Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Minister of Finance, Taif Sami, and the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) regional Vice President for the Middle East, Central Asia, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, Hela Cheikhrouhou, discussed recently strategies to address the major challenges to investment in Iraq.
The two sides met on the sidelines of their participation in the 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) taking place from April 21 to 26, according to a statement released by the Iraqi Finance Ministry.
Sami and Cheikhrouhou discussed the most significant initiatives in the energy and transportation sectors, as well as international trade finance that the IFC is overseeing in Iraq.
Additionally, Sami explained that the IFC can finance projects of the Iraq Development Fund, which aims to build sustainable economic and social development, develop Iraq’s non-oil economic resources, and address economic, social, and environmental crises.
Cheikhrouhou placed a strong emphasis on assisting Iraq’s industrial and agricultural sectors as well as its private sector and its initiatives.
Member; Soo many rumored to be flying to exchange this weekend….crazy amount of rumors flying round. 100s of Private Jets in the skies for the last several days ... hmm
Member: All Saturday evening and yesterday, lots of podcasts are saying it’s happening…..
MZ: We are waiting for bond payout confirmations.
MZ: Things are moving- we just don’t know how quickly though……I was always told once we hit 30-40% of those historic bonds we are roughly 3-5 days of us going.
Member: I wonder- What % of Bonds have been remunerated at this time?
MZ: We do not know what percentage has been paid out yet. We are very hopeful that all the payments that have been initiated happened this weekend . If they (bank wires) have started to arrive we may get an idea of where we could be.
MZ: We are waiting to find out if bond holders have fully spendable money today. We are watching this today and tomorrow.
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and with the leader of the Progress Party, Mohammed Al-Halbousi. Photo: PMO
Baghdad – Iraq’s judiciary has acquitted the influential former parliament speaker, Mohammed Al-Halbousi, after dismissing him in 2023 over accusations of forging a document, his office announced Sunday.
Al-Halbousi had been the highest-ranking Sunni official since he first became speaker of parliament in 2018 with the support of Iraq’s powerful pro-Iran parties, and then in 2022 following early elections.
But in November 2023, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court dismissed Al-Halbousi after a lawmaker accused him of forging a resignation letter and said the former speaker had changed the date on an older document to force him out of parliament.
Al-Halbousi’s media office said on Sunday that “the Iraqi judiciary acquitted” the former head of parliament “of the charges previously brought against him.”
It added that the courts “dismissed the complaints” and closed the investigation.
Al-Halbousi, who heads the Taqadom party, is known for his rapid ascent in Iraqi politics and as a key interlocutor for many Western and Arab dignitaries.
Iraq’s 329-member parliament is dominated by a coalition of pro-Iran Shiite parties.
Under a power-sharing system adopted in Iraq in the aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion, political positions are divided between Iraq’s ethnic and confessional communities.
In the top positions, the role of prime minister, currently held by Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, always goes to a Shiite Muslim, that of speaker of parliament to a Sunni Muslim and the presidency to a Kurd.
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 Monday morning everyone.
Member: WHOS READY FOR THE NEW RATE???
Member: Wayyyyyyyyy beyond ready.
Member; Soo many rumored to be flying to exchange this weekend….crazy amount of rumors flying round. 100s of Private Jets in the skies for the last several days ... hmm
Member: All Saturday evening and yesterday, lots of podcasts are saying it’s happening…..
MZ: We are waiting for bond payout confirmations.
MZ: Things are moving- we just don’t know how quickly though……I was always told once we hit 30-40% of those historic bonds we are roughly 3-5 days of us going.
Member: I wonder- What % of Bonds have been remunerated at this time?
MZ: We do not know what percentage has been paid out yet. We are very hopeful that all the payments that have been initiated happened this weekend . If they (bank wires) have started to arrive we may get an idea of where we could be.
MZ: We are waiting to find out if bond holders have fully spendable money today. We are watching this today and tomorrow.
Member: Banking stuff is usually slow Monday morning. We might not hear anything until tomorrow.
