Walkingstick
The American dollar, Trump is wanting maybe it should go in a basket with the Iraqi dinar...He wants it in a basket (dinar and dollar) to bring the dinar to $1.00.
He wants other currencies in that basket to help each other...and in doing so, by helping each other in that basket, these currencies will gain security and stability, value, and internationally recognized etc.
Halliburton to Develop 2 Oil Fields in Iraq
The Iraqi Cabinet has approved a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with US-based Halliburton for the development of the Nahr Bin Omar [Nahr Bin Umar, Nahr Ben Umar] and Sindbad oil fields in Basra.
According to a statement from the Media Office of the Prime Minister, the project will employ Integrated Field Management Services (IFMS) and the EPCM model, aligning with national efforts and licensing round frameworks.
The South Gas Company (SGC) and Halfaya Gas Company (HGC) signed a contract for the development and processing of gas from the Nahr Bin Umar last year, while China's United Energy Group (UEG) was awarded the contract for Sindbad in 2018.
(Source: Media Office of the Prime Minister) link
AJ
UPDATES ON BUDGET LAW 3 Part Thread 
The Finance Committee of the Iraqi Council of Representatives announced on Friday that they are awaiting the submission of the 2025 budget schedules by the Iraqi government for approval.
They anticipate that employee allowances and promotions will be implemented according to the current schedule, considering these as inherent rights of employees under the Ministry of Finance's jurisdiction. The 2023 budget was designed as a three-year plan covering 2023, 2024, and 2025. A significant change has been the amendment to Article 12/Second/C, which pertains to resuming oil exports from the Kurdistan Region at a rate of 400,000 barrels per day, with the cost of extraction and transportation adjusted from $6 to $16 per barrel.
This amendment has undergone its first reading, with discussion and voting pending in the second reading. Moeen Al-Kadhimi, a committee member, stated that no further amendments are planned after this one. Once the budget amendment is finalized, the Finance Committee expects the government to provide the budget schedules to ascertain any specific financial adjustments. Regarding employee bonuses and promotions, Al-Kadhimi noted that these are managed by the Ministry of Finance, which had previously suspended bonuses pending budget approval. According to the current schedule, bonuses could be added to salaries in February, affirming this as a right of employees. On January 17, the Iraqi Ministry of Finance reiterated that employees' rights to bonuses and promotions are preserved, explaining that the suspension of certain services transfers and promotions is part of annual regulatory procedures to accurately allocate finances. The ministry is currently unable to transfer services due to the absence of the 2025 budget schedules, which are necessary to understand the financial allocations for each entity, ensuring no financial discrepancies. The ministry is actively working on regulating government spending and setting financial allocation limits for various ministries and entities, including the Kurdistan Region. They emphasized the need to monitor new appointments and employee numbers to prevent funding shortages and ensure timely salary payments for January. Furthermore, the Ministry confirmed that bonuses and promotions are calculated from the date of entitlement, not the issuance date of the ministerial order, according to Circular No. (7497) from 2021. They also mentioned ongoing updates regarding the direct admission of top students and graduates for 2024 and are working to ensure the financial implications of new employee grades are properly included in the 2025 estimates to avoid any allocation shortages.
vPresident Of The Republic Reviews Iraq's Long-Term Economic Development Plan In Davos
Politics | 01/24/2025 Mawazine News – Baghdad President of the Republic Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid reviewed, on Friday, the main points of Iraq's plan for a long-term economic development strategy at the Davos Conference Center.
A statement by the Presidency of the Republic received by "Mawazine News" stated that "President of the Republic Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid participated in a dialogue session entitled (Towards a more stable land through land reclamation) at the Davos Conference Center."
The statement added that "during the session, which was attended by the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Ibrahim Thiaw, the South African Minister of Agriculture Gwen Steenhuizen, the Executive Director of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Asmahan Al-Wafi, the Executive Director and CEO of New Aero Farms Molly Montgomery, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia Togmeddin Dorjkhand, the President delivered a speech in which he emphasized his experience as an engineer specializing in water management with decades of experience, and he has devoted a large part of his career to addressing water scarcity issues and developing sustainable land use methods."
In his speech, the President explained the pressures that Iraq is facing due to climate change, water scarcity and desertification, stressing that "Iraq does not stand idly by in the face of these challenges, but has taken decisive and tangible steps to confront them through effective policies aimed at achieving sustainable development."
