In a major bid to support the private sector and encourage citizens to adopt renewable energy sources, the Iraqi Council of Ministers has decided to completely exempt all imported solar energy systems from customs duties.

On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Council of Ministers approved zeroing customs duties on solar energy systems and their requirements imported into Iraq. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s media office, this decision aims to support the private sector while encouraging and facilitating citizens to purchase and install these systems in their homes, as well as in public and commercial venues. The move is seen as an important initiative to reduce the burden on the national power grid, lower energy costs for citizens, and expand renewable and eco-friendly energy infrastructure across Iraq.

In a related development, Samer Qasim Dawood, Director General of the General Customs Authority of Iraq, announced that the Council of Ministers’ Resolution No. 576 of 2026 has also taken effect. Under this decision, customs duties on imported essentials like eggs, poultry, meat, livestock, and medicines will be reduced to zero until December 31, 2026. He noted that the authority has taken necessary measures at all border crossings to facilitate and expedite the transit and customs clearance of these goods.

These government measures come after the Council of Ministers' October 6 decision to adjust the exchange rate of the Iraqi Dinar to 1,520 per US Dollar, which had driven up the prices of goods and food in the markets. Aram Baban, a board member of the Sulaimani Chamber of Commerce, previously stated that the decline in the dinar's value had led to inflation across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Therefore, these customs waivers are seen as efforts to ease the financial burden on citizens and ensure key goods remain affordable.