Fitch affirms Iraq's credit rating at (B-) and praises "internal stability"

The Iraqi Ministry of Finance announced on Monday that the international credit rating agency Fitch has affirmed Iraq’s sovereign rating at (B-) with a “stable” outlook.

The ministry said in a statement, received by Shafaq News Agency, that this step reflects international confidence in the ability of the Iraqi economy to maintain its financial and credit stability despite the current global and regional challenges.

The ministry explained in its statement that the Fitch report highlighted positively the strength of internal stability in Iraq, noting that the internal situation has remained resilient and stable during the past months, which reflects the success of government policies in keeping the Iraqi arena neutral from regional conflicts and escalating tensions in the region.

The Iraqi Ministry of Finance added that the agency also noted the significant improvement in the security situation, which has strengthened the country’s ability to absorb successive geopolitical shocks, pointing out that oil revenues still constitute a major support for the Iraqi economy, providing a financial base that contributes to the sustainability of service provision and the running of state affairs.

The Ministry of Finance affirmed that maintaining the rating with a stable outlook provides an incentive to move forward with the implementation of the structural reforms adopted by the government, which aim to maximize non-oil revenues, improve the efficiency of public spending, and address the challenges associated with approving future budgets, thereby reducing financial uncertainty and enhancing the path of economic development.

The ministry renewed its commitment to working according to strategies aimed at diversifying sources of income and strengthening the pillars of the national economy, taking advantage of the state of security and political stability to enhance the confidence of international financial institutions in the future of the Iraqi economy.

A credit rating is an indicator of a country's ability to meet its financial obligations and repay its debts. Fitch Ratings' affirmation of Iraq's rating at (B-) means that the country is still able to repay, but it faces potential financial and economic risks, which keeps borrowing costs relatively high and makes investor confidence cautious, without registering a substantial improvement or decline in the financial situation, according to specialists.

Fitch Ratings is one of the world’s largest credit rating agencies, along with Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. It is based in the United States and specializes in assessing the creditworthiness of countries and companies. Its ratings are based on economic, financial and political indicators and are used globally by governments, investors and financial institutions to estimate investment and borrowing risks. link