The Central Bank of Iraq held the regular meeting of the Iraqi Payments Council, chaired by Governor Ali Mohsen Ismail, to review the rollout of electronic payment technologies across ministries and government institutions and to take stock of progress in related digital transformation initiatives. Discussions covered the procedures and mechanisms used by government entities to adopt electronic payments, the development of tools and channels, and how to integrate these initiatives with financial and banking technologies. The agenda also addressed steps to increase private sector readiness to invest in electronic payment platforms and collect dues digitally, alongside efforts to bring economic entities into the formal economy by simplifying procedures and structuring their linkage with government agencies based on business type. Participants reviewed financial inclusion indicators, the availability and reach of financial and banking services, and the effects of payment infrastructure development, while reaffirming the importance of ongoing initiatives to strengthen banking culture and financial awareness.