The statement continued, "The President reviewed the main points of Iraq's plan for a long-term economic development strategy, especially in the areas of agriculture, energy and water security," noting that "Iraq is currently participating in ongoing negotiations with neighboring countries such as Turkey and Iran, with the aim of concluding fair agreements to share the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers,"
indicating that "these negotiations represent a strategic priority for the future of our region, in addition to its work at the international level with specialized international organizations to adopt agricultural practices that are resistant to climate change and ensure access to the necessary funding and expertise to achieve success."
The statement continued, "The session was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein, Chairman of the Advisory and Experts Authority in the Presidency of the Republic Ali Al-Shukri, and the Iraqi Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation Mohammed Al-Dabbagh."
Here is the text of the speech:
“I am pleased to be with you today at this important meeting. As a water management engineer with decades of experience, I have devoted a large part of my career to addressing water scarcity issues and developing sustainable land use methods.
These challenges are not new to me, nor are they merely theoretical issues; they are urgent realities that require us to act quickly. I am pleased to share with you today Iraq’s strategies to address these issues effectively and directly.
Today’s session, entitled “Towards A More Stable Land Through Land Reclamation,” focuses on a critical global challenge: land degradation.
40% of the world’s land has lost its fertility, threatening the stability of our economic and social environments. This phenomenon has caused a decline in agricultural productivity, pollution of waterways, and increasing and accelerating drought, putting economies and livelihoods around the world at risk.
Iraq is no exception to these challenges. About 39% of our land is exposed to desertification, at a time when our water resources, which are the basis of agriculture and livelihoods, are under increasing pressure.
The situation is exacerbated by climate change, rising temperatures, and declining water flows from rivers coming from neighboring countries.
However, Iraq is not standing idly by in the face of these challenges. We are taking decisive and tangible steps to confront them, through effective policies aimed at achieving sustainable development.
Let me review with you some of the main initiatives that we have begun to implement:
* The first and most important step is to improve the management of our existing water resources, by enhancing water use efficiency, developing modern irrigation systems, and collecting rainwater to use it for irrigating land.
* A ten-year federal national program to combat desertification: This program focuses on reforestation, soil conservation, and adopting sustainable agricultural methods.
* Expanding green belt projects: We are in the process of establishing buffer zones around our cities, to reduce the risk of desert encroachment by using local plants that are drought tolerant.
These efforts are an integral part of Iraq’s long-term economic development strategy, particularly in the areas of agriculture, energy and water security.
Sustainable development is the real guarantee of balanced growth that preserves the health of our environment for future generations.
As part of our quest for sustainable development, we are shifting towards renewable energy. We are also working to promote climate-smart agriculture, diversify crops, encourage organic and regenerative agriculture, and tighten legal regulations for sustainable land use practices.
Addressing our water challenges requires cross-border cooperation.
Iraq is currently engaged in ongoing negotiations with neighboring countries such as Turkey and Iran to conclude fair agreements for sharing the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. These negotiations represent a strategic priority for the future of our region.
Iraq is working internationally, alongside global organizations such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Bank, to adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices and ensure access to the financing and expertise necessary for success.
In conclusion, we know that sustainable solutions can only be achieved through effective local action and community engagement, which is the foundation of our strategy to address challenges.
Ladies and gentlemen,
land reclamation is not just an environmental imperative, it is a moral responsibility towards future generations.
It is about protecting livelihoods, preserving ecosystems and ensuring a sustainable future for us and our children. Iraq is committed to this mission and I look forward to working with all of you to achieve these common goals. Thank you." https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=258960
Pimpy
Article: "CBI unveils new banknote security features"
This also should bring something to your attention. If they are adding new features to the currently existing bank notes without changing the denomination, deleting the zeros or exchange rate, that should tell you that there is no rush for them to do anything about the exchange rate.
If they knew they were about to go ahead and release new bank notes with the three zeros missing and change the exchange rate there wouldn't be any need to go ahead and add security features to the old notes because there would be no reason for it.
If you're going to get rid of the old notes why take the time to put new security features on there? See what I'm saying?
That should be an indicator to you that they are not in any rush to re-denominate and change the exchange rate. Sorry as usual to pee in your Wheaties but that's just the truth.