Iraqi Digital Economy Forum Toward an integrated Iraqi digital economy

Iraqi Digital Economy Forum

Toward an integrated digital economy driven by innovation, partnerships and international standards.

  • October 5, 2026
  • Baghdad – Iraq
  • 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
00Days
00Hours
00Minutes
00Seconds
+400Participants in 2025
24Speakers
20Hours of content & discussion
+400Participants in 2025
24Speakers
20Hours of content & discussion
14Partners & sponsors
About the Forum

A national platform for Iraq’s digital-economy future

The forum builds on the outcomes of its first and second editions toward an integrated digital economy focused on legislation, infrastructure, financial technology and digital human capital. It is a national initiative bringing together specialists from inside and outside Iraq to help shape a clear digital strategy, attract expertise and benefit from international standards and advanced-country experience.

Why the forum matters

A national platform bringing together government, the private sector, international organizations and experts to discuss the future of Iraq’s digital economy, address legislative, regulatory and technical challenges, and connect digital transformation with economic development, investment and job creation.

Objectives

01

Discuss legislation and laws that strengthen Iraq’s digital economy.

02

Review global digital-economy sectors.

03

Develop digital talent to support innovation and strengthen Iraq’s digital economy.

04

Strengthen the digital financial sector through innovative solutions to technical challenges.

October 5, 2026

Forum activities

Forum & specialized exhibition

High-level panels

High-level panel discussions with Iraqi ministries and institutions.

01

Specialized exhibition

A specialized exhibition presenting the latest digital solutions from international and local companies.

02

Networking & partnerships

Networking with more than 400 participants from organizations, embassies, global and local companies.

03
Digital economy

Digital-economy sectors

Digital infrastructure
Information technology & software
Artificial intelligence & emerging technologies
Data & cloud computing
E-commerce
FinTech & payments
Cybersecurity & digital trust
Digital government & services
Smart cities
Digital industry & agriculture
Digital health & education
Media, platforms & creative industries
October 5, 2026

Forum program

Forum DayOctober 5, 2026 · Baghdad – Iraq

Forum & Specialized Exhibition

  1. Registration

  2. Keynote Speeches

    • National Anthem
    • Minister of Trade
    • Minister of Communications
    • Head of the Communications and Media Commission (CMC)
    • Chairman of PMAC - PMO
    • UNDP representative
    • Secretary-General of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy
    • Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Iraq
  3. Presentation

    • Digital Standards Initiative - International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
  4. First Panel: Legislative Framework, Digital Governance and Digital Policies

    • Parliamentary Transport, Communications and Governance Committee
    • Ministry of Communications
    • Cybersecurity Center - National Security Advisory
    • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq
    • Communications and Media Commission (CMC)
  5. Coffee Break & Exhibition Opening

  6. Second Panel: Digital Infrastructure and the Financial Sector as Pillars of Digital Transformation, AI and Data

    • International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Iraq - World Bank Group
    • Central Bank of Iraq
    • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
    • Ministry of Trade - Private Sector Development Department
    • National Cybersecurity Center - Prime Minister's Office
  7. Third Panel: Scientific Research and Development

    • Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
    • University of Information Technology and Communications - Informatics Institute for Postgraduate Studies
    • Al-Iraqia University - College of Administration and Economics / Department of Digital Economy
  8. Closing

Third Edition

Be part of the third edition

October 5, 2026 · Baghdad – Iraq

00Days
00Hours
00Minutes
00Seconds
Register Now
Partners

Third edition partners

Ministry of Trade
Ministry of Trade
Communications and Media Commission
Communications and Media Commission
Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce
Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce
ICC Iraq
ICC Iraq
Arab Federation for Digital Economy
Arab Federation for Digital Economy

Organized By

Progress Group International for Training & Conferences

An Iraqi commercial company registered with the Ministry of Trade (88107/2015), specialized in administrative development, entrepreneurship, simultaneous interpretation, conferences and exhibitions, with more than 10 years of experience serving public, private and international institutions.

Digital World International Company

The first company specialized in smart cities in Iraq — integrated solutions combining advanced technology and sustainability to build smart, sustainable cities.

Visit website

Partners & sponsors of previous editions

Previous Editions

Forum milestones

The 2024 and 2025 editions brought broad participation from global companies, international organizations and Iraq’s public and private sectors, where digital challenges were discussed and practical recommendations were issued, supported by measurable indicators.

From digital foundations to a national digital-economy ecosystem — Photograph 1

01Second Edition · 2025

From digital foundations to a national digital-economy ecosystem

Tigris Village – Baghdad 2025

The second edition of the Iraqi Digital Economy Forum was held at Tigris Village in Baghdad with more than 400 participants, 24 speakers and around 20 hours of content and discussion.

The second edition moved from general talk about digital transformation to three more specific areas

  • Legislation, regulation and the legal framework of the digital economy
  • Digital infrastructure and the financial sector
  • Human capital and digital skills

It produced seventeen practical recommendations supported by clear performance indicators.

The forum’s launch and the foundations of Iraq’s digital economy — Photograph 1

02First Edition · 2024

The forum’s launch and the foundations of Iraq’s digital economy

Babel Hotel – Baghdad 2024

The first edition of the Iraqi Digital Economy Forum was launched at Babel Hotel in Baghdad with broad participation from global companies, international organizations and Iraq’s public and private sectors.

It discussed Iraq’s digital challenges and issued fifteen recommendations aimed at building the foundations of the digital economy — from digital inclusion and infrastructure to cybersecurity, digital government services and human capital.

Recommendations

Recommendations that become a roadmap

From building digital foundations to building a national digital-economy ecosystem

The second edition moved from general digital transformation to three more specific areas: legislation and regulation, digital infrastructure and the financial sector, and human capital.

First: Legislative and regulatory framework

01Prepare an integrated national legislative framework for the digital economy

Review and update Iraqi legislation related to digital transformation and identify legislative gaps that hinder growth.

02Prioritize essential digital legislation

Prioritize data protection and privacy, e-transactions and e-signatures, e-commerce, cybersecurity, digital payments, government data exchange, and emerging digital economic activities.

03Develop digital policies based on international standards

Use international standards and practices when drafting Iraqi digital legislation and policy.

04Strengthen institutional coordination

Create a national coordination mechanism among ministries, agencies, public institutions and the private sector to avoid conflicting digital policies and projects.

05Adopt digital trust as a core principle

Include user protection, data protection, cybersecurity and trusted digital transactions.

Second: Digital infrastructure and financial sector

06Treat digital infrastructure as national economic infrastructure

Sustain investment in telecommunications networks, data centers, cloud computing and digital platforms and connect them to sector needs.

After the forum

From annual conference to progress platform

Outputs of the third edition will become a policy paper and roadmap for Iraq’s digital economy, defining priorities, responsible entities, required partnerships and performance indicators, so the forum becomes an annual platform for tracking progress rather than only an annual conference.

  1. 01
    Priorities
  2. 02
    Responsible entities
  3. 03
    Required partnerships
  4. 04
    Performance indicators