Al-Sudani: Completing the lagging projects is a matter for discussion by the government, and these are the benefits of the tripartite general budget

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani confirmed that completing the lagging projects is a matter for discussion by the government, and these are the benefits of the tripartite general budget.

He said in a press conference that the delayed projects had been activated, and their number reached 1,321 projects, costing 23 trillion dinars, and confidence had been given to the implementing companies that there would be no interruption to work.

He stressed that for the first time in the history of budgets, the disbursement rate exceeds 50% for the year 2023, stressing that the budget tools have provided sovereign guarantees to the private sector.

He explained that we signed contracts and understandings with financial institutions in Japan, Germany and Italy. A development fund was also established and a new type of partnerships was created with the private sector.

He stressed the increase in repayment of Iraq’s debt and the raising of the level of credit, as we have paid more than 16 trillion dinars in debt ow
ed by Iraq.

Al-Sudani revealed the problems that the government faced in implementing the general budget, and there are legislative obstacles and administrative procedures related to financial disbursement. We also faced difficulty in creating an appropriate business environment to confront these challenges.

He explained that there is a delay in the general budget, including the failure in the tourism sector, which we did not develop in the required manner, and the failure to establish government universities, and we have a real delay in the file of operating and managing hospitals, as well as a delay in the contracts for operating the Basra water desalination project.

Al-Sudani spoke about the increase in general budget expenditures. Expenditures have increased from 197-211 trillion dinars, as salaries have increased at a rate of 2 trillion and 915 billion dinars for the year 2024, and the total increase in operating expenditures has reached 7 trillion dinars.

He continued, ‘We need real solutions to the
deficit in the general budget, and those with high incomes must contribute with the state in taxes and spare the state from any financial consequences.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency