GOVERNMENT ADVISOR: IRAQ ADVANCES 17 PLACES IN SOFT POWER INDEX , 27 FEB

 GOVERNMENT ADVISOR: IRAQ ADVANCES 17 PLACES IN SOFT POWER INDEX 

The Prime Minister’s Advisor for Financial Affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, announced on Saturday that Iraq has advanced 17 ranks in the Soft Power Index compared to 2023, thanks to improvements in governance and infrastructure development, stressing that this progress reflects a noticeable improvement in the stability of the country’s internal situation.

Saleh said in a statement reported by the official news agency, and reviewed by “Al-Eqtisad News”, that “Iraq’s occupation of the 98th position globally in the Soft Power Index for the year 2025 is an important matter in this leap during one transitional year between the end of 2023 and the end of 2024, and looking forward to 2025, as it comes 17 places ahead of its previous classification in 2023, which embodies the progress and stability witnessed by our country in a remarkable way, after it was ranked 116th globally in the year before the previous one.”

He added that “Iraq has achieved acceleration in the subject of soft power during one continuous year between 2023 and the end of 2024 and moving forward to 2025, and this acceleration comes from among a set of factors and indicators of soft power that are usually used by global institutions interested in measuring the extent of the state’s influence in its global scope through non-military means, such as culture, diplomacy, education, values, and innovation. ”

He explained that “one of the most prominent indicators used in the soft power rankings, which Iraq enjoyed in 2024, is its distinguished international reputation in the framework of foreign relations, as our country’s diplomatic capabilities in influencing global affairs and its international image are at their best levels, which have increased in recent years due to the flourishing of foreign activities and the network of positive relations with other countries provided by Iraq’s open democratic climate as one of the most important of these factors.”

He pointed out that “political and security stability in Iraq has witnessed a significant improvement, as internal tensions and conflicts that negatively affected the country’s image in the world have disappeared, which has helped enhance Iraq’s soft power.”

He pointed out that “the ability of the government program, which has advanced its applications in developing the infrastructure and continuous improvement in basic services, especially security and digital services, was accompanied by an advanced movement of institutional governance, as the efficiency and transparency of government institutions increased, with the approval of the 2024-2028 development plan, which committed to sustainable development and environmental protection, and providing high attractiveness for investment after announcing the principle of partnership between the state and the private sector within the philosophy of the social market, and announcing the strategic development road project as a project for Iraq’s progress forward.”

He added that “the high degree of interest in civilizational and cultural openness has made Baghdad the capital of tourism and culture in the world, which undoubtedly reflects the quality of life and the prevailing societal values ​​of the civilization of the Tigris and Euphrates Valley, which dates back more than 7,000 years, in addition to the keenness to highlight the role of national heritage in general and different ethnicities in particular, which had a positive impact on the strength of societal diversity and its transition from the national level to the external level.”

He added, “Diversifying the economy, sustainable development and moving away from the rentier economy remain among the challenges facing the rise of soft power. This is what the government program is working on with great care, supported by the prevailing trend in economic, social and political thought circles in Iraq on an ongoing basis through the process of national support for comprehensive economic development programs for the state and government, to build a better Iraq forever.”

MNT GOAT : "DEPUTY SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT: NEW US DECISIONS MAY BE ISSUED REGARDING IRAQ", 27 FEB

 MNT GOAT

"DEPUTY SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT: NEW US DECISIONS MAY BE ISSUED REGARDING IRAQ"

 Shakhwan Abdullah, deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, said on Saturday that the administration of US President Donald Trump may make new political and economic decisions regarding Iraq. This came during his speech at a scientific

conference on the present and future of Kirkuk. "The Ministry of Finance has been working for some time on preparing the general budget tables for

the year 2025, in order to send them to the Council of Ministers for approval". He pointed out that "the Ministry of Finance will finish preparing the tables and send them to the Council of Ministers for voting on them in the middle of next month. The Council of Ministers will vote on the tables

without delay and then send them to the House of Representatives for voting on them". How long will it take parliament to pass these new budget tables? Are these tables in fact based on a new rate for the dinar. And if they are is a devaluation or a revaluation? Let's explore these

ideas. Their words not mine.....No Rumors,

AJ : Update: Iraq operates a parallel market for dollar exchange rates within the country!! #iqd

 

NEW REFORM PLANS FOR THE BANKING SECTOR IN IRAQ , 27 FEB

 NEW REFORM PLANS FOR THE BANKING SECTOR IN IRAQ

The Prime Minister’s Advisor for Financial Affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, stressed that achieving a unified vision to study the conditions of banks in Iraq requires the integration of the national banking market within a homogeneous framework aimed at enhancing the stability of the national financial system and developing its performance in the areas of credit, digital payments, and financing economic development.

