Prime Minister: Employee salaries are secured and we aim to export 8-10 million barrels per day
Prime Minister: Employee salaries are secured and we aim to export 8-10 million barrels per day
8-21-2026
Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi affirmed on Friday that employee salaries are secured, noting that the government is striving to export 8-10 million barrels per day. Al-Zaidi stated, during a dialogue session at the eighth Baghdad Dialogue Conference, held by the Iraqi Institute for Dialogue in the capital, Baghdad, as reported by the official news agency, “We have managed to secure salaries and find alternative routes for oil exports, and we will present a budget that represents a roadmap for Iraq’s economic future.” He pointed out that “next year’s budget will focus on the electricity sector in production, distribution, and transmission, and on expanding the use of solar energy.”
He added, “We have implemented reforms in dealing with domestic fuel consumption according to a new economic model that achieves financial savings of 17.8 trillion dinars over a full year,” indicating that “all political forces are in complete agreement on proceeding with restricting weapons to the state, and work is underway on mechanisms for handing over weapons and ending this situation completely.”
Al-Zaydi explained that “there are no intentions or possibilities of any military clash, and we will not allow Iraq’s enemies to exploit any opportunity,” stressing that “there is no retreat from combating corruption and the government enjoys broad support.” He continued, “Employees’ salaries and government payments are secured, and we are proceeding with a plan to cover the coming years,” noting that “work is underway to expand oil exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, and there is work to export through Banias and Aqaba, and to increase Iraq’s export quota through OPEC. We also seek to reach 8-10 million barrels per day within 6 years.”
The Prime Minister also pointed out that “Iraq fought ISIS on behalf of the region and the world, and it is only fair that it receives a share of crude oil exports that is commensurate with the size of its population and its oil reserves,” noting that “we are not thinking about building a government as much as we are thinking about building the state and the economy, and Iraq has opportunities, assets and a will that qualify it to overcome the challenges. I have committed myself not to run for a second term, and our reform programs will bear fruit for the next governments.”
Al-Zaydi explained that “the development fund will have a capital of $100 billion, and we will rely on the contribution of the Central Bank and public subscription, in addition to the contribution of international and regional financing institutions,” clarifying that “if we do not support the private sector, there will be no development, and we seek to put in place mechanisms that encourage migration from the public to the private sector.”
On the regional issue, Al-Zaydi pointed out that “we supported transforming Iraq’s role from an arena of conflict to a bridge for negotiation and understanding, and our country’s weight is influential and decisive in the stability of the region.”
He added that “the project of one million residential plots will actually be very soon, and we are targeting citizens who do not own any property or residential land, and the last citizen will receive his plot of land within the project of one million residential plots in less than 3 years.”
He pointed out that “the presence of weapons outside the framework of the state will create an environment that repels investment, and this is unacceptable as it does not serve the interests of Iraqis,” indicating that “the National Investment Commission will announce opportunities in residential land plots, according to a modern design that takes into account future expansion,” and continued, “We have directed the development of a plan to provide agricultural land plots for agricultural engineers and veterinarians, close to transportation routes, and we will provide them with loans according to a well-studied economic model,” stressing that “tax revenues will be collected in advance on imports with the opening of transfers, which will bring revenue to the state, and the amounts can be recovered if the import process does not take place.”
He also explained that “we reduced customs duties on some goods to facilitate the proper payment of revenue to the state for traders,” noting that “the method of subsequent auditing is no longer appropriate, and the basis of corruption is the exaggeration in pricing of contract and project items, so we adopted prior auditing and controlling the moderation of prices before signing contracts.”
Al-Zaydi also stated that “Iraq is an important country in the region, and it is impossible to sever ties with its Arab and regional surroundings. We have sensed a strong desire to open up to Iraq,” indicating that “Iraq is moving towards becoming the most stable and powerful country in terms of development and economy.”
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