Monday, December 23, 2024

Al-Amiri: Today's Iraq is not like yesterday and the borders are well-controlled, 24 DEC

 Al-Amiri: Today's Iraq is not like yesterday and the borders are well-controlled

    Baghdad-INA  

    The Secretary-General of Badr Organization, Hadi Al-Amiri, confirmed today, Monday, that today's Iraq is not the Iraq of yesterday, noting that the borders are well-controlled.
     
    The media office of the Secretary-General of Badr Organization stated in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): that "as part of his field tour, the Secretary-General of Badr Organization, Hadi Al-Amiri, visited the headquarters of the Nineveh Operations Command to inspect the security situation in the province."
     
      "During the meeting, the approved plans were discussed in the various axes of the province, especially the border strip with Syria, in addition to the security and military deployment and the measures taken to deal with any emergency."
     
    Amiri told the Nineveh Operations Command of the Popular Mobilization Forces - according to the statement: "We recommend that you conduct a permanent inspection and not leave any foothold for the enemy."
     
    Al-Amiri warned that "today's Iraq is not yesterday's Iraq, and the borders are well-controlled."

MAJEED: WHEN BANK CARD BEING DISTRIBUTED, IT MEANS THE NEW RATE IS POPPING UP!!, 24 DEC

 MAJEED

POS device is available at the Trade Bank of Iraq! Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) announces the provision of Point of Sale (POS) devices to facilitate electronic payment transactions. You can enhance your customers' experience by using a fast and efficient device. 🚨🚨🚨🚨 they wouldn’t provide these devices for businesses unless bank cards are about to be distributed…. 

And When bank card being distributed, it means the new rate is popping up, causing people to bring their old note to get the new one and deposit it into their bank account.

ARIEL: " THIS SHOULD BENEFIT THE IRAQI DINAR, WHICH IS PAIRED WITH XRP" @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinar

 


The Ministerial Council for Economy: Using e-payment for all economic activities, 24 DEC

 The Ministerial Council for Economy: Using e-payment for all economic activities

    INA - BAGHDAD

    The Ministerial Council for the Economy discussed, on Monday, the use of electronic payment for all economic activities in the country.

    Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein chaired the thirty-ninth session of the Ministerial Council for the Economy, which was held in the Council building, in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, the Ministers of Finance, Agriculture, Trade, Labor and Social Affairs, the Secretary-General of the Cabinet, the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, the Deputy Chairman of the National Investment Commission, and the PM's Advisors for Economic and Legal Affairs, according to the media office of the Ministerial Council for the Economy in a statement - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

    The statement added that "the Council discussed the items on its agenda and took the necessary decisions regarding them."

    The Council hosted "the Director General of Payments at the Central Bank of Iraq to discuss and evaluate the mechanisms for implementing the Cabinet's decision to move towards using electronic payment instead of cash for all state institutions, public and private sectors, in addition to that, to study and expand this experience to include all economic activities throughout Iraq."

    The Council also discussed "the working paper submitted by some members of the Council on the financial and monetary policy in Iraq and the means to develop the economy, maximize revenues, and take the necessary measures to confront economic challenges, in light of the political changes witnessed by the region, by diversifying sources of income and not relying entirely on oil imports, for the sake of stability and sustainability of the economy in Iraq."

EXCERPTS FROM MARKZ, 24 DEC

 EXCERPTS FROM MARKZ

Member: So how is the dinar news today?

MZ: We did see rates pop up briefly again this weekend. Things are getting exciting.

MZ: In Iraq we had $3.47 popping up on the forex sites and some currency sites over the weekend…Showing the IQD at $3.47. I wish I would have been sitting with a bank that was open and currency in hand when it popped.

MZ: We were getting similar numbers from contractors that believe will be the rate for their contracts. It was exciting to see those rates popping up.

Member: I would exchange for that rate in a heartbeat!

MZ: Fines and penalties did not go out yet.

Member:  Mark Z Nader drop a video stating that the Iraqi dinar may have revalued for a $1.72 on the forex

MZ: on the bond side it is still quiet this morning. The last update on Saturday is they were still hopeful to be processing this week.

