Thursday, March 6, 2025

Prime Minister's Advisor Explains Details of "Bridge Borrowing", 7 MARCH

  Prime Minister's Advisor Explains Details of "Bridge Borrowing"

 Prime Minister's Advisor Explains Details of "Bridge Borrowing"

 The Prime Minister's Advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, explained today, Thursday, the details of "bridge borrowing", while indicating that more than 50% of the domestic debt is concentrated in the investment portfolio of the Central Bank.

Saleh told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Historically, government borrowing through treasury transfers is a type of short-term borrowing from the banking market that British public finance has adopted since the reign of Queen Victoria."

He added that "this type of borrowing was done for limited periods not exceeding weeks or financial quarters, and is known as (bridge borrowing), as it aims to bridge the temporary deficit gap resulting from the slowdown in revenues compared to actual expenditures."

He pointed out that "due to monthly financial obligations, public finance may resort to issuing treasury transfers as a financing tool to bridge the temporary deficit in the budget until cash flow stabilizes in the next period of the fiscal year."

 He added that "in light of the fluctuations in the oil revenue cycle on the general budget over the past ten years, the government was forced to borrow multiple and accumulated, which led to an increase in expenditures in three stages: the first during the war on ISIS terrorism, the second due to the economic closure caused by the pandemic, and finally the increase in expenditures in the areas of reconstruction and implementation of suspended projects."

He added that "these circumstances resulted in the accumulation of domestic public debt, part of which was borne by government banks, as more than half of it was deducted from the Central Bank of Iraq through open market operations."

He stressed that "this necessitated a complementary monetary issuance that led to a significant increase in the monetary mass, especially since the domestic public debt, amounting to 82 trillion dinars, is still mostly within the government financial and banking system, more than 50% of this debt is concentrated in the investment portfolio of the Central Bank."

He added, "On the positive side, this debt is covered by foreign currency by more than 100%, which reflects a high level of monetary stability, as the annual inflation growth rate did not exceed 3%."

He added that "despite these challenges, both the monetary and fiscal authorities seek continuous consultation in order to gradually extinguish the domestic debt," stressing that "the government relies on enhancing financial sustainability by reducing the public debt balance annually and reducing the annual budget deficit to a percentage not exceeding 3% of the gross domestic product." 

He concluded that "this approach is part of a fiscal policy aimed at providing financing and protecting economic activity, which contributes to achieving stability and sustainable economic growth through coordination between fiscal and monetary policies."  link

TIDBIT FROM SANDY INGRAM, 7 MARCH

 Sandy Ingram  

Changes are happening in Iraq.  We can only hope this means an increase, even a small increase, in the value of the currency is on the agenda further down the road. 

 We have reason to believe the value of the currency will automatically push up once the Development Road Project is in place...

PIMPY: This means the Iraqi dinar has grown in value!! @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinarinvestor

 


Inflation's freefall: Iraq hits 2.8%, economic hopes soar, 7 MARCH

  Inflation's freefall: Iraq hits 2.8%, economic hopes soar

Iraq’s annual inflation rate has dropped to 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024, down from 4% a year earlier, the central bank (CBI) announced on Wednesday.

In an official statement, CBI confirmed that core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, had also declined to 2.5% from 4.5% in the same period of 2023.

“Both headline and core inflation remain within acceptable levels, reflecting price stability and the effectiveness of Iraq’s monetary policy,” the statement read.

The latest figures point to a slower rise in consumer prices, strengthening purchasing power and reinforcing economic stability.

Notably, Iraq has experienced inflation swings in recent years. The annual rate stood at 5% in 2022 before climbing to 6.6% in 2023, driven by currency fluctuations and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Projections for the coming years remain mixed. An International Monetary Fund report in October 2024 forecast a slight increase to 3.5% in 2025, before easing to 3% by 2029.  link


SANDY INGRAM CC HIGHLIGHTS NOTES: BREAKING: The Demand for the IQD is Increasing Here's Why, 7 MARCH

 SANDY INGRAM CC HIGHLIGHTS NOTES: 

AJ: The One Dinar Mystery @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinarinvestor #iraqidinar

 


Evaluation Of The Central Bank's Journey In 22 Years, 7 MARCH

 Evaluation Of The Central Bank's Journey In 22 Years

Samir Al-Nusairi

Since 2003, the Iraqi economy has suffered from financial and banking challenges and crises due to the difficult and complex subjective and objective circumstances that the country has gone through over the past 22 years. 

Since the monetary policy of the Central Bank, according to its Law No. 56 issued in 2004, is responsible for achieving economic stability, overcoming the challenges of the financial and monetary system, and addressing the structural imbalance in the economy in the transition from a rentier economy to a real (productive) economy, as well as from a monetary economy to a digital economy.

