Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein Chairs the Thirteenth Session of the Ministerial Council for the Economy

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, H.E. Mr. Fuad Hussein, chaired on Monday, 6 April 2026, the thirteenth session of the Ministerial Council for the Economy, held at the Council’s headquarters. The meeting was attended by the Ministers of Finance; Industry and Minerals (acting for Planning); Water Resources (acting for Agriculture); Labor and Social Affairs; the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers; the Governor of the Central Bank; the Chairman of the Securities Commission; the Deputy Chairman of the National Investment Commission; the Deputy Minister of Oil for Distribution Affairs; and the Prime Minister’s advisors for economic and legal affairs.

The Council also hosted the Ministers of Construction, Housing and Municipalities, and Justice, along with the Prime Minister’s advisors for customs and border crossings; the Chairman of the Border Ports Commission; the Director General of the General Customs Authority; the Director General of the General Tax Authority; and the National Team for the implementation of the (ASYCUDA) system.

In addition, the Council hosted a delegation from the Kurdistan Region, including the Secretary of the Council of Ministers of the Region; the Head of the Council of Ministers’ Diwan; the Head of the Kurdistan Region Representation; an advisor from the Ministry of Finance; the Director General of Customs; the Director General of Follow-up and Coordination; and the heads of chambers of commerce of the provinces of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Halabja. The meeting aimed to discuss the unification of customs procedures at all border crossings.

H.E. the Chairman welcomed the guests, noting that Iraq is facing security, economic, and trade challenges due to the ongoing war conditions in the region. H.E. stressed the importance of unifying efforts and positions during this sensitive and exceptional period.

For his part, the Secretary of the Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan Region conveyed the Region’s government’s appreciation and thanks to the Ministerial Council for the Economy and the Council of Ministers for hosting the delegation. He emphasized the Region’s support for all government efforts to enhance customs systems and automate procedures, contributing to enhanced transparency, improved institutional performance, and increased public revenues.

The Council then discussed mechanisms for implementing the (ASYCUDA) system at the Region’s border crossings and agreed to unify customs policy, including tariffs and measures to protect national products, in a manner that serves the public interest and enhances transparency.

The Council also decided to form a technical delegation from the General Directorate of Customs in the Kurdistan Region to meet with the national team responsible for implementing the advance declaration system at the Ministry of Finance. The aim is to discuss technical mechanisms for unifying procedures, while taking into account the legal framework and applicable laws in the Kurdistan Region. Both teams are to submit a report to the Ministerial Council for the Economy next week for an appropriate decision.

In a related context, the Council decided to designate the Trebil border crossing as an approved entry point for imported gold into the country, pending the lifting of the airspace restrictions resulting from military operations in the region.