Banking Reform Methodology at the Central Bank (2016-2026)
The steps of banking reform that the Central Bank has been taking since 2016 began when Mr. Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq was appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq on 9/9/2014, which is a difficult and complex stage in Iraq's security and economic history.
Iraq was facing security and economic shocks due to the occupation of 40% of the country's territory by the terrorist ISIS and the global drop in oil prices in June 2014 by 75%. He was reassigned again on 1/23/2023 after the emergence of new crises and challenges at the economic, financial and banking levels, focusing on the lack of control over the unprecedented rise in the US dollar exchange rate and the rise in the annual inflation rate to (7.5%) in January 2023.
The Central Bank worked from 2016 to 2020 to address the effects of the economic and security shocks, the most prominent of which was 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 from government support in the amount of 16 trillion dinars, and the crisis was overcome at the time. In 2015, in light of these difficult economic conditions, the Central Bank 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, numbering (11) sub-objectives, during which the government continued to resort to the Central Bank and obtain (30) trillion dinars, and the total amount owed by the government became (46) trillion dinars.
During the second term of the Governor, which began 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 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 No. 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 cyber security. 3- Enhancing financial inclusion . 4- Maintaining a sound financial system. 5- Developing the organizational structure and developing human resources capabilities. 6- Enhancing the position of the Central Bank locally and internationally.
7- Enhancing compliance of the banking sector and the non-banking institutions sector in line with international standards. Programs, policies and initiatives have been identified to achieve the goals, and 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 for the ten years of the financial and banking reform process confirms that the next two years will inevitably result in the transition to comprehensive and radical reform of the Iraqi banking sector and its transformation into a solid sector that contributes to sustainable development link
FIREFLY:Mr Sammy [Iraqi bank manager friend] wants you to know one of the things they strongly talk about is that currency flotation, and stop the currency auctions, it will be a big solution to help end the black market.
FRANK: The currency flotation will be big to end the black market because the CBI auctions, let's say that would be to the left, but no more. That road to the left has been shut down...
So which way can it go?
Only to the right.
What is to the right?
An international float. If it has an international float it's going to go up in value because everybody's going to use it buying, selling, trading with the currency adds value as it goes into the float.
US Ambassador discusses with Oil Minister reopening Iraq-Türkiye pipeline
US Ambassador Alina Romansky discussed with Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani the reopening of the Iraq-Turkey pipeline today, Friday.
The ambassador said in a tweet followed by /Al-Youm Al-Akhbariya/, "I was pleased to visit Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani Al-Sawad to check on his health.
We also talked about increasing investments by US energy companies to help meet Iraq's energy needs, including how reopening the Iraq-Turkey pipeline will contribute to strengthening the comprehensive US-Iraqi partnership and creating investment opportunities." link
MarkZ Disclaimer: Please consider everything on this call as my opinion. People who take notes do not catch everything and its best to watch the video so that you get everything in context. Be sure to consult a professional for any financial decisions
Member: Good Morning Mark, Mods and Members
Member: It's going to be a Fabulous Week my friends.
Member: Any big news today Mark?
MZ: I’m not expecting big news this week until Wednesday
(From Monday Night)
MZ: In Iraq” Parliamentary Finance sets the date for the 2025 budget to reach parliament” Very early next year. This is curious to me but think they may be avoiding releasing it until after they have the rate change and exchanges…..so strangely enough this fits in very well to what I am hearing. That they need to get the rate change done soon. They need to change rates and do everything they need to do before approving that budget.
MZ: “Iraq Trade Bank opens a new branch in Baghdad” The Iraqi Trade Bank ‘s goal is to expand into other incomes outside of oil revenue…and loans for those businesses. This is part of the deep commitment Iraq has given to diversify its economy so it can justify a higher rate. It’s all in their white papers.
(From Tuesday Morning)
Member: BRICS Summit is starting today…….Hope something big comes from it.
Member: Mark, Can you explain about Wise accounts? Someone suggested moving all your money out of a bank and into a Wise account. I thought our accounts were supposed to be mirrored in the QFS??
MZ: Many people believe our accounts are mirrored in the QFS. But, we do not know for absolute certainty. Have you seen any rock solid, provable proof? I havn’t. But I believe they are. That being said- A wise account is like having a multi-currency account.
MZ: From Iraq “ the Central Bank of Iraq agrees to exchange the activity of the Commercial Bank of Iraq” They are changing to Islamic. What does that mean?
Member: Islamic law refers to Sharia law, based on the Koran
Member: Islamic banks have much lower interest rates on cards and loans.
MZ: Or does this mean they are separating themselves from the US and go their own way using BRICS as a backbone? I am curious what you think?
MZ: “Dollar falls slightly in Baghdad Stock Exchange and exchange” This is showing us stronger stability which is something Dr. Shabibi wanted before a new value.
MZ: I did get some positive news from a couple of Indian Nation contacts here in the US. Indian Nations are due historic settlements and fines and penalties. It will be a pretty hefty pay out for the indian Nations. And they are part of the end of tier 3 , so when their funds are moving…we are about to get our announcements. Suddenly we are being told they are expecting that to move in the very near future. I will not give dates on that and chance getting them or me in trouble.
Member: MarkZ does the congress have to vote on nesara in order for it to go through??
Member: Sure hope Zim exchange will be real…..wouldn't it be something if ZIM was the "sleeper"
Member: There are so many rumors, so much disinformation from so called “gurus”. People are losing hope.
Member: Be careful when you follow the masses; sometimes the M is silent.
Member: Come on RV GCR …..Lord, we are ready! Strengthen our resolve to help make this the world you wanted for us! Lift us up & bless your faithful to go out & be beautiful examples of Your unconditional LOVE
Member: Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed.
THE CONTENT IN THIS PODCAST IS FOR GENERAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY&NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE ANY PROFESSIONAL, FINANCIAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE CONSIDER EVERYTHING DISCUSSED IN MARKZ’S OPINION ONLY