A NEW DIGITAL GATEWAY: IRAQ LAUNCHES FIRST UNIFIED TELECOM TRANSIT ROUTE
Iraq has signed a strategic transit agreement with DIL Technology, a Kurdish-licensed firm, to enable seamless data flow across its territory.
The deal, finalized on Thursday by the Ministry of Communications, marks the first time Iraq presents a unified telecom front to international companies. It streamlines the process of transmitting data through the country, eliminating the need for companies to negotiate separately with federal and Kurdish entities.
Hayam Al-Yasiri, the Minister of Communications, said the agreement boosts Iraq’s potential as a secure and efficient alternative to unstable maritime routes, especially amid rising concerns from global telecom providers over regional disruptions.
The newly integrated corridor stretches from the southern port of Al-Faw to the northern border at Ibrahim Khalil border crossing, forming a continuous fiber-optic network under centralized oversight.
The agreement, according to Al-Yasiri, not only enhances Iraq’s appeal to international partners but also supports long-term revenue generation and digital sovereignty.
DIL Technology, which maintains infrastructure across Iraq’s border crossings, will serve as the technical facilitator under the federal ministry’s authority.
Comment: Rumor is - Iraq is exchanging dollar-for-dollar on the Dinar in country.
MarkZ: There is quite a bit of news mentioning parity , zeros dropping and possibly 1 to 1 rates. I still believe it's going to be higher – but I love hearing these conversations. But if all I got was a buck rate…I would be happy and gone.
[via PDK] Article: “Swift and the Federal Reserve put Iraq at the mercy of the global economy” this points out that Iraq is now “International”
OIL DOESN’T FEED THE POOR: WHERE DOES IRAQ’S WEALTH GO?!
In a country with one of the world’s largest oil reserves, scenes of destitution and poverty are still strongly present in the streets and working-class neighborhoods. Iraq, with its vast wealth, is powerless to address the dilemma of poverty, which now affects the lives of millions of citizens. Official statistics indicate that more than a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line. As economic and political crises worsen, the roots of this phenomenon deepen, transforming from a social problem into a real threat to societal stability.
According to a 2024 report by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning, the poverty rate reached approximately 25% nationwide, with higher rates recorded in the southern governorates and conflict-affected areas. In Muthanna Governorate, for example, the rate exceeded 50%, reflecting the magnitude of the economic gap between Iraq’s various regions.
The spread of poverty is attributed to several factors, most notably: high unemployment among young people, a lack of development projects, deteriorating infrastructure, and financial and administrative corruption that has depleted public budgets without affecting the lives of ordinary citizens. The absence of a clear strategy for wealth distribution has deprived large segments of their basic rights to education, healthcare, and adequate housing.
Babylon of Civilization… At the forefront of poverty
in Babylon Governorate, the cradle of civilization and home to the world’s first law stele, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ahmed Al-Asadi announced during a joint press conference with Babylon Governor Adnan Fayhan that the governorate has the second-highest poverty rate in Iraq.
This statement sparked a wave of anger against the government and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s development plans, especially with Babylon’s inclusion on the World Heritage List, raising questions about development priorities and wealth management.
The Voice of the Poor… A Cry in the Face of Silence
“Umm Ali,” a widow living in a slum in Baghdad, told Video News Agency: “We live on whatever God provides. My children left school to help me collect empty cans from the street. No one asks about us, and the government doesn’t see us.”
Despite government initiatives such as the social safety net and food basket distribution, experts believe these solutions are temporary and insufficient unless accompanied by real economic reforms that create job opportunities and boost local production.
Umm Hussein, a widow and mother of four, described her suffering to the Video News Agency, saying: “After my husband’s death, I have no one left to support me. I rely on the social welfare salary, but it is sometimes delayed and sometimes not fully disbursed. I am forced to work cleaning houses to cover school expenses and food.”
Poverty is not just numbers… but a daily pain
. Poverty in Iraq is not just numbers in official reports; it is a daily story experienced by millions in silence and pain. As the challenges mount, there remains an urgent need for a serious stance from the state and society to rescue those drowning in the quagmire of poverty and pave the way for a more just and equitable future.
