A Government Advisor Announces The Start Of Implementing The Reform Plan In Government And Private Banks
Economy News – Baghdad Adviser to the Prime Minister for Economic and Financial Affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, confirmed on Thursday that Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani is interested in reforming the course of the private and government banking system, while indicating the start of implementing the reform plan for government banks.
Saleh said, in a statement reported by the official news agency and seen by Al-Iqtisad News, that “the banking market has a great division. For example, the capital of private banks, or their share of capital from the government, is about 78 percent, while the capital of government banks is 22 percent.”
He continued, "While government banks account for 85 percent of activities and assets, while private banking activity is 15 percent, so there are large disparities between private and government banks."
He explained, “Private banks have almost coexisted on government allocations, whether through the window or by opening letters of guarantee for projects, meaning that any vibration exposes private banks to serious problems, so approximately 29 banks have been deprived of dealing in foreign currency.”
Saleh added, “Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani is very interested in reforming the course of the private and governmental banking system,” stressing that “there is a reform plan for government banks, and there is a foreign company that evaluates the banking work, its capital, and its functions until they are parallel to the work of international banks.”
He stated, "Private banks are facing a dilemma, especially after being deprived of trading in foreign currencies, even though they have coexisted with this issue. Therefore, the government is trying to create an internal environment that is supportive of them, and they need to correct their situations first."
He went on to say: “The Prime Minister is correctly supportive of private banks, on the condition that these banks improve their course of work,” stressing that “there is a reform plan to correct the course of private banks that will be implemented soon.”
A government source revealed, the day before yesterday, Tuesday, that Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani issued a set of measures and steps to revitalize the private banking sector, while directing a study of the possibility of strengthening the needs of private bank branches abroad in foreign currency.
The source said, “As part of the Iraqi government’s efforts to formulate a strategy that stimulates the activity of the private banking sector during the next stage, allowing it to engage more in efforts to diversify the economy and strengthen its foundations, Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani directed the adoption of a number of measures and steps in this regard, including: -
1 - The Ministerial Council for the Economy studies a proposal to increase deposits of government institutions and the central government with private banks, enabling them to provide more banking operations and contribute to the development of various vital sectors and increase their ability to provide various financing services inside and outside Iraq.
2- Support by the Iraqi government and the Central Bank of Iraq for banks Iraqi private banks through foreign institutions and banks, taking into account the credit rating of each bank.
3- Studying the possibility of enhancing the needs of private bank branches abroad in foreign currency for the purposes of financing foreign trade - the private sector and in accordance with the applicable contexts.
4- The Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Iraq determining Contribution of foreign capital to Iraqi banks and assessment of the reality of the situation in a way that benefits the Iraqi economy and in accordance with what is stated in Banking Law No. 94 of 2004.
5- Participation of representatives of the private banking sector when discussing relevant issues in all state institutions, including meetings of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Iraq .
6- Studying the reactivation of the financing initiative presented by the Central Bank of Iraq and in accordance with the contexts proposed by the Central Bank in this regard.
7- The Competition and Monopoly Affairs Council shall take the necessary measures under Law No. 14 of 2010 to prevent monopoly in banking services, provided that the Council shall submit reports to the Central Bank of Iraq and in coordination with it periodically and in accordance with the aforementioned law. Views 174 04/11/2024 https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=42374
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