MAJEED: "The rate about to change and Kurdistan will receive HCL" @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinar

 


Project to remove zeros from Iran's deteriorating currency, 24 DEC

  Project to remove zeros from Iran's deteriorating currency

The Iranian government has submitted a bill to the Islamic Consultative Assembly to remove four zeros from the national currency and convert its unit from the rial to the toman.

The government of Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the purpose of preparing this bill and submitting it to parliament is to “reduce the problems caused by chronic inflation and the decline in the purchasing power of the national currency,” which in recent years has led to a significant increase in daily transactions and a “clear decline in the reputation of the national currency” compared to other currencies.

Tasnim News Agency reported that this bill was approved by the second government of President Hassan Rouhani in August 2019, and has now been submitted to the parliament as an emergency bill in the fourteenth government. 

An attempt is being made to preserve the “reputation” of the national currency by removing four zeros, while the Iranian rial is currently the least valuable currency in the world, and its value continues to decline, as it was exchanged against the dollar for more than 760,000 Iranian rials.

Although removing four zeros from the national currency may make trading easier in the market, the government has not explained how it expects inflation to be reduced by removing four zeros from the national currency. link

YADA: " THE AMENDMENT FRO THE RATE CHANGES WAS DONE LAST WEEKEND" , 24 DEC

  yada 

  ...the contractors received their exchanges, Iraq has removed all the corruption, ISIS, and now they have digital banking in the banks taking the control of the money out of the hands of the CBI.

   The amendment for the rate changes was done last weekend and the Iraqi people know the rate is changing AND the banks in Iraq are operating with the basket of currencies for international business as we speak.

JEFF: " Iraq would need to pause and suspend credit and lending practices to rise the IQD"

 


Politician: Iraq has no fear of Trump reaching the White House, 23 DEC

 Politician: Iraq has no fear of Trump reaching the White House

Independent politician Wael al-Rikabi confirmed on Sunday that Iraq will not be negatively affected by the arrival of US President Donald Trump to power in the United States, pointing out that there is an Iraqi desire to arm from new sources other than the United States. 

Al-Rikabi said in an interview with Al-Maalouma Agency, “Iraq has nothing to worry about Trump coming to power in the White House or Biden staying, as it is committed to all international agreements and controls in a way that made it a pivotal state, and the visits that the country has witnessed recently are evidence of that," indicating that "Iraq is the focus of attention of all countries for what it possesses of capabilities and energies, and the state of chaos cannot be returned to it, and it has not broken "any official international agreement." 

He added, "The process of changing power in America concerns the United States, and there are agreements between us and them, although the United States violated these agreements," noting that "the Americans did not provide Iraq with the sufficient weapons required, such as air defenses, and Washington did not cooperate with successful Iraqi governments in this file.” 

He pointed out that "there is a desire in Iraq to arm itself with countries other than the United States after the recent events in the region, and Iraq is currently able to overcome this issue, and the existing weapons make the situation reassuring," noting that "everyone knows the extent of the United States' defense and support for the Zionist entity at the expense of the countries of the region." 

It is noteworthy that several representatives and political forces warned of the danger of the Iraqi army's weak armament in light of the events taking place in the region, the latest of which was the control of terrorist groups over Syria and the threat of the Zionist entity to target Iraq.  link

AJ : IRAQ UPDATE, 23 DEC

 AJ

🇮🇶Just know, their are those in Iraq that do not want their gravy train of making money off selling dollars for profits to end.

