The Iraqi Private Banks League participated, with a delegation headed by Mr. Wadee al-Handel, in the Arab-European Banking and Economic Summit 2026, which was hosted by the French capital Paris, organized by the Union of Arab Banks and under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron.

This active participation came to highlight the most prominent global financial challenges and to promote economic partnerships, while emphasizing the pivotal role that Iraq and its government play in crisis management and advancing sustainable development.

During the summit, al-Handel praised the formation of Iraq’s new government led by Mr. Ali al-Zaidi, describing it as a decisive step at a stage that requires strategic economic vision and serious action.

The emergence of the government’s leadership from within the private and banking sectors offers grounds for optimism and represents a genuine shift toward a modern management approach based on efficiency and swift decision-making, he noted.

The presence of banking expertise at the highest levels of government will ensure exceptional resource management and stimulate economic activity through well-designed scientific mechanisms, al-Handel added, affirming the League’s and the private sector’s full support for this promising vision aimed at securing a more prosperous and stable future for Iraq.

The Iraqi delegation also outlined to the international community the significant economic challenges facing the country, placing particular emphasis on the government’s exceptional role in containing current crises.

Al-Handel highlighted the sweeping structural reforms led by the Central Bank of Iraq to modernize the banking sector and reintegrate restricted banks into the global financial system.

The reform plan included evaluating the first phase through bank capital increases, reassessing branches of foreign banks, and issuing regulations for licensing digital banks, he said.

Government and Central Bank efforts to support digital transformation and financial inclusion have produced unprecedented results that reflect the resilience of Iraq’s financial sector. The number of bank accounts has surpassed 15 million, more than 20 million banking cards have been issued, and nearly 179,000 electronic payment devices have been deployed. Meanwhile, electronic government collections have exceeded 15 trillion Iraqi dinars.