Member: I bet many have NDA’s
MZ: There are definitely some people with NDA’s. They point blank told me they are on NDA’s and can give me no details.
Member: Bruce and Mike Bara s don’t think the Bolivar will be in the first basket. Hope they is wrong.
Member: I believe the Bolivar is going to surprise all of us!
Member: TNT Tony and Mike Barra said the Iraqi Dinar and Vietnamese Dong are both going now that the Dinar is over $4 and the Dong is over $2 and that was Friday ....I really wish they were right.
Member: if they were right- we would be at the banks…..sigh
MZ: In Iraq: “The Central Bank of Iraq indicates a decrease in the governments public spending” there are hidden gems in this one. This indicates a decrease in the issued currency to 100T dinar. Under Saadam Hussein there were about 20Trillion dinar in circulation and the rate was about $3.20 or so. …..There are so many more assets in Iraq now then there were then.
MZ: “ Financial inclusion in Iraq runs to 48.5” This is huge because it was single digits just a few years ago. This allows them to manage their government and banking and liquidity so they can do investments.
MZ: “National Data Center discusses a proposal to adopt a unified electronic platform in managing foreign labor files.” They want to track foreign workers. They want to control their own borders. This unified electronic platform will do this.
MZ: “Last week Iraq’s oil exports to America rise by 170,000 barrels per day” Iraq and the Us are very important to each other.
Member: Articles and info are great. But, doesn’t really correlate to the release of the RV. God bless us all. I hope. This is excruciating.
MZ: If things are too much for any of you…..you should put your currency on the shelf and walk away for a bit. Everybody needs a break now and again.
Member: Iraq elections this November, if it doesn’t go by then- does the process start from scratch?
Member: if Sudani wants any kind of legacy…he better release the RV soon.
Member: Heard that the new treasury notes are ready to place into ATM's but will probably be placed when the EBS goes off
Member: Sounds correct that new Republic money is in the banks.
Member: anyone read about the major power outages in Europe… basically the whole countries of Spain and Portugal are in a black out?? Madrid and Lisbon totally dark.
Member: rumor is = it was a cyber attack and they blew up a transformer station
Member: They say that we would have to have temporary blackouts to switch over to Tesla free power. Perhaps that's the reason?
Member: Here’s hoping we are at the finishing line this week Mark!
Member: Stay positive- My new pronouns are "I'm" "Already" "Wealthy"
Member: Tonight is a New Moon… in Gods view it’s new beginnings…
MZ: I will be missing some podcasts this week due to traveling . I may have an early Wed Morning stream…..but nothing Wed night. I will try to stay as regular as possible Thurs, Fri and Sat.
Member: Have a great rest of your Monday. See everyone tomorrow morning
Mod: BREAKING NEWS: MarkZ's TRAVEL email address: Don't Write Me@NeverOnTRAVELWEEKENDS.Com SERIOUSLY, MARK NEEDS A LITTLE TIME FOR HIMSELF FOR REST AND REC, OR EVENTS. THANK YOU!
General Electric: We have implemented strategic agreements on the ground in Iraq
Rashid Al-Janabi, General Electric's Country Manager in Iraq, confirmed on Sunday that the unprecedented government support has strengthened the partnership with the Ministry of Electricity, while pointing to strategic agreements implemented on the ground that have contributed to raising the efficiency of the electricity grid.
Al-Janabi said, "The unprecedented government support the company has received is a key factor in strengthening the partnership between GE Vernova, the Ministry of Electricity, and the Iraqi government in general."
He added, "This partnership, which has spanned several decades, has witnessed significant deepening in the recent period, which has positively reflected on the development of the energy sector, both in terms of adding new production capacities and improving the efficiency of the transmission and production systems."
He pointed out that "these efforts have resulted in strategic agreements that have been implemented on the ground through major projects over the past two years, which have contributed to raising the efficiency of the electricity grid and meeting a significant portion of Iraq's energy needs, supporting future development plans and contributing to improving the environmental situation."
He continued, "We aspire to expand this partnership in the future, in a way that meets national ambitions and meets the growing need for energy in Iraq." link
