Baghdad: Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi welcomed Ben Black, the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), along with his delegation, at his residence in Washington, D.C. The meeting focused on exploring potential collaborations and investment opportunities to transform and diversify the Iraqi economy.

According to Iraqi News Agency, the Prime Minister's Media Office released a statement highlighting the discussions between Iraq and DFC. The two parties explored opportunities for cooperation, emphasizing infrastructure reconstruction and expanding financing partnerships for developmental initiatives. These efforts aim to rejuvenate the Iraqi economy, with a particular focus on sectors such as energy, transportation, agriculture, the digital economy, and services. The talks also covered the transition to the implementation phase of these projects.

Prime Minister Al-Zaidi underscored the government's dedication to diversifying the Iraqi economy, emphasizing the need to align with global advancements. He advocated for projects supporting the Development Fund, particularly those focusing on the digital economy. Initiatives discussed include the creation of integrated digital government platforms, expansion of electronic payment services, establishment of national centers for specialized data, and investments in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The Prime Minister highlighted the crucial role U.S. companies can play in accelerating Iraq's digital transformation.

In response, Mr. Black expressed DFC's enthusiasm to enter the Iraqi market, offering a range of financing partnerships for investment projects. He confirmed DFC's commitment to contributing to the Iraqi Development Fund and supporting U.S. companies in forming partnerships across Iraq's development sectors.