The Central Bank of Iraq is preparing to stop dealing with the electronic platform for dollar transfers abroad, at a time when experts have warned against raising the exchange rate to a higher level in light of the news circulating about this. The electronic platform was launched in early 2023, and it represents a system for auditing dollar transfers before they are executed, instead of the audit that the US Federal Reserve used to conduct after execution. Banks, companies and merchants in Iraq faced some challenges before adapting to the new method, but they finally underwent a series of trainings that the employees of these banks received before fully adapting to the platform’s work. Exchange rate hike In light of these moves, news has been raised about a move towards a new adjustment to the exchange rate, which has raised economists’ concerns about the potential impact of this move on the economic process in general. Experts stressed that sudden changes in monetary policy could create additional confusion in the markets and undermine confidence in the financial system. Economic expert Mustafa Akram Hantoush said, “Changing the exchange rate in the current situation is useless, because the problem is not in purchasing power, but in the demand for the dollar outside the platform due to small traders, trade with Iran, and some materials that are imported outside the platform due to high customs duties or their ban, in addition to the citizens’ desire to save the dollar.” Hantoush added that “it is better to find solutions to the increasing demand for the dollar outside the platform instead of resorting to changing the exchange rate, because that will complicate the monetary situation even more than it is now.” clear policy According to an official at the Central Bank of Iraq, dealing with the dollar file was based on various opinions built on a series of studies and field research. The official, who preferred to remain anonymous, explained that “the bank adopted two main approaches to address the crisis. The first is to expand the use of international currencies such as the Chinese yuan, the Indian rupee, the UAE dirham, and finally the Saudi riyal, with the aim of reducing dependence on the dollar. The second approach focuses on developing the operational capabilities of local banks to become more qualified to participate in transfer operations.” For his part, banking researcher Mahmoud Dagher explained that “the fluctuation of the Iraqi dinar exchange rate came as a result of two decisions to reduce the value of the dinar in 2020 and then raise it in 2023, which represents a clear intervention in the fixed exchange rate system, which created ongoing economic confusion.” Dagher said that “any new change in the exchange rate reflects the absence of benefit from previous mistakes, as wrong interventions in monetary policy lead to adverse results that increase the instability of the financial market.” As for the economic expert, Adi Al-Alawi, he confirmed that “the biggest mistake that the government can make is to manipulate the dollar exchange rate through sudden decisions, because that has a direct impact on the national economy and shakes investors’ confidence in the financial system.” Al-Alawi added that “the government’s continued taking of ill-considered decisions regarding the exchange rate will lead to the erosion of international and local confidence in the Iraqi economy, which will weaken the ability to attract the investments necessary to improve the economic reality.”

MARKZ: In Iraq we had $3.47 popping up on the forex sites.. @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinar

 


2025.. The year of cautious optimism in Iraq, 23 DEC

   2025.. The year of cautious optimism in Iraq

The international economics specialist, Nawar Al-Saadi, revealed, on Saturday, the future financial and economic expectations for Iraq at the beginning of the new year 2025 .

Al-Saadi told Shafaq News Agency, "The future economic and financial expectations for Iraq at the beginning of the new year carry a mixture of optimism and caution, as they depend largely on a set of economic, political and regional factors that directly affect the country's financial and economic stability ."

He added that "international estimates indicate an improvement in Iraq's economic growth rates, according to reports from the International Monetary Fund, which expected the Iraqi economy to grow by 1.4% next year, with an expected increase of 5.3% in 2025. This growth reflects the recovery of the economy after the challenges it faced in the past years, especially after the economic contraction of 2.2% in 2022, and economic growth will be mainly driven by the stability of oil prices and increased investments in non-oil sectors ."

Al-Saadi pointed out that “there are fears of a deterioration in the financial situation due to the expected deficit in the state’s general budget, as the deficit is expected to widen to 7.6% of GDP during the coming year, compared to 1.3% this year.

This deficit is attributed to fluctuations in oil prices, which are the main source of government revenues, and the economic situation is further complicated by the heavy dependence on oil, which constitutes about 90% of Iraq’s revenues. Any decline in its global prices could lead to severe financial pressures on the government .”

“Other challenges relate to inflation rates, which are expected to rise slightly to 3.5% in 2025. This rise reflects the effects of financial pressures and internal economic challenges, including higher prices for goods and services as a result of increased production and import costs. In terms of oil production, Iraq is expected to continue to maintain a high level of production, with plans to boost its production capacity to around 4 million barrels per day by the first quarter of 2025. However, the success of these efforts will remain linked to political stability and relations with OPEC, in addition to achieving long-term investments in energy infrastructure, ” he added.

