An economist speaks about investment: “Iraq is a hostile environment.”
An economist speaks about investment: “Iraq is a hostile environment.”
10-14-2026
Information/Special…
Economic expert Dirgham Muhammad Ali affirmed on Wednesday that reviving the Iraqi economy requires fundamental changes to existing laws and the removal of obstacles facing industrialists and investors. This would facilitate their acquisition of investment licenses and encourage the expansion of productive activity.
Ali told Al-Maalouma that “improving the economic situation cannot be achieved without reviewing current legislation and procedures,” emphasizing the need to provide a suitable environment that enables investors to implement their projects without the administrative complexities that hinder their launch.
He added that “industrial development in Iraq needs a reformulation of its philosophy to align with the requirements of the current stage,” explaining that the continued reliance on traditional and bureaucratic methods has turned administrative procedures, which may be beneficial to some employees, into a burden on investors and project owners.
Ali stated that “addressing administrative red tape and genuinely activating the one-stop shop system are essential steps to facilitate the completion of transactions within specific timeframes, instead of the multiple reviews and procedures that waste investors’ time and increase the cost of establishing projects.”
He pointed out that the persistence of inherited administrative systems and the complexity of investment procedures have contributed to making the Iraqi investment environment unattractive to capital, emphasizing that attracting investments requires administrative and legislative reforms that ensure the swift completion of transactions, enhance confidence in state institutions, support national industry, and provide new job opportunities.
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