A strategic partnership between Uptime Institute and the Governorate of Nineveh aims to strengthen Iraq’s digital infrastructure, develop local expertise and position the country as a regional technology investment destination.
Iraq’s Digital Transformation ambitions received a significant boost following the signing of a strategic partnership between Uptime Institute and the Governorate of Nineveh during the US-Iraq Business Summit in Washington.
Signed during Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s official visit to the United States, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will support the development of resilient digital infrastructure across Nineveh while contributing to Iraq’s wider national Digital Transformation strategy.
The agreement forms part of a broader programme of economic cooperation announced during the summit where more than 50 agreements worth over US$60 billion were signed, highlighting growing investment and technology ties between the United States and Iraq.
Under the partnership, Uptime Institute will work with the Governorate of Nineveh to help establish digital infrastructure aligned with international standards while encouraging knowledge transfer, workforce development and long-term investment.
The initiative is designed to strengthen the region’s technological capabilities and create the foundations required to attract global businesses and support future economic growth.
The collaboration also reflects Iraq’s efforts to modernise critical infrastructure and diversify its economy through technology-led investment. Nineveh, one of the country’s largest governorates, is positioning itself as an emerging centre for innovation and digital services following years of reconstruction.
Governor Abdul Qader Al-Dakheel described the agreement as an important milestone in the governorate’s future.
“Nineveh is writing a new chapter, one defined not by what we have overcome but by what we are building,” he said. “By partnering with Uptime Institute, the world’s foremost authority on digital infrastructure, we are laying the resilient foundations that will power our economy, create lasting opportunity for our people, and position Nineveh as a rising hub for technology and investment in Iraq. This is how we turn ambition into enduring progress.”
Mustapha Louni, Chief Business Officer, Uptime Institute, said the agreement reflects the country’s growing commitment to building world-class digital infrastructure.
“This is a defining moment for Iraq and Uptime Institute is honored to stand at its foundation,” he said. “Alongside Prime Minister Al-Zaidi’s historic delegation, we are helping Iraq build something extraordinary: a digital backbone engineered to the highest global standards, powered by Iraqi talent, and built to endure for generations.”
He added that the partnership demonstrates that resilient and sustainable digital infrastructure is becoming a reality across Iraq rather than remaining a long-term aspiration.
Beyond infrastructure development, the agreement places a strong emphasis on developing local skills and expertise. By combining internationally recognised standards with workforce training and technical knowledge transfer, the partners aim to create a sustainable ecosystem capable of supporting future Digital Transformation projects across both the public and private sectors.
The US Chamber of Commerce hosted the signing during the US-Iraq Business Summit, reinforcing its role in facilitating international partnerships between governments and technology organisations.
The collaboration is expected to support Iraq’s efforts to attract foreign investment while building digital infrastructure capable of supporting expanding cloud services, enterprise applications and future data centre developments.
As governments across the Middle East continue investing in digital economies, the Nineveh partnership illustrates how international expertise and local leadership are increasingly combining to accelerate Digital Transformation.
For Uptime Institute, the agreement also expands its role beyond certification and advisory services, positioning the organisation as a strategic partner in the development of national-scale digital infrastructure programmes.
Such collaborations are expected to play an increasingly important role as emerging markets seek to build resilient digital foundations that can support economic diversification, innovation and long-term technological competitiveness.