Al-Saadi continued: “With regard to the banking sector, the government seeks to implement structural reforms to improve the efficiency of the banking system and increase transparency. These reforms come within a larger vision to develop the Iraqi economy and diversify sources of income away from excessive dependence on oil .

The international economics expert concluded his speech by referring to all the aforementioned data, saying that “Iraq may be facing hot economic and financial events at the beginning of the new year, and the main challenge lies in the government’s ability to manage these challenges effectively through balanced financial and economic policies that aim to enhance economic stability and diversify the economy to achieve sustainable growth  link

TIDBITS FROM THE BIG CALL , 23 DEC

 Thurs. 19 Dec. 2024 Bruce, The Big Call

 Redemption Center Staff are scheduled to work all day Mon and Tues until noon.

 They have Christmas off and go back to work the day after Christmas.  In the first ten days of Jan. 2025 R&R, increase of SS, NESARA, GESARA kicks in. We could be notified overnight tonight or Friday morning 20 Dec.

YADA: " THE AMENDMENT FRO THE RATE CHANGES WAS DONE LAST WEEKEND" @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinar

 


Al-Sudani: Iraq has regained its leading role in the region and has become an influential and effective country, 23 DEC

 Al-Sudani: Iraq has regained its leading role in the region and has become an influential and effective country

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed today, Sunday, that Iraq has regained its leading role in the region and has become an influential and effective country in its surroundings.

Al-Sudani's office stated in a statement received by "Mil" that "Al-Sudani met in the city of Mosul, today, Sunday, with a group of tribal sheikhs and representatives of the various components and spectrums in Nineveh Governorate . "

Al-Sudani stressed his keenness to "meet the sheikhs, dignitaries, religious men and elite of the province's people," indicating that "his visit to Nineveh comes within the government's work methodology to follow up on the affairs of citizens in the various provinces, lay the foundation stone for a number of projects, follow up on work at Mosul International Airport, and set the tenth of next June as the date for its opening . "

The statement continued, "All the projects that were launched today in Nineveh were destroyed by terrorism, and in the days of celebrating Victory Day over the terrorist gangs, we are rebuilding the ruins of the dark era of ISIS and working to launch new projects . "

Al-Sudani confirmed that "a series of infrastructure projects will be launched in the governorate within 30 days, and the second phase of the ring road project will begin to alleviate traffic congestion in the city," stressing that "the wheel of construction and reconstruction in the governorate continues with the solidarity of its people."

The statement explained that "the true image of the Iraqi people triumphed over what terrorism wanted in targeting security and peaceful coexistence among all components and sects," explaining that "the strife of terrorism and the foreign agenda harmed society in Nineveh, and tried to drive a wedge of division among Iraqis."

He pointed out that "Iraq today is on the right track in building a state that respects the citizen, adheres to the constitution, and builds its institutions in a way that meets the aspirations of the citizens," stressing that "Iraq has regained its leading role in the region and has become an influential and effective country in its surroundings . "

The statement pointed out that "Iraq today is putting forward initiatives, solutions and positions that are consistent with the challenges in the region . "

The statement concluded: "We took the initiative to make contacts and visits with sister countries, and launched an initiative to establish security in Syria. We presented an Iraqi paper at the Aqaba Conference in Jordan regarding Syria, and it was welcomed by all brothers . "link


WOLVERINE UPDATE, 23 DEC

 Sun. 22 Dec. 2024 Wolverine

 “I just received news from Mauricio saying that the blessing is coming very soon. 

Remember that’s from his platform which purely humanitarian Nesara Gesara.

 I still have faith that we are going to have a Merry Merry Christmas. There are five platforms which are sending out monies. It’s going to be a wonderful Christmas.”

MAJEED: No more Dollar coming to Iraq The CBI has two options : BANKRUPTCY OR CHANGE THE RATE OF IQD

 


The Road ahead for Iraq’s underdeveloped Stock Market, 23 DEC

The Road ahead for Iraq’s underdeveloped Stock Market


Shafaq News/ Iraq’s stock market considered a vital pillar for channeling savings into investments, remains underdeveloped and overshadowed by regional counterparts.


