BAGHDAD: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani chaired the forty-third session of the Council of Ministers, where several significant decisions were made regarding Iraq’s economic, developmental, and service sectors. The council focused on implementing government program priorities and addressed various agenda items.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, a prominent decision was the allocation of 62 billion dinars to the 2025 budget to support Iraqi students studying in international universities. This funding aims to ensure these students have the resources needed to complete their studies.

The Council also approved an exemption for the oil pipeline road paving project south of Baghdad from a previous Cabinet resolution. This decision was influenced by the presence of schools and residential areas along the route, which is vital for the maintenance of oil pipelines and the movement of security patrols.

In the oil sector, the Council agreed to change the contract method for a hydrogenation unit and ga
soline improvement project in Kirkuk Governorate. The new method, “build, operate and transfer” (BOOT), replaces the previous “build, own and operate” (BOO) model, with a refining fee set at 23 dollars per barrel.

To advance Iraq’s telecommunications infrastructure, the Council decided to form a team led by the Minister of Communications. This team will negotiate with international companies experienced with 5G technology to select operators for the national mobile phone license project.

On the security front, the Council allocated 12 billion dinars from the emergency reserve to complete three Coast Guard boats, in line with the Tripartite Budget Law. Additionally, it revised a previous decision on supporting the Energy Police Directorate’s formations, allowing the Ministry of Interior to handle contractual procedures and secure necessary funding from oil companies.

In residential development, the Council canceled a previous decision and tasked the Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Municipalities with
announcing investment opportunities for residential complexes. The ministry will calculate expenditures as a competitive baseline for investor bids, excluding depreciation.