Joint statement by the Sudanese Office and the Central Bank on the modernization of the banking sector
Joint statement from the Office of the Prime Minister and the Central Bank of Iraq,
Banking reforms constitute an important pillar of the economic reform adopted in the government program. In order to complete the important steps that the government has started in this framework since it began its work, and in order to achieve a package of development targets that require banking development, the government,
in cooperation with the Central Bank of Iraq, has embarked on a comprehensive initiative that includes a comprehensive strategic banking reform process that constitutes a turning point in the history of economic development in Iraq, and is consistent with the extent of commitment to raising the level of banking standards, enhancing financial flexibility, and supporting the competitiveness of the financial system.
These comprehensive reforms aim to keep pace with developments in the countries of the region and the world, and contribute to opening partnerships and prospects for communication with the outside world on a broad scale in modern banking and financial transactions, as the Central Bank works to implement and develop regulatory and supervisory frameworks with international partners, which contributes to achieving sustainable growth and development of the banking sector, just as the government works to support the reforms and efforts of the Central Bank of Iraq in developing the state of the banking sector.
These reform efforts focused on the following main areas:
1- Strengthening ownership structures and governance frameworks, by enhancing transparency and accountability, through measures including the creation of diverse ownership structures, and ensuring independent oversight by boards of directors over operations and committees.
2- Raising the level and standards of service, by increasing access to basic financial services for all members of the Iraqi people, through enhancing efficiency, increasing the supply of products, and modernizing the infrastructure of the banking sector.
3- Harmonization and conformity with international standards, by imposing adherence to recognized frameworks and practices in the areas of combating money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, as well as commitment to financial transparency in order to ensure smooth banking services and support businesses and citizens’ needs.
4- Enhancing financial flexibility, by enhancing the financial safety of Iraqi banks and setting strong requirements regarding capital and cash liquidity, to protect customer deposits and protect the economy in the face of local and international challenges.
This initiative comes within the framework of a broader strategy aimed at modernizing the banking sector, which the Central Bank of Iraq is currently developing in partnership with Oliver Wyman, a leading global management consulting firm. The ongoing reforms being implemented with government banks enhance the integration of this strategy, representing a turning point in the future of the Iraqi financial system.
The implementation details of these reforms will be presented later.
From this standpoint, the government and the Central Bank affirm the adoption of a common reform vision, which is to establish a modern, transparent and comprehensive banking system that supports the aspirations of the dynamic economy of the Iraqi state. link