The Department of Economics at the College of Administration and Economics, University of Mosul, held on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 a discussion for the PhD dissertation titled “Measuring the Relationship Between Financial Inclusion and Foreign Direct Investment for a Sample of Developing and Developed Countries with Reference to Iraq,” presented by the student Mevan Saeed Ali Al-Rikani, in Discussion Hall No. (1).

​The study aimed to analyze the impact of financial inclusion on attracting foreign direct investment, explore the nature of the causal relationship between them in a sample of developing and developed countries, diagnose the reality of financial inclusion in Iraq, and uncover the main challenges facing the banking system, ultimately providing policy recommendations to develop financial inclusion and enhance the attractiveness of the investment environment for foreign investors.

​The study reached a number of key conclusions, most notably that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between financial inclusion and foreign direct investment, confirming that expanding access to financial services enhances the attractiveness of the national economy and creates a more suitable environment for attracting foreign investments. The results also revealed the presence of what is known as the “reputation effect,” where current foreign investment flows are influenced by past investments, giving countries with a successful investment track record a competitive edge in attracting more investors. Furthermore, the study indicated that foreign direct investment contributes to human capital development through technology transfer and managerial expertise, supporting skill development and elevating education and training levels in developing nations.

​Thesis Examination Committee: ​Prof. Dr. Mufeed Thanoon Younis – College of Administration and Economics / University of Mosul – Chair,  Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aws Fakhr Al-Din Ayoub – College of Administration and Economics / University of Mosul – Member,  ​Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jawan Saeed Hassan – College of Administration and Economics / Salahaddin University – Erbil – Member,  Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdulwahab Thanoon Sadoun – College of Administration and Economics / University of Mosul – Member,  Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nizar Siddiq Elias – College of Administration and Economics / University of Mosul – Member and  ​Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Adeeb Ibrahim – College of Administration and Economics / University of Mosul – Member and Supervisor.