A Kurdish delegation arrives in Baghdad to discuss the salary file and retirees, 17 SEPT

 Shafak News / Our correspondent reported that a Kurdish delegation from the Ministry of Finance in the Kurdistan Region arrived in Baghdad on Monday.

The delegation, which consists of officials from Kurdistan Finance, will hold meetings with the concerned authorities in the Federal Ministry of Finance, explained that the delegation, which consists of officials from the Kurdistan Finance.

He pointed out that the talks will focus on issues related to the salaries of employees and retirees, in addition to discussing the application of the federal pension law.

Two days ago, the head of the Finance Committee in the Iraqi Parliament, Atwan Al-Atwani, informed Shafaq News Agency that a delegation from the committee will visit the Kurdistan Region next week to see the latest developments regarding the distribution of monthly salaries for employees and public sector workers in the region.

The Economic Council of the Federal Government visited the city of Erbil on Sunday last week and discussed several financial issues with the Kurdistan Regional Government, including the settlement of the issue of monthly salaries of employees in the region.

Minister of Finance Taif Sami, one of the members of the Council, said that the joint meeting between the delegation of the Ministerial Council of Economy with the Economic Council of the Kurdistan Region discussed the joint financial files, to reach solutions to the financial issues related to the two parties.

The minister stated at the time that “the talks are taking place within the framework of government efforts aimed at strengthening cooperation between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region, and the common financial files such as the salaries of the region’s employees, the regional budget and the border ports, in addition to the coordination of customs and fiscal policies, are among the most important issues affecting the stability of the Iraqi economy.”

The Minister of Finance said, according to the statement, that “the talks represent a historic opportunity to achieve financial reconciliation between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region,” stressing “the importance of strengthening financial cooperation between the two parties and reaching sustainable solutions to outstanding financial issues.”

She pointed out that “at the same time, agreeing on a fair mechanism for the distribution of oil revenues and border ports will contribute to strengthening confidence and economic stability in the country.”

https://shafaq.com/ar

LATEST FROM MILITIAMAN, 17 SEPT

 Militia Man  

The development Road Project is opening up Iraq to the region and into the international world.  The private sector is going to be the main driving force...They're going to have to expose an exchange rate at some point in time, sooner than later.  I'm going to go with sooner.

 They're talking about Iraq as going global and to the international financial system.

  With that has responsibility and that responsibility will be defended by the central bank.  That responsibility is to have a stable exchange rate and to provide commerce throughout the country in and out and across borders, with efficiency and transparency.   That's what they're going to have and that's what they're doing.  There's looking to be no stopping it.   It's brilliant.

  The news out of late is completely off the charts and it points to I believe international.  Internationalism is where Iraq is headed.  I don't believe for a minute they're going to stop until they complete it...

DINAR RV HIGHLIGHTS, 17 SEPT

https://youtube.com/shorts/IazM28x4AsU?si=e6boii7iMt7E0uTT

 @DINARREVALUATION

Oil Products: A move to generalize payment by electronic card in all governorates, 17 SEPT

 Economy News – Baghdad

The Oil Products Distribution Company confirmed, on Monday, that electronic payment constitutes 65% of the company’s revenues, indicating the intention to generalize it in all governorates.

The Director General of the Oil Products Distribution Company, Hussein Talib, said in a statement reported by the official news agency, and reviewed by “Al-Eqtisad News”, that “electronic payment is one of the pillars of the government program, and the Oil Products Distribution Company played a role in it by using it to fill fuel and purchase its products by citizens.”

He added, “Work is continuing to enhance the electronic payment file by adding full automation to the distribution sector.”

He continued, “The Oil Products Distribution Company is the first government company to initiate electronic payment, as it began the trial operation of electronic payment in 2023, and once it was completed, it was launched in all governorates.”

He revealed that “electronic payment revenues for last August amounted to 615 billion dinars out of a trillion of total sales, and with these figures, electronic payment constitutes 65% of the revenues of the Oil Products Distribution Company.”

He pointed out that “electronic payment for fuel purchases has been implemented in Baghdad and we are moving towards generalizing it in the rest of the governorates, starting with Nineveh, and we are determined by the end of this year to complete our drawn-up plans by equipping all fuel filling stations with electronic payment devices and ending cash transactions.”

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LATEST FROM PIMPY, 17 SEPT

   Pimpy 

 I'm not saying they're going to devalue the currency right now. 

 What I am saying is if they stay below $70 [per barrel of oil] for the medium term, you can see them devalue the currency.  I don't think it's going to happen anytime this year because the year is almost over. 

 I'd be a little nervous going into 2025.

