Ministry officials say the budget for next year is almost finished.

The government wants to increase oil exports in 2010 to boost government funds.

Iraq has suffered from a budget deficit of about $20bn this year following the collapse in oil prices during the second half of 2008.

In November last year, the government set the 2009 budget at $80bn, but it slashed the sum to $58bn by the time parliament finally approved the bill in March this year.