The Cabinet issues decisions and recommendations

INA - BAGHDAD 

Prime Minister Muhammed S. Al-Sudani chaired on Monday, the 41st Regular Session of the Cabinet. They discussed the nation's current situation, tracked progress on national issues, reviewed government program priorities, and addressed agenda items, issuing relevant decisions and recommendations.

At the outset of the session, the Prime Minister discussed recent developments in the occupied Palestinian territories. He reiterated Iraq's unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and the resilience of the Palestinian people. He stated that the Palestinian uprising is a direct consequence of the longstanding injustices they have endured, according to a statement by the Prime Minister Media Office, received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

The Prime Minister also expressed regret over the international community's inconsistency in enforcing its decisions and maintaining silence in the face of violations and crimes against the Palestinian people and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Prime Minister also mentioned his ongoing dialogues with Arab leaders and the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs' active engagement with Arab and Islamic nations. Discussions are underway to convene either an Arab League meeting or an Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit.
The Cabinet voted on a series of decisions and recommendations outlined in the session's agenda. 

In line with the government's commitment to addressing the housing crisis, the Cabinet has approved projects for building four new residential cities by specialized international and domestic companies. These projects align with the recommendations of the ministerial team, established under Cabinet Resolution (23121) of 2023. The cities are as follows:
- Al-Jawahiri City in Baghdad Governorate
- Difaf Karbala City in Karbala Governorate
- Al-Ghazlani City in Nineveh Governorate
- The New Gardens in Babel Governorate.

The Cabinet has decided to allocate 15% of the housing units for the benefit of the state. This marks the first instance where a specific percentage of housing units has been designated as part of the government's comprehensive efforts to address the housing crisis.
Furthermore, the Cabinet has mandated that the prices of units within the aforementioned new cities will be set at a fixed price, exempt from bidding or trading. Investors will be restricted from selling more than 1% of the housing units to any other company or individual, thereby ensuring price stability.

In support of the Ministry of Interior's efforts to enhance the readiness of the Civil Defense Directorate, the Cabinet has approved the allocation of 25 billion dinars from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Interior, sourced from the emergency budget fund. These funds will be directed towards the investment budget of the Civil Defense Directorate, enabling the construction of 100 cost-effective civil defense centers, with each center priced at 250 million dinars. These projects will be exempt from the contracting procedures outlined in Government Contracts Implementation Instructions No. 2 of 2014.

Additionally, the Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Finance to allocate 25 billion dinars to the Ministry of Interior. This allocation is intended for the procurement of fire trucks, with all necessary equipment. These funds will be drawn from the emergency budget fund, by the Federal Budget Law for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025. The procurement will be carried out in collaboration with reputable international companies specializing in water and foam spraying equipment. It is important to note that these purchases will be exempt from the contracting procedures stipulated in Government Contracts Implementation Instructions No. 2 of 2014.

As part of the government's efforts to address the shortage of school buildings, the Cabinet has approved several measures related to the allocation of land for school construction:
1. The Minister of Agriculture is granted authority to empower provincial agricultural directors to exclude land intended exclusively for school building projects from land reform and to facilitate the transfer of land ownership for school construction.
2. The Diwani Order Committee (23527 of 2023) is tasked with allocating land for service, health, and educational projects, including school buildings. 
3. The Ministry of Finance is directed to allocate sufficient funds to the Ministry of Education to cover fees, taxes, and expenses associated with land transfer, allocation, or ownership transfer exclusively for school building projects.
4. Education directorates are responsible for completing administrative procedures with relevant departments concerning land donations and payment of associated fees, taxes, and expenses. The donor should not bear any additional costs related to the donated land for school construction.
5. Governors, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Public Service Council, are instructed to create and allocate three job positions for land donors who contribute to the construction of schools or their close relatives.
6. All ministries, government institutions, and endowment offices are mandated to transfer ownership of lands designated for school buildings and educational purposes to the Ministry of Education without compensation, by the provisions of the Ministry of Education Law (22 of 2011).
7. The Department of National Projects and School Buildings within the General Secretariat of the Cabinet will oversee the implementation of this decision in collaboration with relevant authorities.

In line with the government's commitment to ensure the availability of ration card items, the Cabinet has made the decision to allocate funding to the General Foodstuff Trade Company, a department of the Ministry of Trade. An amount of $1,320,000,000 has been approved for this purpose, in accordance with the provisions outlined in the three-year Federal Budget Law of the Republic of Iraq.

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance to negotiate and sign the draft framework agreement with the European Investment Bank, taking into account the opinion of the Council of State.

