Digital Economy Minister Highlights Ministry's Role in Boosting National Revenue and Digital Sovereignty

The Minister of Digital Economy and Governance, Mohamed Sahib Al-Darraji, emphasized that the establishment of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Governance is a response to a genuine economic need rather than a political decision or luxury, stating that the ministry aims to become the second largest source of financial inputs for Iraq after oil. During his participation in the Digital Economy Stability Forum, Al-Darraji explained that current global transformations revolve around two main axes: the first concerns global trade routes and the shift towards renewable energy instead of fossil fuels, while the second involves what is known as "soft war," relying on digitization, governance, and artificial intelligence. He added that Iraq needs to prepare for this global shift, whose signs began to emerge after the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of e-commerce, stressing that the ministry is not a luxury but an economic necessity that has been in development for more than a year and a half. He pointed out that the ministry focuses on converting paper processes into digital ones, transitioning from using technology in administration to managing the state through technology, which helps reduce waste and simplify procedures. He confirmed that the ministry seeks to increase the local product, diversify income sources, and boost Iraq's revenues, considering the goal of being second only to oil in financial inputs not an ambition but a duty given the global trend towards digital economy, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence. He indicated that the volume of e-commerce in Iraq for 2025 is estimated at about five and a half billion dollars, questioning how the state benefits from this commerce, which mostly takes place through data centers and applications outside the country. He stressed that the ministry's main objectives are to catch up with global developments, diversify and increase income sources, and achieve digital sovereignty. He noted that the ministry was formed from existing centers comprising scientists, figures, and scientific talents, with employees joining from other ministries while retaining their privileges and entitlements. He concluded by stating that the ministry represents the future of government administration, and it is the responsibility of his team to lead it to be a pioneer in state management without encroaching on the powers of other ministries and authorities, affirming that the ministry's tasks are clear and aim to complement the work of all other ministries to achieve government and state success.