PIMPY CC NOTES HIGHLIGHTS: "THE NECESSARY STEPS FOR IRAQ TO REINSTATE THE DINAR RATE AT $3.22" BY PIMPY, 16 SEPT

Summary

Pimpy discusses the necessary steps for Iraq to reinstate the $3.22 dinar rate, emphasizing economic reforms and stability.

Highlights

• 💼 Monetary Reforms: Iraq needs comprehensive monetary reforms to stabilize its economy.
• 💵 Currency Basket: Adopting a basket of currencies will reduce reliance on the US dollar.
• 🚜 Economic Diversification: Iraq should diversify beyond oil to strengthen its economy.
• 📈 Foreign Investment: Attracting foreign investment is crucial for economic recovery.
• ⚖️ Political Stability: A stable political environment fosters confidence in the dinar.
• 📊 Inflation Control: Monitoring and controlling inflation is essential for maintaining currency value.
• 🏦 Engagement with Institutions: Collaborating with international financial institutions can support necessary reforms.

Key Insights

• 💡  Monetary Reforms: Implementing monetary reforms, including deleting zeros from the currency, can help restore public confidence and stabilize the economy. This is a long-discussed yet crucial step for Iraq’s financial health.
• 🌐 Currency Basket: By adopting a currency basket system, Iraq can mitigate risks associated with dollar fluctuations, providing a more stable foundation for international trade and enhancing economic resilience.
• 📉 Economic Diversification: Reducing oil dependency is vital. Recent agreements with Turkey on agriculture infrastructure can potentially boost Iraq’s agricultural sector, indicating a step towards diversification.
• 📈 Foreign Investment: Iraq must create a favorable environment for foreign investors through regulatory reforms, which is essential for economic growth and stability.
• 🔒 Political Stability: Ensuring political stability is key to building trust among citizens and investors alike, which will lead to increased usage of the dinar over foreign currencies.
• 📉 Inflation Control: The Central Bank’s role in controlling inflation through effective monetary policy is vital for maintaining the dinar’s value, currently facing a 5% inflation rate.
• 🤝 International Engagement: Collaborating with organizations like the IMF can provide Iraq with guidance and financial support to implement necessary reforms, aiding in achieving its monetary goals.

Iraq's Path to Recovery: Opportunities and Challenges

Private Banks Association: The number of electronic payment points in Iraq increased from 7 thousand to 30 thousand, 17 SEPT

 Economy News – Baghdad

The Executive Director of the Iraqi Private Banks Association, Ali Tariq, confirmed on Sunday that “the number of electronic payment points in government institutions and shops has increased from 7,000 to 30,000.” 

Tariq said, in a statement reported by the “Rudaw” media network, and reviewed by “Al-Eqtisad News”, that “the financial and banking sector, electronic payment companies and other financial institutions in Iraq need to have a greater impact on the lives of citizens in terms of financing or using electronic payment tools and developing them.”
 
He added that “the Central Bank of Iraq is currently working on a major plan to reform the banking sector in general, whether governmental or private.”
 
He noted that “the focus in the next phase will be on developing and improving these services to strengthen the Iraqi banking sector, protect depositors’ money and develop the electronic payment system, which contributes significantly to reducing the risks of using cash, whether from damage or forgery, as well as protecting the financial system from money laundering and financing terrorism.”
 
As for deposits, he confirmed that they are “continuously increasing, whether in government or private banks, and that lending and loans are also continuously increasing. ”
 
Regarding the use of electronic payment tools, he said that “in the last two years the percentage has been very high, in the last year alone about two million electronic payment cards were issued in Iraq, increasing the number to 20 issued cards.”

Regarding the payment devices that we see in shops and government institutions, he pointed out that “they have increased from 7,000 payment points to more than 30,000, and the total transfer of funds via electronic payment last month between financial institutions reached nearly 2 trillion Iraqi dinars.”
 
The Executive Director of the Iraqi Private Banks Association confirmed that reliance on the banking sector, especially in light of the transfer system to finance foreign trade, “was organized differently than before, and at the end of this year there will also be a shift in the external transfer process to rely more on correspondent banks than the platform in its current state.” 

Regarding the collection of government services, he said that “recently there has been a very large acceleration and doubling in the level of government collection.”

He added that “before June 2023, there were about 50 government institutions with their departments that had at least one electronic payment window, but today the number has exceeded 600 payment windows, which makes it easier for citizens to pay faster.” 

In the context, he stressed that “many banks rely on digital services and applications throughout Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, which has witnessed significant development in terms of the use of digital services.” 

Regarding transferring money abroad, he explained that if “the issue is related to personal transfers, there are specific outlets or ceilings for these transfers.” 

In this regard, he said that “the transfer process will be more organized and monitored by correspondent banks in which Iraqi banks have accounts to ensure real transfers and monitoring that facilitates the process of transferring money for merchants outside Iraq.”