Iraq’s Ministry of Finance announced the launch of national sovereign bonds worth a total of 2 trillion dinars, marking a significant move towards deepening the country’s financial markets. The bonds, available from February 10 to March 10, 2025, are divided into two categories: the first is valued at 500,000 dinars with a 6% annual interest rate and a two-year maturity, while the second is issued at 1,000,000 dinars with a 7.5% annual interest rate and a four-year maturity. Interest on both bonds will be paid every six months. Notably, these bonds are tradable on the Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX), providing citizens and companies a unique opportunity to invest in stable, fixed-income instruments.

This bond issuance represents a pivotal shift in Iraq’s financial landscape, as it is the first time such securities have been issued directly by the Ministry of Finance, rather than through the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI). These medium-term bonds align with the objectives outlined in the Third Strategic Plan for 2024-2026, which emphasized the development of medium- (2-10 years) and long-term (10-30 years) securities to support an open economy and eventual currency revaluation. Although these offerings appear to be designed primarily for domestic investors—with no mention of international participation—they signal a major step forward for Iraq’s financial market modernization and its move towards greater economic openness.

@MelaniastasiaRomanov✅