During the above period, the Central Bank went through four important and basic stages:

First - reducing rampant inflation in 2003, which exceeded 35%, controlling the stability of the exchange rate, building foreign reserves, and controlling the money supply.

Second - overcoming the economic and security shocks in 2014.

Third - addressing the financial crisis during the Corona pandemic in 2020.

Fourth - controlling the exchange rate, regulating foreign trade financing, achieving digital transformation, enhancing financial inclusion, and complying with international standards in 2023 and 2024

Considering that the Central Bank, in cooperation with the government, has accomplished important steps towards implementing the financial and banking reform methodology and moving towards completing its strategy to achieve the goals according to the roadmap drawn up in 2025,

it is necessary to evaluate and analyze the economic reality over the past 22 years with impartiality and high transparency and identify cases of failure and dysfunction in the productive economic sectors and procrastination in not implementing the economic reform programs that all successive governments have worked on but have not been able to achieve the goals of radical and comprehensive reform for the reasons above. 

However, the reality of the situation and the reform efforts made in 2023 and 2024 have made us, as specialists, look with hope and optimism at what has been achieved and what is planned to be achieved in the next two years based on what is stated in the third strategy of the Central Bank with its main and sub-goals.

The banking reform steps taken by the Central Bank from 2003 to 2024 addressed the effects of the economic and security shocks in 2014, most notably the 75% drop in global oil prices and the government’s inability to pay employees’ salaries on time. 

The Central Bank was able to use its foreign exchange reserves and the method of rediscounting treasury transfers to support the government in the amount of 16 trillion dinars, and the crisis was overcome at the time. 

In 2015, the Central Bank, in light of these difficult economic conditions, began to move to develop its plans for the coming years and draw up a methodology for banking reform and structural, technical and administrative development of the Central Bank. 

This resulted in the issuance of its first strategy for the years (2016-2020),
which included 5 main objectives and 140 sub-objectives, 129 of which were achieved, at a rate of 92%, during the years of implementing the strategy. 

It contributed to establishing the basic structures and pillars for moving to a new stage of financial and banking reform, accompanied by the strategic banking projects plan for the years (2019-2023) and the issuance of the second strategy (2021-2023) to complete the achievement of the sub-objectives that could not be implemented in the first strategy, which numbered (11) sub-objectives, during which the government continued to seek help from the Central Bank and obtain (30) trillion dinars, and the total amount owed by the government became (46) trillion dinars. 

In 2023, the Central Bank worked on studying the achievements of the two previous strategies and diagnosing the foundations of the desired reform. 

The efforts to prepare for the third strategy continued throughout 2023, and the foundations and foundations were built to set the goals for this new strategy for the years (2024-2026), which derived its main and sub-goals from the state's general economic policies and its strategy for financial and banking reform adopted by the government in the government program and from Central Bank Law 56 of 2004. 

It included programs with clear goals and initiatives for a period of three years in a special, complex economic and financial circumstance fraught with risks and challenges at the level of internal and external economic and financial relations.

The third strategy identified the main goals with 7 goals, 24 sub-goals and 75 initiatives to achieve
the main and sub-goals and charted the path for banking and financial reform according to the following strategic goals:

1- Supporting and enhancing monetary stability.
2- Enhancing digital transformation, activating electronic payment and supporting cybersecurity.
3- Enhancing financial inclusion
4- Maintaining a sound financial system
5- Developing the organizational structure and human resource capabilities
6- Enhancing the position of the Central Bank locally and internationally
7- Enhancing compliance of the banking sector and the non-banking sector in line with international standards.

Programs, policies and initiatives have been identified to achieve the goals. Perhaps the most prominent program is the launch of the National Strategy for Bank Lending in Iraq (2024-2029) and the approval of the Council of Ministers to implement it, which will restructure banking financing in Iraq, 

in addition to leaving the electronic platform and adopting correspondent banks in foreign transfers, 

protecting the financial system, 

enhancing financial inclusion, 

managing monetary and financial stability, 

developing oversight and supervision,

developing regulation in the banking sector, 

completing the development of the infrastructure for digital transformation, 

licensing digital banks, 

implementing regulatory policies in the Central Bank in accordance with the frameworks and technologies adopted in global central banks, 

raising the capabilities of human resources, 

developing banking operations, strengthening the bank's internal and external relations, 

and representing it locally and internationally.

