Iraq Accelerates Oil Projects Amid Fiscal Reform Efforts

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi held talks in New York with key players in the global energy market, focusing on accelerating oil exploration and production projects. The talks included meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), HKN Energy, and ExxonMobil.

Al-Zaidi discussed fiscal reform and efforts to increase oil production with Jihad Azour, director of the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia Department. The government is restructuring key areas of Iraq's fiscal policy by expanding automation and shifting toward program- and performance-based budgeting in the proposed 2027 federal budget.

Azour stated that the IMF is ready to continue supporting Iraq's economic and financial reforms.