Under the patronage of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), the Iraqi Private Banks League hosted a meeting that brought together Arab and foreign ambassadors, representatives of international organizations operating in Iraq, and Iraqi banks, in the presence of the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Ammar Hamad.

Also present were the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of UNAMI, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hassan; Head of the European Union Mission in Iraq, Thomas Seiler; and Ali Elbereir Head of the UNODC Iraq Office. Ambassadors from Sweden, Germany, France, Japan, Switzerland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE also participated.

In his address, Dr. Al-Hassan stated that the meeting precedes the upcoming “Arab celebration”—a reference to the Arab League Summit—and marks the beginning of a stronger engagement between Iraq’s banking sector and the international community, stressing that no economy can function without a strong banking system. He also thanked the Iraqi Private Banks League for organizing the gathering, commending the ambassadors’ constructive engagement.

On his part, Wadee Al-Handel, the Chairman of the Iraqi Private Banks League, described the meeting as a pivotal moment in Iraq’s financial and economic transformation. He emphasized its aim to strengthen the banking sector’s ties with international and diplomatic partners, fostering a transparent and compliant financial environment with international standards capable of supporting sustainable development, stimulating investment, and serving segments that the banking services have not covered yet.

 "We believe that building bridges of trust with the international community begins with constructive dialogue and mutual cooperation. From this perspective, the Iraqi banking sector continues its solid partnerships with your prestigious financial institutions, seeking to open broader horizons for investment and enhance stability and shared prosperity," Al-Handel stated, extending his sincere appreciation to Dr. Al-Hassan for his significant efforts in rallying international support to advance Iraq’s stability, support reform processes, and consolidate the principles of human rights and sound governance.

Al-Handel noted that Iraqi banks are seeking direct dialogues with their foreign counterparts—under UN auspices—to forge new partnerships that benefit both Iraq's and the partners' economies. These efforts include expanding correspondent banking, financing development projects, accelerating digital transformation, issuing green bonds, and attracting strategic investment to bolster long-term stability.

Ali Tariq, Executive Director of the Iraqi Private Banks League, presented recent developments in the banking sector, reporting that deposits have reached 120 trillion dinars, credit has climbed to 73 trillion dinars, and electronic payments surged from nearly $1 billion annually to approximately $17 billion in 2024.