What has been presented accurately and transparently for the 22 years of the financial and banking reform process confirms that the next two years will inevitably result in the transition to a comprehensive and radical reform of the Iraqi banking sector and transforming it into a solid sector that contributes to sustainable development.   https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=53139

TIDBIT FROM MNT GOAT: ..we are not likely to see any reinstatement of the dinar until Iran is broken, 7 MARCH

 MNT GOAT

Look at the 8 oil companies that do not want to start the flow of the oil. 

 Ask yourself, why? 

 IMO the answer is because the new exchange rate has not been revealed to them yet.

  Sudani protects it until he is ready...If and when the oil starts flowing, it should be with the same new exchange rate that is in the budget...This oil cannot flow at 1310.  It's literally impossible mathematically let alone financially.

..we are not likely to see any reinstatement of the dinar until Iran is broken. I mean the government leadership toppled and the terrorist networks abolished...I am told by my CBI contact this must take place to move ahead in Iraq and free Iraq. As long as Iran exists in its present state, the U.S. is NOT going to release (or free) its dinar to the world.

In the midst of the issues with Iran and the U.S., things are still moving ahead in Iraq. It may be an uphill battle for Al-Sudani and Al Ali-Alaq but they is still aggressively moving forward...the dinar is finally rising in relation to the dollar. Yes, the dinar is finally slowly rising. It should not be long before Iraq rises to the top of the middle east and they advance in the rest of the world in global stature.

🔥 REINALDO JC🔥🔥March F*cking Madness 🔥🔥 @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinarinvestor #iraqidinar

 


Tomorrow.. End of the US “exemption” for exporting Iranian gas to Iraq, and Baghdad faces a difficult test, 6 MARCH

 Tomorrow.. End of the US “exemption” for exporting Iranian gas to Iraq, and Baghdad faces a difficult test

Shafaq News/ The American website “Real Clear Angry”, which specializes in energy affairs, considered that the arrival of the date of March 7 represents an occasion to test the Donald Trump administration team on whether it will push Iraq to “liberate itself from the grip of Iran” by getting rid of Iranian energy resources, by stopping the US presidential exemptions that allow Baghdad to obtain gas and electricity exports from the Iranians. 

The American report, translated by Shafaq News Agency, explained that the validity of the last exemption from sanctions granted by the Joe Biden administration for a period of 120 days, which allows the export of Iranian gas and electricity to Iraq, expires on March 7, 2025.

The report indicated that the Trump administration had spoken of its intention not to sign the waivers again in the second presidential memorandum related to national security, dated February 4, which reactivated the maximum pressure policy against Iran. 

The website considered in its report that Washington should end the exemption, because Iraq is now closer to achieving energy independence, at a time when Iran is repeatedly cutting off energy supplies to Iraq due to shortages inside Iran, adding that the United States must help Iraq stand on its feet for the first time in the summer of 2025.

After the report mentioned that Iraq had obtained for more than a decade the American exemption under the National Defense Authorization Act (the American defense budget) in 2011, which extends to countries that have significantly reduced their purchases of Iranian oil or in cases where there is an interest in American national security, it indicated that this exemption extended to Iraq, including during Trump’s first term.

The report saw that Iraq could make the transition away from Iranian supplies next summer, by relying on local resources such as fuel oil, which Iraqi organizations classified by the US as “terrorist” and supported by Iran, are smuggling oil to international markets.

The report considered that getting rid of the Iranian threat network represented by Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime, in addition to Iranian air defenses, means that the opportunity has become available to loosen Iran’s grip on Iraq, but on condition that the momentum is maintained, noting that Iraqi leaders are currently waiting for a sign that the Trump administration has a different and more powerful policy towards Iraq than the Biden team.

The report noted that several important issues revolve around the perceptions of the Iranian-backed militias that run Iraq: Should they release the hostages that the Trump team is trying to free? Should they honor contracts signed with American investors in the Kurdistan Region? Should Iraq import American or Iranian gas? Should Iraq lift the arrest warrant against Trump himself because he ordered the killing of “terrorist” leaders on Iraqi soil?

The report continued that the Trump administration’s second national security presidential memorandum explicitly states that “the Secretary of State must modify or revoke sanctions waivers, particularly those that provide Iran with any degree of economic or financial assistance.” 

Whether the Trump team implements this policy or falls at the first hurdle is the issue at hand, the report added.

Therefore, the report said that there is no more logical time than now to push Iraq towards the finish line of energy independence from Iran, adding that if Iraq switches to using liquid fuels for months, its dependence on Iran next summer could decline to at least 4% (not 40%) of peak power generation, indicating that this could insulate Iraq from the effects of a shortage of Iranian supplies by switching to primary resources that Iraq has.

