Iraq's Planning Minister: Population census 96% completed in 15 provinces, 20 OCT

 Shafaq News/ Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, Mohammed Ali Tamim, announced on Sunday that the population census operations are nearing their end, in 15 provinces, indicating that the actual completion rate has reached more than 96%.

During the ninth session of the advisory body in the ministry, held on Sunday, Tamim noted that the work is witnessing remarkable progress in the provinces of the Kurdistan Region (Erbil, Duhok, Halabja, and Al-Sulaymaniyah), where the completion rate reached about 65%.

“What has been achieved so far represents a great success for the ministry, in a large-scale project such as the census. Actual work began last May, and the ministry has successfully met all requirements and implemented each stage in record time,” Minister Tamim said.

He pointed out that the situation has become reassuring in light of the great efforts provided by the Commission of Statistics and GIS.

Census Background

The Iraqi government has announced plans to conduct the country's first general population and housing census in 27 years on November 20, 2024. To facilitate this effort, authorities have partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Iraq last conducted a nationwide population census in 1987, followed by a 1997 count that excluded the Kurdistan Region. For years, the country has relied on estimates from unofficial research institutes and organizations. In 2022, the Planning Ministry estimated Iraq’s population to be over 42 million.

The census has faced repeated delays due to concerns about its potential politicization, particularly in disputed areas like Kirkuk. These regions, which are home to Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen, are also rich in oil reserves. Ethnic groups fear that the census may reveal demographic shifts that could undermine their political ambitions.

RV UPDATE BY MILITIAMAN, 20 OCT

  Militia Man

  Those people [Who have 'hoarded mattress dinars'] are expecting the stock market to run big time when they change the value of their currency based off of a Real Effective Exchange Rate based off real assets, non-oil [revenue]. 

 That's what's in focus right now.  It's phenomenal. 

 This is a good sign of things to come.

The evidence is abundant.  Iraq is finalizing her reforms.  

With what? 

 The support of American partnerships especially with large economic reforms and financial aspects in Iraq...

These things are going to be linking the East to the West and they told you, via what?

 Iraq's Development Road Program.  They're going to need the freedom of capital movement.  That's going to be the Real Effective Exchange Rate.

IRAQ WILL ENHANCE THE DINAR'S VALUE IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS @DINARREVAL...

CBI auctions +$1 billion during the past week, 20 OCT

 Shafaq News/ The total sales of the Iraqi Central Bank (CBI) in hard currency of the US dollar exceeded $1 billion during the past week.

According to the CBI's official data, the bank sold during the past week, over five days of auctions, $1,317,374,259 at a daily rate averaging $263,474, 852compared to the previous week's sales of $1,309,074,838.

The highest dollar sales were recorded last Monday, reaching $270,808,434, while the lowest was on Tuesday, totaling $253,497,545.

Foreign exchange sales during the past week amounted to $1,279,724,259, with an increase of 97% compared to cash sales, which reached$37,650,000.

ABOUT THE BAGHDADNA PLATFORM BY MAJEED, 20 OCT

 Majeed 🇸🇦KSA🇸🇦 on X

"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 As part of this effort, the council introduced the “Baghdadna” platform which will offer over 25 services through smart devices, enabling citizens to access services digitally.

 Now, they are implementing all the digital services for citizens 🔥🔥 blockchain🔥🔥 

https://t.co/DqJOa70SDn" / X

https://x.com/majeed66224499/status/1846168500034740552

DINARLAND UPDATE @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinar

Iraq’s path to economic diversification: Overcoming rentier dependence, 20 OCT

Iraq’s path to economic diversification: Overcoming rentier dependence

Shafaq News/ Iraq is a rentier state with an undiversified and fragile economy, relying heavily on a single resource: oil. This dependence has rendered its economy vulnerable, as it remains tied to the fluctuating revenues from oil production.

The continued reliance on oil as the primary source of public revenue places Iraq at significant risk from global crises that frequently impact the oil market. Each time such a crisis occurs, the country is forced to address budget deficits by borrowing either domestically or internationally. This situation highlights Iraq’s inability to manage its finances effectively and its failure to find alternative sources of funding or revenue solutions.

Gradual Transition

The financial advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mudhhir Mohammed Saleh, stated to Shafaq News Agency that the reasons for Iraq’s continued dependence on a rentier economy stem from past wars and economic sanctions imposed on the country. These factors, he noted, disrupted Iraq's economic resources.

However, Saleh highlighted a gradual shift towards economic diversification. He pointed out that "for the first time in decades, Iraq has seen significant non-oil GDP growth of 6%, marking a move toward economic diversification. This progress is driven by the flourishing digital sector, increased transportation activities, and noticeable construction and infrastructure development growth." He also emphasized the ongoing support for the agricultural sector, particularly in grain security, which continues to receive consistent government backing in its marketing operations.

Additionally, Saleh noted that the philosophy of public-private partnerships is taking hold, especially in the industrial sector's development. "This is evident in Iraq’s Development Road strategy, which includes plans to establish three industrial cities and two economic zones, all focusing on advanced industrial production technologies."

Lack of Planning

In an interview with Shafaq News Agency, economic expert Mohammed Al-Hassani stated that "successive Iraqi governments have often faced economic and security crises, causing them to veer off the developmental path," highlighting that these governments lacked long-term strategies, such as five-year or ten-year plans that extend up to 50 years. Such plans, he explained, "would have been more effective and provided sufficient time to implement the necessary changes. Furthermore, terrorism has significantly drained Iraq’s economic capabilities and driven away investment."

Al-Hassani pointed out that the absence of a clear and effective investment direction, which could foster real development, has been a major factor in Iraq's failure to move away from a rentier economy.

He added that "the private sector continues to struggle due to insufficient enforcement of protective laws and the weakness of the banking sector, which is unable to provide adequate financing to facilitate a significant economic shift."

Industry and Agriculture

Meanwhile, economic expert Mustafa Hantoush emphasized the need for Iraq to diversify its economy and transition from a rentier system to a market economy, explaining that this requires developing Iraqi industry by establishing industrial cities, protecting local products, and providing affordable loans.

Hantoush highlighted the necessity of improving agriculture by securing an adequate water share and launching initiatives for machinery, seeds, and fertilizers, stressing the importance of "enhancing the transportation sector by completing projects such as the Al-Faw Port – Development Road and the Baghdad Metro, as well as lifting the European flight ban on Iraqi Airways." Additionally, Hantoush underscored the significance of developing the tourism sector by creating infrastructure, improving roads, and focusing on Iraq's 13 different types of tourism.