Prime Minister Reaffirms Economic Reform Agenda – Will Iraq's Fintech Sector Be Part of the Reform?
In a notable news briefing published by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) on 16 July 2026, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi reaffirmed the government's commitment to pursuing its "bold" economic reform program and improving the country's investment environment. The statement has sparked renewed debate among economic experts and the public over whether these reforms will extend to Iraq's rapidly expanding financial technology (Fintech) sector.
According to market observers, despite the remarkable growth of electronic payments in recent years, the sector is showing signs of what some describe as "disguised monopolization." A limited number of companies are believed to dominate key segments of the market, including public-sector salary disbursements and government payment collection contracts.
This has placed the government's reform agenda under close scrutiny. Analysts are questioning whether policymakers will be willing to review existing licenses and introduce stricter oversight of the fees and commissions imposed by digital payment providers—charges that many citizens argue have become an increasing financial burden. Others wonder whether the fintech industry will remain a "protected sector," largely untouched by broader economic reforms.
Public frustration has also been growing over practices that many Iraqis perceive as exploitative, with critics arguing that no meaningful economic reform can succeed without stronger consumer protection against excessive charges imposed by digital financial service providers.
Meanwhile, financial circles are closely watching for a new package of regulatory measures that could reshape competition within Iraq's fintech market, which has increasingly become a battleground between the country's drive toward digitalization and the need to safeguard the rights and interests of ordinary citizens.