The Chairman Of The Military Industrialization Authority And The British Ambassador Discuss Attracting Local And Foreign Investments
Sunday 21, January 2024 | Economical Number of readings: 335 Baghdad / NINA / The head of the Military Industrialization Authority, Mustafa Ati Hassan, confirmed that military industrialization played a major role in supporting the country’s sovereignty through defense industries and revitalizing the Iraqi economy, through its various initiatives.
During his meeting with the British Ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Hitchen, today, Sunday, the head of the authority reviewed the mechanism of work of military manufacturing in line with the requirements of local and international rules, pointing out the need to support the government’s directions in participating with the private sector and improving the work environment in order to attract local and foreign investments.
For his part, British Ambassador Stephen Hitchen affirmed his country's support for the directions of the Iraqi government and meeting the requirements for its progress./End 5
ACHIEVING SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN A FRACTURED WORLD
A Conversation With Mohammed Shyaa Al Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq
January 18, 2024 10:30–11:00 CET
A conversation with Mohammed Shyaa Al Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq Simultaneous interpretation in English and Arabic>
Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics
The Forum's Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics is helping stakeholders shape progress on global and regional priorities within the most complex geopolitical and geo-economic landscape in decades.
Clare: International Finance Corporation: We want to expand our business in Iraq as an investment region
1/17/2024 Baghdad
The International Finance Corporation announced, on Wednesday, its desire to expand its work in Iraq as an attractive region for investment.
The Prime Minister’s media office said in a statement, seen by Al-Iqtisad News, that “Al-Sudani met in Davos with a delegation from the International Finance Corporation/IFC, headed by Executive Vice President Mokhtar Diop.”
The statement added, "The meeting witnessed a review of the prospects for cooperation between Iraq and the international institution, a member of the World Bank Group, in light of the Iraqi government moving forward with economic reforms and implementing major strategic and investment projects."
Al-Sudani confirmed, according to the statement, “the government’s readiness to develop the scope of cooperation and partnership with the international institution, especially after the signing of a contract between the Civil Aviation Authority and the international institution to prepare an investment portfolio regarding the Baghdad International Airport development project to be on the same level as international airports, and compatible with international standards in a comprehensive manner.”
For its part, the International Finance Corporation delegation expressed its desire to expand its work in Iraq as an attractive region for investment, as well as to participate in the Strategic Development Road project and the major projects attached to it. LINK
Article: "The House of Representatives discusses the latest requirements for Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization" Quote: "... Iraq has completed all the requirements for joining the World Trade Organization in 2023, and only legislation remains."
Article: "Al-Sudani leaves Baghdad for Switzerland to attend the Davos Forum" Quote: "On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani left the capital, Baghdad, for Switzerland to participate in the 54th session of the Davos Economic Forum."
Article: "With the exception of Iraq...the World Bank announces a rise in food sector inflation in the world" Quote "...the International Monetary Fund announced a decrease in the inflation rate in Iraq, which is expected to stabilize due to the policy of the Central Bank of Iraq and the impact resulting from raising the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar..."
Article: "An Iraqi delegation heads to Washington within days, followed by a visit to Sudan" Quote: "Iraqi delegation will head to Washington within days, followed by a visit by Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani."
Article: "Selling an Iraqi currency dating back to the era of “King Ghazi” for 100 thousand pounds sterling" Quote: "A very rare Iraqi currency dating back to the royal era was sold in the country, today, Monday, at a fantastic price of 100,000 pounds sterling, or approximately 187 million Iraqi dinars ."
Article: "Expectations that the decline in dollar prices will bring benefits to the Iraqi individual " Quote: "In order to reduce the price of the dollar in the local market, the Central Bank of Iraq specified, yesterday, Sunday, the entities covered by receiving their external transfers in cash in the dollar currency, starting from January 2, 2024. "
Article: "A financial expert points out the reasons for the continuous decline in the dollar exchange rate" Quote: "On Monday, financial expert Nabil Al-Ali attributed the continued decline in the exchange rate of the US dollar towards the Iraqi dinar to...the change in the attitudes of merchants and public opinion through their conviction of the strength and status of the dinar...The dollar exchange rates against the Iraqi dinar will continue to decline, thus touching the official rate specified by the Central Bank ."
Article: "The Iraqi Dinar Overthrows The Dollar And Wins The Struggle To Control The Regular Market” Quote “The US Treasury continues its cooperation with the Central Bank of Iraq,as many Iraqi banks have now formed relationships with international banks for the first time.”
Article: " CBI Governor: Int'l welcome to the Iraqi banking sector’s commitment to compliance rules " Quote: " For the first time, Iraq is witnessing the reorganization of the external transfer process through correspondent banks, instead of the Central Bank or the Federal Bank being the executive interface for this process.”
Article: "CBI Governor: Int'l welcome to the Iraqi banking sector’s commitment to compliance rules" Quote: "For the first time, Iraq is witnessing the reorganization of the external transfer process through correspondent banks, instead of the Central Bank or the Federal Bank being the executive interface for this process.”
Al-Maliki Stresses To The US Ambassador The Necessity Of Maintaining And Developing Friendly Relations And Cooperation
Mawazine News – Baghdad The head of the State of Law coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, stressed today, Sunday, the necessity of activating the strategic framework agreement between the two countries, as well as working to develop bilateral relations to serve the two countries.
The media office of the State of Law coalition said in a statement received by Mawazine News, “Al-Maliki received in his office the American Ambassador Elena Romanski, and during the meeting the two sides reviewed the future of bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as the escalation of tensions in the region and the repercussions of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation and Baghdad’s keenness on the need to end The Zionist aggression and the opening of humanitarian corridors to bring in aid.”
