As part of its war on counterfeiting, Iraq enhances the security of its currency with improved marks and printing new banknotes, 2 FEB

 As part of its war on counterfeiting, Iraq enhances the security of its currency with improved marks and printing new banknotes

Attentions in Iraq are directed towards the efforts made to protect the national currency and enhance its economic security. In this context, the Central Bank of Iraq's disclosure of a set of modern security marks that have been added to the circulating banknotes comes as a qualitative step that reflects the keenness to keep pace with global developments in the field of currency printing and security.

On January 19, the Central Bank of Iraq unveiled the security marks of the circulating banknotes, with the aim of educating the public, as well as companies and commercial banks that deal with these banknotes on a daily basis, reviewing these improved security marks, through a technical bulletin, in which it indicated the introduction of prominent marks on the new banknotes to enable the visually impaired to identify the banknote denominations by touch.

Mazhar Muhammad Salih, the economic advisor to the Prime Minister, confirmed in a statement followed by Al-Rasheed, that Iraq's decision to print a new currency is a natural decision that comes within the state's efforts to protect its national currency and enhance its security.

Salih explained that since the first issuance of the currency in 1934, Iraq has printed its currencies at the largest international printing companies, with the exception of the blockade period when the state was forced to resort to local printing.

He pointed out that Iraq still relies on the largest international companies specialized in printing currency, which are companies with a good reputation and high reliability and adhere to the highest international safety standards. He pointed out that this matter is of great importance to the economic security of Iraq and global security in general.

He added that Iraq reprinted its currency after 2003 with the largest international companies, including British and German companies. He explained that reprinting currency is a routine procedure that is carried out periodically to replace damaged papers and introduce new security improvements to the currency to protect citizens from counterfeiting and money laundering.

He stressed that these procedures come within the framework of the state's keenness to protect citizens' economic rights and ensure the stability of the Iraqi economy. He pointed out that the Central Bank of Iraq is the only body authorized to issue currency in accordance with the law, and there is strict security control over the printing and circulation process to prevent the entry of counterfeit currency into the country.

Saleh stressed that the cost of reprinting a single currency is very simple, not exceeding cents compared to its benefits, and that this procedure is an integral part of the policy of central banks around the world to maintain the stability of national currencies and protect national economies.  link