The report concluded that the threat of rejecting the exemption, in light of the shortage of Iranian supply, will push Iraq for the first time to move quickly to replace Iranian energy resources, by accelerating plans to import electricity from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and using ships to import liquefied natural gas to the Iraqi coast.

The report warned that this trend should be encouraged and supported more, which would be in Iraq’s interest as well as in the national interest of the United States, explaining that ending presidential exemptions from sanctions on March 7 could begin to liberate Iraq from Iran’s grip. 

The report pointed out that this trend could be accompanied by strengthening media materials directed at Iraqi public opinion, which show the extent of the unreliability and high cost of Iranian energy supplies, in addition to the urgent need to reduce dependence on Iran in the end.

Translation: Shafaq News Agency

TIDBIT FROM FRANK26, 6 MARCH

 Frank26  

 It is continuing the pattern that no one is saying it's a scam. 

 If they do say it's a scam it's probably a teller but everything behind the teller, what do they say? 

'Not at this moment.', 'Not right now.', 'No we're not exchanging.' But they don't say it's a scam anymore.  That's good.  

Look at the 8 oil companies that do not want to start the flow of the oil.  Ask yourself, why?  IMO the answer is because the new exchange rate has not been revealed to them yet.  Sudani protects it until he is ready...

If and when the oil starts flowing, it should be with the same new exchange rate that is in the budget...This oil cannot flow at 1310.  It's literally impossible mathematically let alone financially.

MNT GOAT: .we are not likely to see any reinstatement of the dinar until Iran is broken #iqd

 


Al-Eqtisad News Baghdad meeting with the regional oil ministry and companies ends without agreement, 6 MARCH

 Al-Eqtisad News  Baghdad meeting with the regional oil ministry and companies ends without agreement

Economy News – Baghdad

The meeting between the Ministry of Oil and Natural Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government and Epicor concluded without reaching any agreement on the outstanding issues between the two parties.

A source said, “The problems remained the same, and no significant progress was made in the negotiations.”

This meeting came after the same tripartite meeting was held last Sunday, 02-03-2025, in Baghdad, and its results were presented to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani at the Federal Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 04-03-2025.

According to the agreement between the governments of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, in the first phase, 300,000 barrels of oil per day will be produced in the Kurdistan Region, 185,000 barrels of which will be exported through the Ceyhan port, while the other 115,000 barrels will be used to meet local needs.

Since March 2023, the export of 400,000 barrels per day of oil from the Kurdistan Region and an additional 75,000 barrels from Kirkuk via the port of Ceyhan has been halted, following a decision by an international arbitration court in Paris in favor of the Iraqi federal government.

AJ : Iraq's parallel market 🔥 Important Update!!, 6 MARCH

 AJ

Iraq's parallel market 🔥 Important Update

On Thursday, Iraq’s parallel market saw the exchange rates of the US dollar against the Iraqi dinar rise in both Baghdad and Erbil. In Baghdad, the unofficial rate settled at 1,483 dinars per dollar, while in Erbil it reached 1,480 dinars per dollar.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) maintains an official rate of 1,310 dinars per dollar. The first step Turkmenistan took when it issued lower-denomination notes and revalued its currency was unifying the unofficial and official exchange rates.

This is exciting because the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently recommended that Iraq’s finance minister reduce the gap between Iraq’s parallel and official rates by increasing larger trades in the dinar. They were specifically addressing the parallel market. At some point, the CBI will likely establish a single unified rate for Iraq. 

This aligns with what Mohamed Saleh, the Prime Minister’s financial advisor, has confirmed: geopolitical controls on informal trade are pushing more engagement toward official foreign currency outlets. This shift helps finance foreign trade through a stable, recognized international financial system.

AJ : Iraq's parallel market 🔥 Important Update!! @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinarinvestor #iraqidinar

 


Iraq restarts oil exports through Türkiye-Iraq pipeline, 6 MARCH

 Iraq restarts oil exports through Türkiye-Iraq pipeline

A section of the Iraq-Türkiye oil pipeline, a crucial route for crude exports from the Iraqi KRG to Türkiye’s Ceyhan port. (AA Photo)

Iraq’s Minister of Oil Hayyan Abdul-Ghani announced that Iraq would resume its oil exports through the Ceyhan Port via the Türkiye-Iraq oil pipeline.

This announcement marks a significant step toward reviving the pipeline that has been inactive due to a dispute between Baghdad and Irbil since March 2023.

The initial export will begin at 185,000 barrels per day, with plans to gradually increase the flow to meet the federal budget’s expectations.

