Saturday, December 14, 2024

Legal Center: Diversifying the National Economy Will Enhance Human Rights in Iraq, 15 DEC

Legal Center: Diversifying the National Economy Will Enhance Human Rights in Iraq

Baghdad /NINA/- The Strategic Center for Human Rights confirmed: "Diversifying the sources of the national economy instead of relying on the rentier economy, especially oil, contributes directly to enhancing human rights in Iraq at various levels, whether economic, social, cultural, civil or political." 

The head of the center, Fadhel Al-Gharawi, said in a statement: "Based on World Bank reports, the per capita share of the gross domestic product decreased by 22.4% during the year 2023, reaching 7.6 million dinars compared to 9.8 million dinars in 2022. The World Bank attributed this decrease to the decline in the gross domestic product at current prices to 330 trillion dinars for the year 2023, compared to 415 trillion dinars for the year 2022." 

He pointed out that "Iraq ranked 37th globally and sixth in the Arab world in terms of the number of workers in 2024, according to a report published by the "Global Economy" website.

The report showed that the workforce in Iraq reached 17.331 million people, while Egypt topped the Arab countries with 44.914 million workers, followed by Sudan, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Morocco."

Al-Gharawi also referred to the report of the "Fitch" credit rating agency, which classified Iraq at the "B-" level with a stable future outlook. The agency expected the Iraqi budget deficit to widen to 8% of GDP in 2024, compared to 2% in 2023, with expectations of rising to an average of 12.4% during the period 2025-2026. It indicated that the Iraqi government debt is expected to rise to 47.7% of GDP by the end of 2024, and to 56.5% by 2026 as a result of increased borrowing.

He explained that "reliance on oil, as the sole source of the economy, poses great risks, especially with the fluctuations in global oil prices, and the global trend towards energy alternatives over the next ten years," stressing that "diversifying the sources of the Iraqi economy by supporting agriculture, tourism, industry, trade and investment will contribute to achieving significant resources for the state, increasing citizen income, and creating millions of job opportunities away from reliance on government employment.

 This will be positively reflected in the state budget and the governorates, allowing the implementation of development projects that enhance citizens' rights in the areas of housing, services and job opportunities, in addition to increasing annual income and reducing inflation," calling for "making diversification of the sources of the national economy a strategic goal within the government's programs to improve the human rights situation in the country." / End

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