Economist points to a “solution” that will “lower” the dollar exchange rate, 23 AUGUST

 Economist points to a “solution” that will “lower” the dollar exchange rate

Today, Thursday (August 22, 2024), Mustafa Akram Hantoush, an expert in economic and financial affairs, commented on the reasons for the fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate in the Iraqi markets.

Hantoush told Baghdad Today, "The parallel market needs to be dismantled in order for the exchange rate to decrease. Previously, there were solutions to the issue of cigarettes and gold, and the tax was reduced and the merchant was allowed to buy through the platform again, and the exchange rate stabilized at 145 thousand dinars."

He added, "We have small traders who do not have a facilitating mechanism, and we have trades such as gold and cleaning materials that have not been processed, and we have huge trade with Iran and Syria worth millions of dollars, and these can be processed by giving them currency or gold," stressing that "most countries have solved the problem of trade with Iran, despite the American sanctions imposed on them, and solved the problem of travel to those countries."

The dollar exchange rate in the parallel markets rose again, as the markets recorded prices close to 150,000 dinars for every 100 dollars, even though the Central Bank of Iraq sells it at 1,320 dinars for every one dollar.

With the government's efforts to control prices in parallel markets, commercial markets witnessed a decline in the exchange rate in recent weeks, but it rose again, which indicates an economic problem that is still present in the country.

In response, parliamentarians raised a movement to question the governor of the Central Bank within the legislative dome, as the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives, on Sunday (August 4, 2024), directed a request to the Presidency of Parliament to question the governor of the Central Bank .

A document signed by the members of the Finance Committee, received by Baghdad Today, stated: “We, the members of the Finance Committee listed below, are the signatories for the purpose of hosting the Governor of the Central Bank due to a major defect in the management of the bank .”

The document added: "Therefore, we demand that the Governor of the Central Bank be questioned in the nearest session, in accordance with the applicable articles of the constitution and internal regulations."  link