Saleh said in a special statement to {Al Furat News}, “The first vision focuses on the importance of achieving integration between national banks in a way that enhances their role in supporting the Iraqi economy, pointing out that this requires updating the financial infrastructure and adopting modern technologies to meet the requirements of the era.

The second vision, according to the financial advisor, is related to developing two comprehensive reform plans targeting the public and private banking sectors, with the aim of improving the performance of these institutions in accordance with international standards. He explained that the reform will include improving governance and financial management and enhancing transparency, which will facilitate the involvement of Iraqi banks in the global financial relations network.

Saleh added that the direct goal of banking reform is to enable Iraqi banks to deal more effectively with the outside world, ensuring economic openness and attracting foreign investments, as well as strengthening Iraq’s position on the international financial scene.

This trend comes in light of the government’s ongoing efforts to develop the financial sector and enhance its role in achieving sustainable development and supporting the national economy, as banking reform is viewed as an essential step towards achieving these goals.

STATUS OF THE RV , PART. 2 BY MNT GOAT, 27 FEB

 STATUS OF THE RV , PART. 2

So, what is so stupid about watching the period of mid-March for the release of these budget tables if, in fact we even should care about watching them for the RV event?

The article is just telling us the modified 2025 budget tables were passed from the Finance Committee (part of the Council that does the budget) to the rest of Al-Sudani’s Council (his cabinet) for review and vote. This usually goes quick since it was a Council minister that prepared them in the first place. 

But the tables won’t even make it to the Council till mid-March. They certainly will not become public at this time.

The next step is to pass them on to Parliament for up to three sessions of review and discussion. 

Then they try to take a vote to pass them into law. So, it is the Council of Ministers that will get the budget tables in mid-March not Parliament and this part of the budget still has to be passed to Parliament for debate and discussion. 

This could take months and months more. When has Parliament ever done anything on time and quickly? 

There are always obstacles and these budget tables could very well even get kicked back to the Council for changes. Ramadan holiday also this year, starts Saturday, March 1, 2025. It ends at Saturday, March 29 2025. Ramadan month this year has 29 days. 

Good Luck with getting anything passed in Parliament in March….lol… lol… lol… Another obstacle is they could also avoid getting a quorum over disputes and that would again hold up the voting process in Parliament to vote. We have witnessed these many times.

As time passes more and more will want more and more added to the budget and so this could also delay the process. 

Yes, the tables could get kicked back to the Council again for more changes. The article says and I quote “noting that the Council of Ministers will vote on the tables without delay and then send them to the House of Representatives for voting on them.” How long will Parliament take. Surely it will be way beyond mid-March. In fact it probably won’t even get the tables until after mid-March. Can’t these intel gurus even read? Did they attend 1st grade even?

So, in conclusion these intel gurus are going to use this event, and others like it, to string along their little silly band of idiot followers (yes, I mean you TNT idiot Tony, Frank26 along with the Big “Stupid” Call Bruce) who will cheerlead their way to nothing come June, when maybe these budget tables may have a chance of passing in Parliament by then. 

Okay, so then they finally pass and still no RV rate as they expected. We still sit with no RV. Then what? What do the gurus then tell you? 

https://mntgoatnewsusa.com/latest-mnt-goat-newsletter/

A2ZANGELA : Iraq has officially published the Restitution Law @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinarinvestor

 

THE CENTRAL BANK REASSURES CITIZENS VIA “BAGHDAD TODAY”: NO INSTRUCTIONS TO PREVENT THE DELIVERY OF “DOLLARS”, 27 FEB

THE CENTRAL BANK REASSURES CITIZENS VIA “BAGHDAD TODAY”: NO INSTRUCTIONS TO PREVENT THE DELIVERY OF “DOLLARS”

A responsible source in the Central Bank of Iraq denied, today, Thursday (February 20, 2025), the issuance of instructions to prevent citizens from receiving any amount in hard currency from banks.

 The source confirmed, in a statement to “Baghdad Today”, that “the talk about issuing instructions from the Central Bank to prevent the delivery of any amount in hard currency is incorrect,” noting that “there is no shortage of hard currency, especially the dollar, and that citizens receive their money normally.” 

The source, who requested anonymity, added that “the process of citizens depositing their money, whether in dollars or local currency, continues on a daily basis in government banks and others, and there are no fears of a shortage in the dollar reserves in Iraqi banks during the next stage.”

This denial by the Central Bank comes amidst rumours about restrictions on the delivery of dollars to citizens, in light of the economic challenges facing the country. 

The market has been witnessing fluctuations in the exchange rate of the dollar against the dinar for some time, which has raised concerns among citizens and traders about the possibility of imposing restrictions on dollar transactions.