Baghdad: The Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, conducted its 44th regular session, where it deliberated on the nation’s current circumstances and reviewed various agenda items, resulting in several key decisions.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, one pivotal decision was to suspend official working hours on November 11, 2025, for the parliamentary elections. In the agricultural domain, the Cabinet approved a comprehensive plan for the 2025-2026 winter season, intending to cultivate one million dunams with surface water alongside 3.5 million dunams with groundwater. The plan mandates modern irrigation for wheat cultivation and restricts the Ministry of Trade from accepting wheat outside the designated agricultural plan.
Additionally, the Cabinet amended Resolution No. 881 of 2025 to increase seed subsidies to 60%, aiming to alleviate farmers’ costs and promote certified seed usage. In aviation, the Cabinet authorized negotiations and signing of an agreement with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to implement the Billing and Settlement System (BSP) for air travel activities in Iraq, revising Resolution No. 575 of 2025.
The Cabinet also endorsed recommendations to activate Apple Pay services, allowing required documents from the parent company in lieu of a commercial registration certificate for licensing by the Communications and Media Commission, exempting the company from certain foreign branch regulations. Furthermore, it authorized funding for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organize the International Conference in Support of Victims of Terrorism in Baghdad in 2026, in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism.
In legislative matters, the Cabinet supported Iraq’s accession to the Arab Customs Cooperation Agreement, forwarding the draft law to the Council of Representatives. Additionally, it approved the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) document, instructing the Ministry of Environment to present it to the UNFCCC Secretariat for formal adoption at COP30 in Brazil, underscoring Iraq’s commitment to international climate change cooperation.