In support of bolstering national production, the Cabinet has approved the recommendations outlined in Ministerial Council for the Economy No. (230226) pertaining to the prohibition of importing juices, soft drinks, and various types of pastries. The following measures have been adopted:

1. The exclusion of juice products, soft drinks, and pastries of all kinds from import lists is authorized. It is stipulated that this decision will be reevaluated after one year by the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, specifically by the Department of Industrial Development and Regulation. The review will assess the impact of this decision on the local market, whether positive or negative. If the evaluation yields positive results, the decision will remain in effect until there is a genuine need to reconsider it in the future.

2. The implementation of this decision will commence after a 90-day period, starting from the date of its issuance. This timeline applies to pastries of all kinds. However, the existing prohibition on importing juices and soft drinks will continue as is.

3. Domestic producers are instructed to continue submitting protection requests for the products covered by this decision to safeguard their interests and support domestic production.

Regarding the protection of Baghdad International Airport, the Cabinet has approved the recommendations from a meeting aimed at enhancing airport security procedures:

1. The Civil Aviation Authority is directed to settle the dues owed to the Canadian company Biznis Intel from the commencement of its duties, as per the contract signed between them.

2. A work permit is granted to the Canadian company Biznis Intel in accordance with the provisions of the Private Security Companies Law No. (52) of 2017. This permit will be effective starting from October 1, 2023, as outlined in the Ministry of Interior's letter.

3. The Civil Aviation Authority is instructed to extend its contract with the aforementioned company for a period of six (6) months, commencing from the expiration date of the initial contract signed between them.

4. The Civil Aviation Authority is obligated to engage a reputable foreign security company through direct invitations to foreign companies.

To enhance electrical energy production, the Cabinet has given its approval to Ministerial Energy Council Recommendation No. 23089 of 2023, which entails:

The allocation of $202,576,000 to the Ministry of Electricity by the Ministry of Finance. This funding is designated for the rehabilitation of units 2 and 3 at the Al-Hartha thermal power station, as well as the rehabilitation of the gas power station. These projects are crucial for the supply of electrical energy to the national grid. The allocation aligns with the provisions of the three-year federal budget law, with the Ministry of Finance financing 50% of it for this year.

Additionally, the Cabinet has granted approval for an augmentation of the operational and maintenance budget allocations within the Ministry of Electricity. This increase is in accordance with the stipulations outlined in the three-year Federal Budget Law of the Republic of Iraq. The purpose of this augmentation is to settle debts owed by both the public and private sectors, with each sector receiving equal consideration at 50%.

In the pursuit of enhancing public service delivery, the Cabinet has decided to authorize the transfer of the project "Implementing the remaining works of the Al-Musayyib Water Project" to Al-Azza General Contracting Company. This transfer will be exempt from the procedures outlined in the government contracts implementation regulations for the year 2014 while maintaining the existing prices. A new timeline will be established, and calculated based on the remaining tasks of the project. The company is also obligated to maintain its existing Letter of Guarantee and provide additional guarantees to expedite the project's completion, all in the interest of public service.

The Cabinet has granted approval for the establishment of a public company named "Al-Mas General Company for Trade, Contracting, and Implementation of Defense Projects." This company will have a capital of twenty billion dinars and will operate under the purview of the Ministry of Defense. The capital will be allocated from the Ministry of Defense's budget for the year 2023. This decision is made in accordance with the provisions of the Public Companies Law (22) of 1997, as amended. The activities of the newly established company must align with Article (4) of the aforementioned Public Companies Law. The Ministry of Defense is tasked with undertaking the necessary actions as specified in the same article of the law.

In an effort to address the adverse effects of illegal immigration on Iraq, the Cabinet has approved a comprehensive national plan aimed at addressing illegal immigration. This plan is based on the letter from the Ministry of Migration and Displacement on October 4, 2023.

In the context of Iraq's foreign relations, the Cabinet has taken the following actions:

1. Authorization has been granted to the Minister of Trade to sign a draft agreement on economic, commercial, scientific, artistic, and cultural cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Iraq and the Government of the Republic of Zambia, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will prepare the necessary authorization document on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Iraq for the Minister of Trade, as per the approved terms. This document will be submitted to the General Secretariat of the Cabinet for the Prime Minister's signature.

3. A clause will be added to the aforementioned draft agreement, serving as an alternative to the Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Iraq and the Government of the Republic of Zambia, originally signed in 1979 and ratified by Law No. (11 of 1980).

Additionally, the Cabinet has approved a bill for the Republic of Iraq's accession to the Paris Agreement in 1928, along with its attached protocols. This bill will be forwarded to the Parliament for consideration, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. The submission will be accompanied by legal advice issued by the Council of State, following the provisions of the Treaty Contracting Law No. 35 of 2015 and State Council Law No. 65 of 1976.