 Authorities are striving to revitalize the market to attract investors and promote economic diversification, however, challenges such as political instability, limited industrial and agricultural sectors, and bureaucratic hurdles continue to impede progress.



Market Overview



The Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) was established in 1992 as the Baghdad Stock Exchange under Law No. 24 of 1991. It was later renamed in 2003, listing 113 private and mixed companies at its inception. However, despite its long history, the ISX lags behind neighboring markets in trading volume and overall activity.


Foreign investors remain hesitant, citing Iraq’s political and economic instability, as well as complex administrative and legal procedures for opening accounts and transferring profits. These barriers contribute to the market’s small size and limited appeal.

Economic Challenges and Market Dynamics

Muzher Mohammed Saleh, financial advisor to Iraq’s prime minister, highlighted the structural issues plaguing Iraq’s economy. “The country inherited a mono-reliant economy heavily dependent on oil revenues, exacerbated by decades of war, sanctions, and economic isolation,” Saleh told Shafaq News.


“Unfortunately, the industrial and agricultural sectors, which are essential for diversifying the stock market, are significantly weak.”


These two sectors collectively contribute only 6–7% of Iraq’s GDP, according to Saleh, with most activities being individual rather than corporate. He revealed that the stock market’s underdevelopment mirrors the broader structure of Iraq’s economy, where banking institutions dominate due to the liberalized, oil-dependent economy.


Notably, over 50% of ISX’s activity stems from banking institutions.


“The government’s new economic strategy focuses on fostering a production-oriented partnership between the public and private sectors to enhance economic diversification,” Saleh added. He noted that the success of the stock market hinges on achieving broader economic diversity and strengthening foundational sectors like industry and agriculture.


Market Constraints

While regional markets in the Gulf and North Africa have modernized rapidly, Iraq’s stock market has struggled to keep pace. Broker Mohammed Madloul pointed out that neighboring markets like Egypt and the UAE provide 24-hour stock price tickers in public spaces, allowing citizens to trade shares outside traditional hours. By contrast, trading in Iraq is restricted to specific hours, limiting transaction opportunities.


“In Iraq, the market’s size and activity are constrained,” Madloul said. “Many stocks trade at values below one Iraqi dinar, reflecting the limited scope of investments.” However, he acknowledged some progress in the banking sector, noting that the market capitalization of listed companies grew from 6.88 trillion dinars (about $5.2 billion) in 2021 to 10 trillion dinars in 2024 (about $7.6 billion.)

“This growth highlights a potential for expansion, albeit focused heavily on the banking sector.”



Weak Private Sector

Economic expert Durgham Mohammed Ali attributed the ISX’s small size to the lack of large companies and a strong private sector in Iraq. “The market reflects the weak state of Iraq’s developmental sectors and the public’s lack of trust in it,” Ali told Shafaq News. “The ISX remains technically underdeveloped compared to Gulf markets.”


Ali criticized the lack of efficient investment portfolio management and regulatory constraints imposed by the ISX’s oversight body. “These restrictions limit the operations of brokerage firms and discourage robust investment activities,” he said. “The performance of the market is directly tied to the efficiency of listed companies, which remain weak.”

Modernization Efforts

Despite these challenges, efforts are underway to modernize Iraq’s stock market. Taha Ahmed Abdul-Salam, ISX’s executive director, stressed the importance of stability and long-term corporate vision for attracting investors.


“The number of listed companies has increased from 105 to 107, and we are working to add more,” Abdul-Salam told Shafaq News. “This expansion is essential for attracting new investors.”

Abdul-Salam revealed that the ISX has signed an agreement with the Egyptian Exchange to implement a new Order Management System (OMS), enabling investors to trade via smart devices. “We expect to launch this system by June or July next year,” he said. This modernization is seen as a critical step toward making the market more accessible and competitive with regional counterparts.