Iraq signed a contract May 27 with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to automate its customs procedures in a bid to eliminate financial and administrative corruption and expel armed militias from border crossings with neighboring countries.

This step is the second phase of the war on corruption at border crossings after the military operation launched earlier by the current government when it assumed its duties.

Iraq has more than 24 border, land and sea ports with neighboring countries. These outlets achieved revenues around $1 billion in 2020. Yet corruption at the Iraqi crossing points causes Iraq more than $10 billion losses annually, not to mention the smuggling of drugs and goods that are prohibited from being imported because of their abundance locally.

Finance Minister Ali Allawi said in a press statement that Iraq needs to improve the standards of public administration in all state departments. “The ministry is determined to implement the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) at the General Authority of Customs, which was provided free of charge as a result of the efforts of continuous meetings with the UNCTAD,” he said.