The Association of Private Banks appreciates the efforts of the government and the Central Bank to create understandings with the Treasury, the Federal Bank, and international banks, 27 APRIL

 The Association of Private Banks appreciates the efforts of the government and the Central Bank to create understandings with the Treasury, the Federal Bank, and international banks

4/26/2024

The head of the Iraqi Private Banks Association, Wadih Al-Handal, participated in the Arab Economic Security Forum, which was organized by the Union of Arab Banks in Beirut.

Al-Handal said in his speech, “The forum is being held in complex circumstances and geopolitical changes taking place in the region, and the Arab banking sector has begun to be affected, starting with the State of Iraq,” adding that Iraq is still facing major challenges, at various economic levels, including the deprivation of the Iraqi private banking sector.

 From the use of the dollar, which exceeded half the number of banks operating inside the country, which is a very dangerous indicator, despite the efforts of Iraqi government and private institutions to comply with local and international anti-money laundering and terrorist financing laws, but for the first time we are witnessing a clear targeting of the sector that has begun to affect banking services inside the country, It undermines citizen confidence and hinders the expansion of financial inclusion.

He added that these challenges facing the banking sector reaffirm the prominent role played by the Union of Arab Banks, international organizations and Arab banks in coordinating positions and confronting dangers together, noting that our meeting is taking place. "It represents an opportunity for cooperation and agreement on a work roadmap for the future, as targeting the Iraqi banking sector will not stop within its borders, and may expand at any moment to other countries in light of the regional turmoil."

Al-Handal pointed out that “the Association of Private Banks is working with the Iraqi government, the Central Bank, and some local and international institutions, to save the banking sector, and return banks deprived of dealing in dollars to their activities, but this is not enough, but rather requires continuing cooperation with the Arab and foreign banking sector, because the stage of merging... The Iraqi banking sector with its Arab counterpart must begin quickly, and we are taking great strides in this direction, especially since Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani held dialogues in Washington with the American President and other government officials, who announced in a joint statement the possibility of a group of Iraqi banks returning to dealing. in dollars and support the private banking sector.”

Al-Handal appreciated the efforts of the Iraqi government and the Central Bank of Iraq to create deeper understandings with international banks, the Federal Reserve, and the US Treasury to expand the integration of the Iraqi banking sector into the global financial system, in addition to supporting the Iraqi dinar, which led to a gradual rise in its value.

He pointed out that Iraq is witnessing great development in the transition to electronic government and the adoption of electronic payment, and this is what leads to the growth of the digital economy, especially since there is a trend within the country to increase the number of electronic banks, to keep pace with technological development and increase performance.LINK