraqi, and we reject the concept of unified battlefronts,' Hussein pointed out, warning that dragging Iraq into conflict would destroy the country and its factions. He added that despite some continued strikes on US bases, Baghdad's firm position had restrained wider escalation. Disarmament and the PMF Law On why 'militias' could be contained but not disarmed, Hussein affirmed that force was not an option. ' Disarmament by violence would risk civil war,' he cautioned, arguing instead for Shia dialogue first, followed by a national dialogue across communities. 'Weapons outside state control remain unacceptable but must be addressed through reason, not confrontation.' He compared Iraq's situation to Lebanon, where decades of failed attempts to disarm Hezbollah showed that 'the language of arms only produces more destruction.' Regarding the PMF Authority Law in parliament, Hussein said he was the only minister to object, citing the tense regional climate. 'Sometimes an issue is valid, but the timing is wrong,' he said, noting that such legislation has unavoidable security and military implications. Relations with Iran and the United States Hussein rejected claims that Tehran dictates Baghdad's decisions. 'It is not true to say Iran rules Iraq, but it is also not true to say Iran has no influence,' he remarked, pointing to Iraq's weakened sovereignty since UN sanctions in 1991 and the 2003 invasion. On Iranian National Security Adviser Ali Larijani's visit, he described it as a routine trip, not a special mission. Discussions focused on bilateral ties and avoiding wider war. He added that Tehran thanked both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region for their positions during the recent 12-day conflict inside Iran. As for Washington, Hussein confirmed US opposition to the PMF law but said Iraq's national interest requires a single military authority. He underscored Iraq's reliance on the Global Coalition, noting that without its intervention, ISIS would still control Baghdad and Erbil. 'Now the question is—who will protect Iraq if another war comes?' he asked. Iraq's Neutrality and Soft Power Hussein rejected labeling Iraq as neutral. 'We are against war. That is not neutrality—it is principle,' he said, explaining that Iraq lacks 'hard power' and instead must rely on diplomacy and soft power to safeguard its interests. Erbil–Baghdad Relations On ties with the Kurdistan Region, Hussein considered the root of the dispute lies in Baghdad's centralist mindset, which clashes with the federal constitution. He pointed to the absence of long-promised legislation, including the Oil and Gas Law and the Federal Council, which has forced reliance on outdated centralist laws, describing the current oil revenue-sharing deal as temporary, and stressing that a lasting arrangement must guarantee the Kurdistan Region's fixed share without federal interference in salaries or local revenues. Syria, the Kurds, and Regional Stability Turning to Syria, Hussein related the instability there to Iraq, warning that Syria remains fragmented with the presence of Turkiye, US, French, Israeli, and Russian forces, in addition to ISIS remnants. 'This reality requires new approaches based on decentralization and democracy,' he argued, stressing that centralization fuels division while decentralization can preserve unity. On Kurdish aspirations, he said independence is not on the agenda. 'Dreams remain dreams, but reality is different. Kurds in Syria are struggling for rights within a democratic, decentralized state, not for separation.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store