ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Iraqi government plans to implement “smart city” models across the country, digitalizing the process of data collection and project provision, in a step aimed at “eliminating bureaucracy,” according to an advisor to the prime minister.

Hassan al-Khatib, the Iraqi prime minister’s advisor for digital transformation and communications, told the state-owned al-Sabaah newspaper on Monday that the project will be carried out in cooperation with Chinese tech giant Huawei and American conglomerate Honeywell.

“The municipalities will be able to monitor the work and use different types of electronic applications in how to control these cities, similar to what exists in advanced countries,” said Khatib.

The advisor noted that the project will be gradually implemented, starting from one municipality, identifying flaws in the system and resolving them, before moving onto another municipality until the entire country is covered.

Khatib said that state institutions are already moving toward digitalization in running daily affairs, aimed at enabling citizens to submit requests for services remotely and at any time.

“This also contributes to simplifying administrative procedures, completing transactions, eliminating bureaucracy, and enhancing trust between the citizen and the government,” he added.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has repeatedly stressed the importance of digital transformation as one of the priorities of his cabinet.

"[Iraq’s] five-year development plan adopts comprehensive digital transformation and the use of electronic systems in all aspects of life," said Sudani during an event in August.

Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission (CMC) in September announced they have begun launching a training and development program in partnership with global tech giant Apple to create jobs for Iraqi youth and advance the country’s digital transformation.