Baghdad: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani chaired the 52nd regular session of the Cabinet, where important decisions were made regarding various sectors, including the pharmaceutical industry and customs duties on imports.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Cabinet approved the merger of the current members of the Pharmaceutical Council with the Higher Committee for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry as part of efforts to enhance the pharmaceutical sector. Representatives from the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, the Customs Authority, and the Pharmacists Syndicate will also join this merger.

In a move to protect local industries, the Cabinet imposed an additional customs duty of 40% on medical and industrial oxygen imports, effective for four years. Similarly, a 30% customs duty will be levied on yogurt and liquid milk imports, with implementation starting 120 days from the decision’s issuance, aiming to safeguard local food products.

The Cabinet authorized t
he Minister of Foreign Affairs to sign a draft Memorandum of Understanding for the closure plan of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and to handle transitional security needs related to the handover of the mission’s compound in Baghdad.

To support economic city projects, the Cabinet approved measures allowing investing companies to sell off-plan, mandating the opening of an escrow account for sales proceeds, and requiring relevant investment authorities to issue conditional investment licenses based on a project financing plan.

Additionally, the Cabinet addressed the completion of stalled projects and infrastructure development, approving increased costs and contingency funds for projects such as the rehabilitation of Al-Zahraa Teaching Hospital, development of Al-Tarbiya Street, and improvement of sewage networks in the city of Hit in Anbar Governorate.