Under Secretary of State for Economics, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs Robert Hormats met with Iraqi Finance Minister Baker Mohamed Jabr al-Zubaidy on October 9. The two officials discussed economic cooperation under the U.S-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA), Iraq’s encouraging progress under its Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF, and Iraq’s forthcoming 2011 budget, among other things. The two also discussed how the U.S. can help Iraq implement international best practices throughout its financial and energy sectors.

Both officials look forward to continued close cooperation under the SFA to build a prosperous, diversified, and market-oriented Iraqi economy that is integrated into the global economic system and meets the essential needs of the Iraqi people.