Shafaq News- Washington
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi pressed for expanded US financing andinvestment in Iraq across a series of meetings in Washington, his media office said on Wednesday.
Al-Zaidi discussed with Ben Black, chief executive of the US InternationalDevelopment Finance Corporation (DFC), the institution's participation ininfrastructure reconstruction and financing partnerships across the energy,transportation, agriculture, digital economy, and services sectors. Blackaffirmed readiness to enter the Iraqi market and tocontribute to the Iraqi Development Fund, a state investment vehicle.
The Iraqi government announced the fund last month at a lower figure. Government spokesman Haidar al-Aboudi said the Council of Ministers hadapproved a development fund project backed by international guarantees andcontributions valued at $150 billion, intended to deliver economic stabilitythrough investment.
During a meeting with US Treasury Secretary ScottBessent, al-Zaidi said Iraq was entering a new phase focusedon building a sovereign state free of corruption, and Iraqis would see resultsover the coming year in energy, investment, and stability, alongside reform ofthe banking, insurance, tax, and customs sectors. Bessent expressed US support for shifting the bilateral relationshipfrom a military presence toward investment and economicdevelopment.
Al-Zaidi also held talks with a group of former US ambassadors to Iraq.
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