Intensifying efforts to raise Iraq’s credit rating
The government has intensified its efforts to achieve the highest international credit rating, given the importance of this step in gaining the confidence of international investors, facilitating the attraction of foreign investments, reducing borrowing costs, and enhancing confidence in the national economy.
The process of raising the credit rating contributes to supporting structural reforms and enhancing the ability to obtain financing from international institutions. It is an important indicator of the state’s ability to meet its obligations, which encourages sustainable economic development.
A few days ago, Fitch Ratings confirmed in its latest report that it had maintained Iraq’s sovereign rating at “B-” with a stable outlook, reflecting international confidence in the Iraqi economy’s ability to maintain its financial and credit stability despite current global and regional challenges.
In this regard, economic expert Alaa Fahd believes that the country needs investment, especially foreign investment, at the present stage, to carry out infrastructure projects and major projects, stressing the need to create a suitable environment for investment, whether legal, legislative, economic, or financial, by providing financial and banking facilities.
Government efforts
In an interview with Al-Sabah, Fahd expressed his hope that investment contracts would be free from corruption, as this would raise Iraq’s credit rating. He noted that the country is currently rated B- according to the latest report from the international credit rating agency Fitch, which confirmed that Iraq is a “stable environment.”
He explained that stability paves the way for a higher rating by creating a conducive financial environment, combating corruption, and establishing a suitable legislative framework to support investments. He emphasized that the steps taken by the government and the Central Bank, in cooperation with international financial institutions, to attract investment, particularly in sectors that generate profits and economic savings, such as the Development Road, the Faw Port, and also investment in the oil sector and manufacturing industries, as well as investment in the housing sector, economic cities, smart cities, and the banking sector, have contributed to achieving this rating.
Ways of cooperation
The spokesperson added that many countries have greatly benefited from foreign investment, emphasizing the importance of providing government support and finding avenues for cooperation to ensure investment becomes a driving force in Iraq, as many other countries have achieved, creating an attractive investment environment by eliminating bureaucracy. In this context, Dr. Maitham Adham Al-Zubaidi, Vice President of the Competition and Monopoly Council, stated that attracting investment to Iraq requires addressing the structural factors that influence investor decisions, primarily reforming the banking system, ensuring exchange rate stability, and establishing clear monetary policy. He noted that these factors play a crucial role in building trust and providing a predictable financial environment.
Al-Zubaidi told Al-Sabah that reform remains incomplete unless it is complemented by strengthening governance and transparency, especially in the Iraq Stock Exchange, by protecting shareholders’ rights, ensuring disclosure, and transforming the market into a real tool for financing companies and not just a limited trading platform with an economic concentration in the banking sector to the exclusion of other sectors. He pointed out that simplifying administrative procedures is a necessity of no less importance, as the multiplicity of granting bodies and licensing committees and the conflict of classifications of economic activities constitute a burden on the investor.
Pivotal steps
He added that unifying activity classification systems among licensing and business registration bodies and regulatory authorities, such as the ISIC4 system, is a pivotal step toward reducing overlaps, preventing conflicting interpretations, and building a unified government economic data portal accessible to the public. This portal will accurately serve investors and feasibility study makers. He emphasized that infrastructure, particularly in communications and transportation networks, forms the foundation upon which any economic activity rests, and its development requires liberalizing competition and preventing monopolies, along with effective regulation that ensures a level playing field. By linking these three paths within a clear governance framework, Iraq can transition from an economy that repels investment to one that is attractive and sustainable.
Alsabaah.iq