Baghdad, Iraq- Iraq’s Finance Minister, Taif Sami, underscored the importance of regional and international cooperation in tackling the escalating economic challenges facing countries globally.
In her remarks at the Ninth Public Finance Forum in Arab Countries, which took place in the UAE and was organized by the UAE Ministry of Finance in partnership with the Arab Monetary Fund and the International Monetary Fund, Sami highlighted the urgent need for flexible financial policies. These policies are crucial to navigating the uncertainties in the global economy while striving to balance development goals, financial sustainability, and climate action.
The forum, which is part of the World Government Summit 2025’s preliminary activities, brought together Arab finance ministers, economists, and officials from international and regional financial institutions.
Sami further emphasized the role of structural reforms in strengthening financial stability and ensuring the sustainability of public spending. She also called for the enhancement of financial policies to improve the efficiency of public spending and increase financial transparency.
She also reaffirmed the importance of regional and international collaboration in helping Arab nations confront their economic challenges and achieve sustainable development.
The forum, titled “Public Finance Resilience in an Uncertain World”, explored a wide range of topics, including the impact of the macroeconomy on public finance, the pressures of debt, financial policies to combat climate change, and tax reforms to adapt to economic transformations.
Discussions also focused on financing sustainable development and the roles that regional and international financial institutions can play in supporting Arab countries to reach their economic objectives. Additionally, there were deliberations on the challenges and opportunities related to adopting modern financial technologies aimed at promoting digital transformation within the financial sector.
The forum concluded with a ministerial roundtable where finance ministers from Arab nations, along with officials from the International Monetary Fund and the Arab Monetary Fund, discussed the frameworks for regional financial cooperation and set priorities for the next phase of economic and financial policy development.
