Partnership Between the Communications and Media Commission and Zain Iraq to Build Capabilities in Artificial Intelligence Technologies

Partnership Between the Communications and Media Commission and Zain Iraq to Build Capabilities in Artificial Intelligence Technologies

Baghdad, Iraq – August 2026

The Communications and Media Commission (CMC) and Zain Iraq announced a partnership focused on training and building capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and their modern applications, supporting Iraq’s digital transformation journey, developing national skills, and enhancing the adoption of emerging technologies across workplace environments.

The partnership comes as part of efforts to strengthen public-private sector collaboration in developing institutional capabilities and building the skills of national talent through a specialized six-month program, implemented in collaboration with Irada Foundation and Kapita Research. Zain Iraq will contribute to the program by sharing its practical experience in applying AI technologies, contributing to the development of training content, and providing experts and specialists, bringing together institutional knowledge with practical and training expertise.

The program includes specialized training courses and workshops for CMC senior personnel, with a focus on strategic planning and AI governance, practical tools and applications, and data analytics. It will also feature interactive sessions to facilitate knowledge sharing and provide insights into the latest best practices and experiences in leveraging AI technologies across the telecommunications and media sectors.

H.E. Baleegh Abu Kalal, Head of the Executive Body of the Communications and Media Commission, said

“This partnership represents a practical starting point for institutionalizing the use of artificial intelligence within the Commission. We must take seriously the rapid transformations that this technology is bringing to institutions and workplace environments. We commend the progress Zain Iraq has made in applying AI, particularly in network management and developing workforce capabilities. We look forward to this program delivering an advanced level of training and achieving practical outcomes that can serve as a foundation for further development and expansion in the next stages.”

Emre Gurkan, CEO of Zain Iraq, said: “AI is increasingly becoming part of our operations and the way we work at Zain Iraq, whether in driving business development, enhancing efficiency, or empowering our people. Through our partnership with the Communications and Media Commission, we look forward to sharing our practical experience and contributing to the development of national capabilities, helping professionals make more effective use of AI technologies and their applications in the workplace.”

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing national capabilities in emerging technologies, strengthening the exchange of knowledge and expertise, and supporting the practical and responsible use of AI to contribute to the development of workplace environments and keep pace with Iraq’s digital transformation requirements.