KRG Council of Ministers discuss economic cooperation with Iraq
The meeting's primary focus was on reviewing the outcomes of the recent joint meeting held in Erbil on September 8-9, between the Iraqi and Kurdistan Region Economic Councils.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Prime Minister Masrour Barzani presided over a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday, marking significant developments in ongoing economic cooperation with the Federal Government of Iraq.
At the outset of the meeting, Prime Minister Barzani commemorated the 63rd anniversary of the September Revolution, led by the late Mullah Mustafa Barzani. He emphasized the revolution's significance as a unifying national movement for all Kurdish communities.
The meeting's primary focus was on reviewing the outcomes of the recent joint meeting held in Erbil on September 8-9, between the Iraqi and Kurdistan Region Economic Councils. Discussions centered on the implementation of key decisions and recommendations made by both councils. The goal is to remove any obstacles, particularly from Iraq’s Federal Ministry of Finance, that could delay the payment of salaries to Kurdistan Region civil servants.
Notably, the Iraqi Council of Ministers welcomed the progress from the joint meeting and reaffirmed its commitment to continue salary disbursements through the Federal Ministry of Finance, a decision also ratified at their most recent session.
The KRG Council of Ministers highlighted the importance of completing the registration of job numbers and forwarding them to the Federal Ministry of Finance to facilitate the release of suspended salaries from previous months. Preparations for the September salary disbursement were also discussed.
Several KRG ministers, including those from the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Labor and Social Affairs, Agriculture and Water Resources, Interior, Natural Resources, Planning, and Justice, provided updates on their discussions with their federal counterparts. These discussions covered key sectors such as agriculture, trade, customs, oil, energy, and banking, with a shared commitment to resolving outstanding issues for the benefit of both governments.
The KRG Cabinet instructed its ministers to continue working through joint committees with their federal counterparts to finalize tasks and establish a mutual understanding in line with the constitution.
Prime Minister Barzani expressed optimism about the positive tone of the meetings, hoping they would mark the start of a long-term solution to the economic challenges between the KRG and Baghdad. He underscored the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to its constitutional duties while expecting reciprocal respect for its rights within Iraq's federal framework.
The meeting concluded with the Council of Ministers instructing the Kurdistan Region Economic Council to endorse the recommendations from the joint meeting and prepare for a follow-up session with the Iraqi Economic Council in Baghdad.