Wednesday, February 19, 2025
MANAR AL-OBAIDI: THE SHADOW ECONOMY IN IRAQ EXCEEDS THE SIZE OF THE FORMAL ECONOMY, 19 FEB
MANAR AL-OBAIDI: THE SHADOW ECONOMY IN IRAQ EXCEEDS THE SIZE OF THE FORMAL ECONOMY
The parallel banking system in Iraq is one of the major challenges that directly affects the stability of the financial system, as it consists of a group of financial institutions that operate outside the official framework and without supervision from regulatory authorities.
Economic researcher Manar Al-Obaidi said, in a clarification received by “Baghdad Today”, today, Saturday (February 15, 2025), “Institutions play an influential role in the economic scene, and they have gradually emerged over the past twenty years to provide services similar to official banks such as lending, credit facilities, receiving deposits, and transferring money internally and externally.”
He added, “Among these institutions, there are salary distribution outlets, exchange shops, consumer associations and even some non-profit organizations. These institutions have been able to achieve widespread expansion due to the absence of effective oversight, which has made work procedures easier compared to official banks and attracted many customers looking for flexible and fast alternatives.”
He continued: “One of the main reasons for the spread of this system is the great demand from owners of small and medium enterprises, which constitute about 84% of the informal economy in Iraq, as it is difficult for them to access traditional banking services due to their lack of official registration, which forces them to deal with parallel financial institutions.”
He explained that “the existence of a formal and parallel banking system poses a threat to the Iraqi economy, as it enhances the phenomenon of the ‘shadow economy’ and limits the ability of official bodies to monitor the movement of funds, which opens the way for illegal practices such as tax evasion and money laundering.”
He pointed out that “to deal with this situation, it is necessary to adopt firm solutions, such as “closing the gap between the two systems”, by preventing unauthorized banking activities, and encouraging small and medium enterprises to join the formal sector by “providing attractive incentives”. Legal frameworks can also be put in place to regulate the work of informal financial institutions under the supervision of the Central Bank to ensure the necessary oversight.”
He stressed that “the Iraqi experience is an example that the ‘shadow economy’ may exceed the size of the formal economy, which represents a major challenge for the relevant authorities. In light of this, this situation requires a balanced strategy between strictly enforcing the laws, while providing legal paths for these institutions to integrate into the formal economy, in a way that ensures the protection of the economy from potential risks.”
STATUS OF THE RV, PART. 3 BY MNT GOAT, 19 FEB
STATUS OF THE RV, PART. 3 BY MNT GOAT
😊We also learn this period of news that in article titled “THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC APPROVES THE AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET LAW”. The President of the Republic, Abdul Latif Rashid, approved the first amendment to the Iraqi Federal Budget Law No. 13 of 2023, related to the export of Kurdistan Region oil through SOMO.
He added, “The law will not officially enter into force until it is published in the Official Gazette.” Do you remember what this amendment is for? It’s been so long already since it was first passed on to parliament to review and pass.
“Note that the revenues from the sale of oil exported from the region will return to the federal treasury, according to the amendments related to the costs of production and transportation of oil.”
This was the main issues from the Kurdistan region in the monthly salary payments they were receiving for their share of the oil revenues.
Baghdad was not fairly taking into consideration the true cost of production and transportation of oil from the region. They wanted more in the budget and so now they have it. I want everyone to know that the passing of this bill in NOT the Oil and Gas Law and is NOT going to trigger the RV. I know a lot of idiotic intel gurus are telling that we have been waiting for this for the RV.
😊Another major step to fully globalizing Iraq is in the article titled “IRAQ MOVES TOWARDS GLOBALIZATION.. IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BEGINS IN 2026”. In it we learn that the former director of the Financial Supervision Bureau, Salah Nouri, revealed the steps taken by Iraq to move to fully implement international accounting standards by 2026. “The unified accounting system, which was adopted in the mid-eighties, was appropriate for the economic situation at the time; but it led to Iraq’s delay in keeping pace with international standards.”
So, in my eyes this is not going to trigger the RV but is certainly a right step in the direction we want. Remember the CBI told us that January is the most optimistic to revalue the dinar with any substantial change in value.
Why? It is because of the accounting practices and it is MOST convenient to begin a new fiscal year clean with a new rate. Remember we may be already into February but we know they just passed the amendment to the budget law and so they have not yet even opened the 2025 budget. So there still can be a rate change coming but I would not go off half-cocked believing all this intel guru nonsense either.
https://mntgoatnewsusa.com/latest-mnt-goat-newsletter/CENTRAL BANK ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF ITS MEETINGS WITH THE TREASURY AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE, 19 FEB
CENTRAL BANK ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF ITS MEETINGS WITH THE TREASURY AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE
The Central Bank announced the end of the first quarterly meetings for the year 2025 with the US Treasury and the US Federal Reserve, which were held in Dubai / United Arab Emirates with the participation of international auditing and consulting firms (EY, K2 Integrity, Oliver Wyman). The meetings culminated in praise for the steps taken by the Central Bank of Iraq and the Iraqi government in reforming the banking sector, the most important of which were:
1.The development of the US dollar cash distribution system in Iraq, which they considered the most controlled and monitored system in the world, which limits manipulation and smuggling of the US dollar.
2.The qualitative shift in foreign transfer operations and the steps taken by the Central Bank of Iraq to address the risks arising from these operations, which have now risen to the levels of transfer operations carried out by international banks.
3.The consulting firms (EY and Oliver Wyman) reviewed the plans to reform and upgrade the public and private banking sectors in line with international standards and to facilitate the involvement of Iraqi banks in the international financial relations network.
Since the operations carried out by banks operating in Iraq depend largely on the trust of international correspondent banks in the Iraqi banking sector, we emphasize the need to ensure that the official channels of this bank are adopted to know the latest news and not to transmit incorrect news such as some Iraqi banks being subject to international sanctions and others.
Central Bank of Iraq
Media Office
February 16, 2025
REINALDO JC : 🚨Iraq Misdirection🚨, 19 FEB
REINALDO JC
Iraq Misdirection
More Mis/Disinformation confusion coming from Iraq Finance Minister stating there’s a ‘deficit’ on one hand & the other stating ‘denies’ the existence of a deficit.
The more disinfo they throw at us, the closer we are to the finish line 
---
MAJEED
Right now, we care about them starting exporting oil
But here is a message for the
whiners piece of shit in here
The minister of finance just claimed in the letter “ there is a deficit where they cannot pay salaries for employees and retirees”
And look what they just published in the news
Just so when you wanna start whining ….
They are the one doing the confusion
Not me …. I’m reporting what they post.
I am in Saudi Arabia not in Iraq
The Middle East is not one country 
For the love of God, look at a map for once in your life
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