Baghdad:The Ministerial Council for Economy has advised postponing fees and taxes associated with the Gulf electrical interconnection project. This recommendation was made during the fifteenth session of the council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Mohammed Tamim, held at the council’s headquarters.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the session was attended by various key figures including the Ministers of Finance, Planning, Digital Economy and Governance, Agriculture, Labor and Social Affairs, Tourism and Antiquities, the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, the Chairman of the Iraq Securities Commission, the Deputy Minister of Oil, the Executive Director of the Iraq Development Fund, and the Legal Advisor to the Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the council’s crucial role in economic policy formulation, addressing challenges, and overcoming obstacles to development plans, stating that the primary upcoming challenge is economic in nature.

The council also hosted officials including the Deputy Minister of Trade and directors from the General Company for Foodstuff Trading and the State Company for Marketing Drugs and Medical Appliances (Kimadia). They reviewed plans to secure essential needs such as food, medicine, and petroleum products, ensuring that strategic reserves are sufficient to meet the citizens’ needs.

Additionally, an advisor from the Ministry of Electricity discussed the Gulf electrical interconnection project, intended to address the electricity crisis, strengthen the national grid, and diversify energy sources. The council recommended deferring fees and taxes to facilitate project completion.

A ministerial committee will be formed to assess public-sector companies, evaluate their operations, and suggest improvements to enhance performance.