Types of agreements monitored by the Agreements Department of the Iraqi Fund for International Development

First: Joint Committees:

These are joint committees between the governments of two countries, usually chaired by a minister. They focus on economic and trade aspects and various areas of cooperation between Iraq and other countries. Their membership includes representatives from several ministries and relevant bodies. They meet alternately in both countries and conclude their work with the signing of a joint report, which is then implemented after government approval.

The Agreements Department monitors the work of joint committees in more than (100) countries. Most of these committees were suspended due to the change in the political situation in Iraq in 2003. Intense efforts began to rebuild economic and financial relations with some countries around the world and Iraq's openness to the world, which called for the revival and activation of joint committees with them. Joint committees have been activated with 30 Arab and non-Arab countries, and efforts are ongoing to activate the remaining committees. The active committees are with the following countries: Jordan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Mauritania, Sudan, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Ukraine, China, Russia, Belarus, France, New Zealand, Germany, Vietnam, Korea, Senegal, Poland, the Philippines, Austria, Italy, and Morocco.

The department is working to activate other committees with countries around the world, including Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and Qatar.

Second: Specialized Financial Agreements:

There are two types of agreements. These are studied, opinions are expressed, and economic and technical observations are established on draft agreements submitted to the Ministry. The matter is followed up with relevant Ministry departments and higher authorities, such as the State Shura Council and the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, and the necessary approvals are obtained to authorize His Excellency the Minister to sign them. Some of these agreements have been signed, others are awaiting signature, and another group is on track to be signed after obtaining the necessary approvals.

These agreements are as follows:

1. Customs agreements and free trade zones, totaling three agreements each for Jordan, Syria, and Iran.

2. Double taxation avoidance agreements, which are being followed up in coordination with the General Tax Authority and the Legal Department. These agreements total five agreements each for Jordan, Oman, the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Council of Arab Economic Unity.

Third: Economic, Financial, and Scientific Cooperation Agreements:

These are 17 bilateral agreements covering various areas of financial, commercial, scientific, and technical cooperation, and concern Jordan, Oman, Iran, Turkey, Kuwait, Mexico, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Common Market of Latin American and Caribbean States (MERCOSUR), China, Spain, Romania, Poland, Bahrain, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Slovakia. In addition, various international agreements are submitted to the department by various parties for economic and technical advice.