Al-Maliki stressed “the importance of strengthening friendship and cooperation relations, and continuing to sustain and develop them in a way that serves the interests of the two friendly peoples,” noting “the necessity of activating the agreements concluded between the two countries, especially the strategic framework agreement, in line with the importance of the current stage and the many crises facing the region, especially Events in occupied Palestine, Lebanon, the Red Sea, northern Syria and Iraq,” calling for “speedy action to reduce tension and end the mutual attacks that may herald the expansion of the war.”
The statement continued, "The American ambassador "renewed her country's support for the stability of Iraq, stressing the continuation of dialogues between the two countries in order to strengthen partnership projects in various important and vital sectors." https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=240790
So, how long will us investors in the IQD have to wait before Iraq is allowed to liberate its own currency?
Why do I say “now is the time”?We know they are completely out of Chapter VII sanctions since December 2022...We know they want the Iraq funds (nearly USD 115+ billion) released from the NY banks and put in their custody...We know they have plans for yet more Sovereign Funds to invest their reserves.
We know they are making agreements now for “currency swaps” for trade...as Iraq will no longer be using any US dollars in Iraq as of January 1st 2024. We know that the IMF is now working on the final stages of pulling together agreements to build a new basket of six (6) currencies to re-peg the IQD. More pressure from Iraqi economics advisors to the government to use a “basket” of currencies for the new dinar peg. This is the IMF plan of 2011 all along.
We know since January they have undertaken a massive “de-dollarization” program and told it should have taken 6 years but they decided to do it in 1 year (2023).
Why such a hurry?
We know the value of the IQD right now does exceed even pre-1991 era but still at 1/6 of a penny for a rate?
The value won’t go up, its already there ...
Why is it being suppressed?
Iraq needs to see a rate reflecting the TRUE VALUE.
What is holding it back?
We know Iraq now pumps 2/3 more oil than in pre-1991 era. Iraq also has announced 132+ tons of GOLD reserves. We know they are pushing this year alone, more than any other year since 2005, for the passing of Oil and Gas law.
Why?
We know for a FACT that it is the U.S. through the Treasury Dept. direction that will NOT give sign-off to allow the reinstatement.
Why?
Finally, the CBI has told us many times already that January is the most opportune time to reinstate for accounting purposes, since it begins their new FISCAL year (for accounting purposes). Imminent World Trade Organization full accession.
Just be patient, the reinstatement is coming and I firmly believe from what we now know there is a very strong likelihood we NOT are going to be at the banks in early 2024 but there is still strong hope for early part of the new year.
There is no guarantees and so no one really knows a date when the event will occur. Let’s just follow the FACTS and see where they lead us…okay? Iraq is full of surprises and so anything is possible.
Just be patient, the reinstatement is coming and I firmly believe from what we now know there is a very strong likelihood we NOT are going to be at the banks in early 2024 but there is still strong hope for early part of the new year. There is no guarantees and so no one really knows a date when the event will occur. Let’s just follow the FACTS and see where they lead us…okay? Iraq is full of surprises and so anything is possible.
...in my conversation with my CBI contact on my Wednesday call...We...talked about...the monetary reform and where it stood. I was told it would take some time, maybe weeks or months even for the currency swaps to take the needed effect in leveling out the parallel black market rate for the dollar. But my contact seemed very optimistic that the plan now in place could move this rate quicker than expected even. But I was warned not to expect instant success as there is still a period of monitoring it for wide swings, in other words it needs to be stable...We can see that there has been more progress towards currency reform in the last 12 months than in the twenty years combined.
There is much prosperity and abundance coming our way this new year. Let’s all just be patient and stay calm.
Article: "SUDANESE ADVISOR: EXCHANGE RATES WILL REACH 135 THOUSAND PER 100 DOLLARS SOON"If this really does happen we will be in great shape to see the one more program rate change we have been waiting for. But remember they will probably wait and monitor the rate to ensure it is first stable, How long we don’t know. But this is fantastic news today.
Article: "SUDANESE ADVISOR: EXCHANGE RATES WILL REACH 135 THOUSAND PER 100 DOLLARS
SOON"If this really does happen we will be in great shape to see the one more program rate change we have been waiting for. But remember they will probably wait and monitor the rate to ensure it is first stable, How long we don’t know. But this is fantastic news today.
I believe we will not get out of January without seeing the project to delete the zeros and my CBI contact ...gave me assurances that this could be the case.Keep our fingers crossed nothing else interferes in the process.
I am told they fully intend to have this parallel market on target and under control within January...if they can accomplish this target, we know what their next move will be... We don’t need to speculate...We know as a FACT
Parliamentary Finance Calls For Accelerating The Sending Of The Budget For The Purpose Of Approval
Economy | 01/21/2024 Mawazine News – Baghdad The Parliamentary Finance Committee discussed, on Sunday, with the Minister of Finance, Taif Sami, the completion of the 2024 budget schedules before their approval.
The House of Representatives media stated in a statement received by Mawazine News, that “The Parliamentary Finance Committee met with the Minister of Finance, Taif Sami, and the issues of employee compensation were discussed.” And inspectors and added amounts for purchasing energy and implementing projects included in the government plan.”
The Finance Committee asked the Minister of Finance to “expedite the preparation of the budget schedules and send them for review and voting on them.” For her part, Taif Sami said, “Financing projects is done according to the allocations and listing requirements, and the components and violations must be modified in coordination with the Ministry of Planning, in addition to the issue of the region’s revenues.”
