Article: "Iraqi Prime Minister: Tomorrow we will take an important step that has been delayed for years"
Quote: "IraqiPrime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed that tomorrow, Wednesday, will be an important civilized and developmental step, as the long-awaited general population and housing census will begin after years of delay."
MarkZ
[via PDK]
“Iraq Prime Minister: Tomorrow we will take an important step that has been delayed for years” there has been one heck of a fight to stop this census.
But an accurate census is extremely important.
And they are making it happen so they can pass the HCL. I believe this is the last step before Iraq pulls the trigger.
IRAQ SELECTS 11 COMPANIES TO COMPETE FOR FAW GRAND PORT OPERATION CONTRACT
Shafaq News / The Director General of the General Company for Iraqi Ports, Farhan Al-Fartousi, revealed today, Tuesday, that a shortlist of 11 shipping companies has been drawn up to compete for the contract to operate the Grand Faw Port.
A decision on the winners is expected in January 2025, Reuters reported.
The shortlist includes prominent companies such as China Merchants Port Group, Taiwanese container shipping company Evergreen, French container and freight company CMA-CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), India’s Adani, International Container Terminal Services (based in the Philippines), China’s COSCO, and the UAE’s Global Shipping, Al-Fartousi said.
The port is one of the most prominent economic projects that will contribute to supporting the Iraqi economy, as it is expected to provide 150,000 job opportunities.
Last Saturday, November 8, the five berths of the first phase of the project were delivered, with 100% of them completed. These berths are part of the wider project that also includes the navigation channel, the container yard, and the submerged tunnel.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani described the port as a project of the “Iraqi people,” while the Minister of Transport stressed the importance of the port as a pillar of economic growth in Iraq and the region.
The project is expected to generate huge revenues and enhance economic diversification away from oil dependence. The port is also expected to contribute to enhancing trade between Iraq, Asia and Europe, and reflects an important transformation in Iraqi infrastructure.
The project is receiving international attention, as delegations from Turkey and other countries have visited it to see its developments. The first phase of the port is expected to open at the end of 2025, with five of the 99 berths set to begin operation.
Banks now know...That's why they're not saying it's a scam anymore. Instead they tell you if they can help you or not because like I told you, not every bank in America is going to be exchanging...
When I said they're going to bring a Brinks truck to you, of course not. But take away from the concept and replace it with, they're going to bring security to you and they will bring their police officers, their security, their protection, their guns, their locks, their banks, their safes...
EXCHANGE RATES WILL RISE FURTHER.. WARNING OF AN IMMINENT ECONOMIC CRISIS DUE TO THE “COLDNESS” OF THE CENTRAL BANK
Economic researcher Ziad Al-Hashemi warned of serious economic repercussions as the deadline to stop the dollar platform approaches in six weeks, noting that the Central Bank of Iraq is still dealing with the crisis coldly, which could lead to higher exchange rates and a shortage of imported materials.
Al-Hashemi explained in a post on the X platform that “dollar platform transfers represent about 22% of the total monthly transfers, which is a large number that has not yet been zeroed out, indicating that the continuation of this high percentage and its failure to adapt it to the new correspondent bank transfer system before the specified date may cause major disturbances in the markets.”
He added that “not addressing this issue will lead to some of the remittances going to the parallel market, which will increase the demand for the dollar and raise its exchange rate significantly, which will negatively affect the prices of goods and services in the Iraqi market. He also expected that this will hinder the ability of a large number of traders to import, which will cause a shortage of imported goods and an increase in their prices.”
He pointed out that “the Central Bank seems to be betting on a smooth transition process without problems, but it considered this bet unrealistic in light of the absence of a clear plan to manage the transitional phase.”
Al-Hashemi concluded his warnings by saying, “The Central Bank has only six weeks to act and manage this crisis, otherwise the delay will lead to disastrous results that will cast a shadow over the Iraqi economy by the end of this year.”
(There repercussions of the dollar platform will not happen if the sole peg to the dollar is also repegged away from the dollar and the demand for the dinar by global trading is realized. Many more banks “correspondent” banks will take up the exchange slack and avert any issues. But to do this means getting the reinstatement back to FOREX. Is this the plan? Is this why the remaining 22% does not seem to bother the CBI? Do they know something the author of this article does not know?)
EXPERT EXPLAINS THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF THE POPULATION CENSUS
Today, Sunday, the financial and banking specialist, Mustafa Hantoush, explained the economic benefit to Iraq from conducting the general population census.
Hantoush said in an interview with Al-Maalouma Agency that “the Iraqi state’s funds are scattered and it does not know where to direct them or where to start the development process,” indicating that “the general population census is full of positives and has no negatives.”
He comes added, “There are no higher policies or clear lines to work on, and every country that puts forward its ideas far from the needs of society, and the population census will end this chaos by clarifying a number of important matters.”
He pointed out that “Iraq has clear economic problems in work, housing and diversifying the economy, and the state cannot solve them except by conducting a general population census.