THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE KURDISTAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT MEETS FORMER US PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH
As part of his visit to the United States, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, met on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, with former US President George W. Bush.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed his thanks and appreciation to President Bush for his support for the people of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, as well as the liberation of Iraq from the dictatorial regime, and his support for the democratic system in the country.
For his part, President Bush sent his special greetings to President Barzani, and also expressed his wishes for contentment and prosperity to the people of Kurdistan and all the citizens of Iraq.
(Former U.S. president Bush was presented with a Kurdistan souvenir glass dish that anyone can purchase in the many gift shops for pilgrims in Kurdistan. I can see they went all out to honor him…lol..lol..lol.. ☹. I have to ask why did Bush come to Iraq? Is this just a vacation for him? I hope they had plenty of liquid refreshments on hand….. hint hint..)
Iraq seeks to achieve economic integration among the countries of the region
The Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhaibas Al-Saadawi, confirmed today, Thursday, that Iraq seeks to achieve economic integration between the countries of the region.
The Ministry stated in a statement received by Al-Iqtisad News Agency, “The Minister of Transport headed a high-level government delegation to the United Arab Emirates to discuss the field experience in applying governance and digital systems to the process of transporting goods by the transit system.”
She added, "The Minister held a meeting with the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates, Suhail Al Mazrouei, the Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, and Captain Mohammed Juma Al Shamsi - Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports Group, to discuss partnership, mutual cooperation, and areas of common interest." In the transportation sector.
She continued, "Al-Saadawi discussed with Emirati officials the field experience in applying governance and digital systems to the process of transporting goods via the transit system, and the merits of the Development Road Project and its economic importance to Iraq, the region, and the world."
Al-Saadawi reviewed, according to the statement, “the strategic projects undertaken by the Ministry of Transport, especially the development road project,” explaining that “the transport sector file tops the list of priorities of our Iraqi government,” as it constitutes a measure of the progress and renaissance of nations and societies, which has necessitated us to find plans. Strategy, policies and projects that allow the development of this vital sector, most notably the development road project, which will constitute a qualitative transition in the economic and commercial reality, and will transform Iraq into a major station for trade between Asia and Europe.”
He expressed, “The Ministry seeks, through the development path, to achieve economic integration between the countries of the region, by facilitating the movement of goods and services, and in a way that provides a favorable environment to achieve higher levels of productive and economic integration,” indicating that “the development path, with its various projects, will be a stone.” “The corner for a sustainable economy, through which we aspire to build a regional partnership that contributes to the success of this strategic project for the region and the world, by taking advantage of the distinguished geographical location of our country, which connects the Asian continent with the European continent.”
He noted that "the field experiences in working on this development road project put us in front of many challenges, which Iraq has come a long way in overcoming and meeting the requirements of this project."
He concluded his speech by saying, “We hope to advance the wheel of work, coordination and cooperation between the two brotherly countries towards achieving sustainable development and responding to the growing social, economic and environmental requirements.”
In turn, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure said, according to the statement, “Our meetings with our brothers in the Republic of Iraq have always resulted in a strong desire to advance relations between the two sides to more distinguished levels. Our meeting represents an advanced step in strengthening the leadership of our two countries on the regional and global arenas, and reaching “The transport and logistics services sector will reach the highest levels of competitiveness and attractiveness, by enhancing the exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices, which contributes to achieving progress and prosperity for the two brotherly peoples.”
While the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade stressed, “The leadership of the UAE attaches great importance to activating work with our brothers in the Republic of Iraq and enhancing economic openness between the two countries and cooperation in areas of joint work. There is no doubt that today’s meeting is of special importance, as more investment opportunities and ways to enhance Economic relations and increasing the volume of trade exchange between the UAE and Iraq link
PARLIAMENTARY LAW REQUIRES CONSENSUS BEFORE LEGISLATING THE OIL AND GAS LAW
Today, Thursday, the head of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Mortada Al-Saadi, stipulated consensus between the political blocs before legislating the oil and gas law.
Al-Saadi said in an interview with the Maalouma Agency, “The oil and gas law cannot pass without a political agreement,” noting, “There are many laws that need political agreement, most notably the oil and gas law.”
He added, “The law is a sensitive law that requires deep study and discussion, and cannot be passed without a political agreement.”
(It has been 20 years already to attempt to reach this agreement. I think it time to get a neutral party involved to help broker the deal. Can Trump do it when he comes back to the US presidency?)
Take a look at the top listing on Credit Bank of Iraq bank rate inside Iraq. It is important to note that the US dollar conversion rate still remains the same, but it is listed as a currency that can be exchanged with the dinar.
Scroll all the way to the far right of the dinar listing at Credit Bank of Iraq, and you will find that one US dollar still buys 1,300 dinar.
You might want to save this page with the below article link to refer back to when checking currency rates inside Iraq.
INCLUDING IRAQ… 5 ARAB COUNTRIES POSSESS MORE THAN A THOUSAND TONS OF GOLD RESERVES
(Yet the IQD is still 1/6 of a penny?)
The World Gold Council announced on Thursday that five Arab countries, including Iraq, own more than a thousand tons of global gold reserves.
The council said in its latest schedule for the month of March, seen by Shafaq News Agency, that “the first five countries (Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Algeria, Iraq, and Egypt) possessed 1,47.3 tons, while the rest of the countries possessed (Libya, Kuwait, the Emirates, Jordan, Morocco, and Bahrain).” 489.5 tons.
He added, “Iraq maintained its ranking of 30th globally out of the 100 countries listed in the table with the largest gold reserves, as it has not purchased gold since May, bringing its gold possessions to 142.6 tons, which represents 8.4% of the rest of its other reserves.”
The Council also pointed out that “the United States of America sits on the throne of the rest of the countries with the largest possession of gold in the world at 8,133.5 thousand tons, followed by Germany with 3,352.6 thousand tons, then Italy came with 2,451.8 thousand tons, while Bosnia and Herzegovina came at the bottom with 1.5 thousand tons.” A thousand tons.
It is noteworthy that the World Gold Council is based in the United Kingdom, and has extensive experience and deep knowledge of the factors causing market change, and its members consist of the largest and most advanced gold mining companies in the world.
Stay tuned for this announcement that is or will be coming out of Iraq at any moment. I am pretty positive this has a lot to do with their reforms and imminent accession to the WTO.
