Full decisions of the cabinet session

Baghdad-INA  
Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, chaired the 26th Regular Session of the Council of Ministers today. During the session, the Council of Ministers discussed the country's general situation, the most prominent issues, and the items on the agenda and the progress of the government's program and issued several decisions. The media office of the prime minister said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
 
At the start of the session, Prime Minister emphasized the critical importance of the next six months for the government. It is crucial to sustain the momentum of implementing the government program, particularly following the recent approval of the three-year Federal Budget Bill.
 
Al-Sudani has instructed ministries and government agencies to implement measures aimed at reducing delegations, particularly those involving ministers and deputy ministers. The noticeable increase in delegations has been impacting the efficiency of ministry operations.
 
Prime Minister also urged his team to maintain their dedication to their roles beyond official working hours. It is important for leadership staff to be present in their ministries and work stations tirelessly day and night, disregarding vacations or the end of working hours.
 
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of officials actively listening to citizens, as it will bolster the ministers' work program and expedite progress. Furthermore, there is a need to confront and expose individuals who engage in blackmail, regardless of their official or unofficial titles.
 
The Council thoroughly reviewed the agenda's topics and issued a set of decisions.
 
Regarding the regulation of foreign labor in Iraq, the Council of Ministers has decided to amend Cabinet Resolution (119 of 2021) as modified by Cabinet Resolution (283 of 2022). The amendment includes the addition of a member from the Ministry of Interior to the Higher Committee for Planning and Operating the Workforce, specifically concerning the residency of foreign workers.
 
 In the sector of import regulation and administrative reform, the Council of Ministers has endorsed the recommendation of the Ministerial Council for Economy No. (230128 s), as outlined below:
 
 1. The Council of Ministers has decided to exclude all foodstuffs from Paragraph (2) of Cabinet Resolution (23055) for the year 2023, based on the Ministry of Health's letter.
 
2. The Council of Ministers has also reaffirmed the approval of pre-examination certificates from authorized bodies within the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Planning/Central Agency for Standardization and Quality Control.
 
The Council of Ministers has additionally approved the exemption of military shipments from the procedures of the audit team, established under Cabinet Resolution (23037) for the year 2023. This resolution specifically addresses requests for exemption from all customs duties.
 
 The Council of Ministers considered a number of topics on its agenda and took the following decisions:
 
First, the Council of Ministers has approved the Bill for Intellectual Property Protection, which underwent examination by the State Council. The bill will now be forwarded to the Council of Representatives in accordance with constitutional provisions, while considering the feedback received from the legal department in the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.
 
Second, the Council of Ministers has granted approval for the donation of fixed assets, including furniture and equipment, from the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works to the road departments of several governorates, namely Diyala, Karbala, Babil, Dhi Qar, and Wasit. This decision aligns with the provisions outlined in previous Cabinet resolutions, specifically (206 of 2019) and (340 of 2021).
 
Third, the Council of Ministers has endorsed the recommendation put forth by the Ministerial Council for Human Development (23013) for the year 2023. The recommendation includes the approval of the study and proposals presented by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities pertaining to the advancement of tourism activities, with particular consideration given to religious tourism.
 
Fourth, the Council of Ministers has granted approval to a bill for the ratification of the strategic partnership treaty between the Republic of Iraq and the French Republic. The bill will be forwarded to the Council of Representatives, in accordance with the constitutional provisions.
 
Fifth, the Council of Ministers has approved authorizing Mr. Mohammed Hussein Mohamed Bahr Al-Uloum, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Bilateral Relations, to negotiate and sign the following agreements:
 
1. A memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, focusing on the elimination of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports.
 
2. A memorandum of understanding for conducting political consultations on shared interests between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Republic of Iraq and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the State of Qatar, in accordance with Cabinet Resolution (245 of 2022).