Recommended

Why it matters

The resumption of oil exports from Iraq through the Ceyhan Port is a key development for both Iraq and Türkiye. The halt in exports, caused by the political disagreement between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Irbil, has resulted in substantial economic losses, approximately $20 billion. The renewed flow of oil could contribute to improving relations between the central government in Baghdad and the KRG, as well as restoring significant economic activity for both countries.

Key details of announcement

  • Restart of exports: Iraq plans to restart oil exports through the Ceyhan Port with an initial export of 185,000 barrels per day, which will gradually increase as the production capacity reaches federal budget goals.
  • Dispute resolution : The oil flow was halted in March 2023 due to a dispute between Baghdad and Irbil, but the situation appears to be moving toward resolution.
  • KRG’s role: A recent agreement within the Iraqi Parliament involves subsidizing production costs for international oil companies operating in the Kurdish region, facilitating smoother oil transport and export.
  • Provisions and procedures: Iraq’s Oil Ministry and the KRG have been working to ensure that oil from the Kurdish region is delivered to the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) for export via Türkiye.
  • Technical review of the pipeline: Both the KRG and Iraq have agreed to conduct joint technical reviews of the pipeline infrastructure to ensure it is ready for operation.

US and Russian Support

  • U.S. diplomacy: On Feb. 26, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani discussed accelerating the reopening of the Türkiye-Iraq oil pipeline.
  • Role of foreign companies: Both U.S. and Russian companies are playing an active role in the process, particularly in overcoming technical and financial obstacles. KRG President Nechirvan Barzani emphasized the support from the U.S. in facilitating the resumption of oil exports.

Economic impact of suspension

  • Losses due to suspension: The halt of oil exports has caused a significant financial loss of approximately $20 billion in revenue for the region.
  • Anticipation of resumption: The resumption of exports is expected to improve relations between Baghdad and Türkiye, as well as stabilize the regional economy. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that the pipeline had been ready for operation since October 2023, but the delay was due to unresolved political disagreements between Irbil and Baghdad.

US pressure on Iraq

Experts, including Kate Dourian from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, suggest that the decision to restart exports may be influenced by U.S. pressure under former President Trump’s administration, which had emphasized the need to continue oil exports from the Kurdish region to avoid potential U.S. sanctions.

The Trump administration had warned that failure to do so could lead to economic consequences, especially in relation to U.S. maximum pressure policies on Iran.

Iraq to resume oil exports through Türkiye’s Ceyhan Port after yearlong halt

🔥 REINALDO JC🔥🔥March F*cking Madness 🔥🔥, 6 MARCH

🔥 REINALDO JC🔥🔥March F*cking Madness 🔥🔥

💥NO foreign currency sales auctions since Sunday!!! Who noticed that? 💥Credit Loans/Activities suspended paused since mid Dec. 💥Barrel of oil declining. 💥Pressure for KRG to begin exporting oil internationally. 💥Budget schedules/tables to arrive mid month & will reveal numbers/calculations. 💥Trump is the Head Executor & in control—mentioned XRP/SOL/ADA/ETH/BTC as Crypto Strategic Reserves. 💥Who’s tuning in tonight to Trump SOTU speech to hear more wonderful news? 🔥🔥🔥March F*cking Madness 🔥🔥🔥 (things are looking deliciously in our favor)

FIREFLY: It appears to us there was no auction on Monday! @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinarinvestor

 


The Minister of Oil announces the imminent activation of the export file through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, 6 MARCH

 The Minister of Oil announces the imminent activation of the export file through the Turkish port of Ceyhan

Economy News _ Baghdad

Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani Al-Swad announced on Thursday that the oil export file to the Turkish port of Ceyhan and the possibility of increasing exports from Basra oil is about to be activated.

A statement from the Ministry of Oil received by “Economy News” stated that “the Minister of Oil chaired a meeting to discuss the work of the Iraqi-Turkish Joint Committee in the presence of committee members from Iraqi ministries.”

He stressed “the importance of the files related to the work of the committee, in particular the water and oil files.”

He pointed out that “the need to activate the water file in a way that serves the interests of Iraq by achieving a fair share of water releases, pointing out that the oil export file is imminent to activated through the oil pipeline up to the Turkish port of Ceyhan and the possibility of increasing exports through this pipe of Basra oil.”

The statement pointed out that “the meeting discussed the topics contained in the agenda related to the subcommittees in the fields of water, energy and oil, education, border ports and communications, trade exchange, and the file of sports and youth.”

He stressed that “the meeting concluded the importance of completing the technical requirements of the committees, and activating the joint committees with the Turkish side in a way that serves the interests of the country.”


HOLLY CELIANO: Latest financial updates from Holly Celiano, April 11, 2025, 12 APRIL

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