🇮🇶 OIL PORTS, DOLLARS & DINARS: IRAQ QUIETLY MOVES ON THE GLOBAL CHESSBOARD 🌍💰
Iraq's seaports just clocked $215.3M in Q1 2025 revenue
Khor Al-Zubair alone pushed out 207 tankers—the crude is flowing
But here’s the kicker: Revenues are dual reported in USD & IQD
Why? Because currency leverage matters in a petrodollar world unraveling
IQD now at 1,320 per USD, inching under pressure—watch the demand side
Grand Faw port set to open in 2026 = Iraq’s next major play in regional trade
Geopolitical risk? Always. But Iraq’s looking beyond war—it’s looking at trade routes
♟️ DECODE: When you report in both currencies, you’re not just showing balance sheets—
you’re telegraphing monetary posture. Iraq’s oil is still king, but its ports are becoming the crown.
⚠️ Watch the Dinar. When shipping lanes stabilize, currencies often follow.
Iraq’s seaports generate +$215M in revenue in 2025 Q1
Shafaq News/ Iraq’s seaports generated over 314 billion Iraqi dinars in revenue during the first quarter of 2025, the General Company for Ports of Iraq announced on Monday.
Director General Farhan Al-Fartousi stated that total earnings from January through March reached 314.33B IQD (about $215.3M), with monthly revenues of 109.26B IQD in January ($74.6M), 98.73B IQD in February ($67.4M), and 106.33B IQD in March ($73M), crediting the gains to robust activity at major ports, including North and South Umm Qasr, Khor Al-Zubair, Abu Flous, and various oil export terminals.
“These figures reflect the impact of our ongoing development strategy to modernize maritime trade infrastructure,” Al-Fartousi remarked, highlighting enhanced cargo handling capacity, upgraded logistics systems, and expanded port facilities as key contributors.
He added that the company remains committed to its broader expansion agenda, which includes modernizing berths, enlarging cargo storage areas, and implementing digital platforms to streamline customs and clearance procedures. “Our broader goal is to strengthen Iraq’s position on the regional and global maritime transport map.”
AL-NUSAIRI: OUR DINAR CONTINUES TO RECOVER UNTIL IT REACHES THE OFFICIAL PRICE.
Economic and banking advisor Samir Al-Nusairi confirmed on Sunday that the Iraqi dinar has been gradually recovering for several weeks due to internal and external reasons that have directly impacted controlling fluctuations in the US dollar exchange rate, regardless of the many reasons that led to its decline and its reaching 10 cents, after the difference between the official and parallel rates had been 20 cents for a long period.
Al-Nusairi pointed out that the main reason for the recovery is the reform policies of the Central Bank and the government in reforming the processes of regulating foreign trade financing, compliance with international standards, and regularity in the global financial system, as well as the new mechanisms for foreign transfers to secure imports and cover them in US dollars and other currencies by dealing directly with correspondent banks through more than 20 Iraqi banks that have opened accounts and banking relationships with these banks.
(Yes, getting off the sanctioned mode of the currency auctions process into regular banking practices like the rest of the world conducts. They are normalizing their financial system)
The Central Bank also succeeded in securing and providing 95% of the demand for the dollar at the official price and covering the needs of citizens for cash dollars and distributing it with transparency, fairness, and strict monitoring, which contributed to reducing the practices of speculators in the informal market.
(The other 5% is going to be completed by June and is not underway as we read about the success and results of doing this in other articles today.)
He added to the important role of the government in implementing its strategy in financial and banking reform, especially the implementation of paragraphs (1-7) included in the government program, in addition to removing opportunities for speculators to manipulate the exchange rate according to administrative, supervisory, and economic policies.
Al-Nusairi bet on the Iraqi dinar’s continued recovery through 2025, following the completion of the banking reform project’s objectives and the Central Bank of Iraq’s third strategy. He also noted that the government will continue implementing its reform and investment programs, attracting more foreign and Arab investments to the country, which have exceeded $88 billion, completing the development path, investing in gas, developing oil projects, and supporting the private industrial sector.
Al-Nusairi concluded his remarks by praising the programs and measures adopted by the Central Bank, which contributed to reducing inflation to 2.8% and maintaining the general price level, which is one of the objectives of monetary policy.
