Saturday, May 17, 2025
The Baghdad Summit And Support For Transportation And Logistics Projects Are A Strategic Pillar For Diversifying The National Economy
The Baghdad Summit And Support For Transportation And Logistics Projects Are A Strategic Pillar For Diversifying The National Economy
Dr. Haitham Hamid Mutlaq Al-Mansour Economy News – Baghdad The Baghdad Summit, which began on Tuesday, May 13, has been hosting a ministerial-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council, which included important meetings on enhancing regional cooperation on transportation and logistics projects between the region's countries.
These topics played a significant role in these meetings, given their importance in stimulating economic growth and connecting regional markets. How can the summit support these projects? What are the expected prospects for this sector?
The government's interest in transportation and logistics projects was a national and regional economic priority at the Baghdad 2025 Summit, through planning major strategic projects aimed at transforming Iraq into a regional transportation and trade hub, by linking southern Iraq to the Turkish border in the north, and Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea in the west, thus enhancing Iraq's role as a major economic hub in the region.
Therefore, we find that the government is working to strengthen Iraq's economic position by developing trade relations with Arab countries, re-evaluating previous agreements, and implementing strategic projects aimed at diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on oil. This is due to the advantages and gains it offers in the following areas:
Iraq's strategic location: Iraq serves as a land bridge connecting the Arabian Gulf to Turkey and Europe, and Asia to the Arab world, making it a key logistics hub.
The goal is to promote intra-regional trade and facilitate the movement of goods between participating countries (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, and others), reducing costs and increasing the speed and volume of trade.
Diversifying the Iraqi economy: As an alternative to its total dependence on oil, Iraq could become a regional logistics hub, providing job opportunities and supporting other sectors such as industry and warehousing.
The most prominent proposed transport and logistics projects:
A. Land and railway connectivity projects
- The Iraqi Development Corridor: Linking the Grand Faw Port in southern Iraq to Turkey via a railway and highway network, facilitating the transport of goods between the Gulf and Europe.
- The Iraqi-Jordanian railway line: to enhance trade exchange with Jordan and its outlet to the Mediterranean.
- A project to link Gulf ports to Turkey via Iraq: In cooperation with countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, this project aims to create an alternative trade route to congested sea lanes.
b. Development of ports and airports
- Al Faw Grand Port: One of the largest logistics projects in the region, it could become a competitor to Dubai Ports and Jebel Ali Ports if completed.
- Modernizing Baghdad, Najaf, and Basra airports to increase their capacity to handle air cargo and enhance transit, as well as establishing new airports.
C. Free logistics zones
Establishing warehousing and logistics distribution areas in cities such as Basra and Najaf to facilitate re-exports and reduce shipping costs.
But the important question remains: How can the summit support these projects? Support is provided through:
Concluding land and air transport agreements between Iraq and neighboring countries to facilitate the movement of goods and trucks.
Attracting investments from the Gulf states, Turkey, and China to finance infrastructure.
Establish a regional logistics authority to coordinate transport policies and unify customs standards.
Involving the private sector in the management and operation of logistics projects to ensure efficiency.
Among the most important challenges and obstacles that may face the process of supporting these projects, which are expected to reveal Iraq’s capabilities in developing this category of strategic projects, are:
The weakness of Iraq's current road and railway infrastructure.
Bureaucracy and corruption hinder the implementation of major projects.
Therefore, the multiplicity of economic impact expected from these investments is of great importance on the level of the Iraqi and regional economy, which appears to us as follows:
A. At the level of the Iraqi economy:
Boosting GDP: The International Monetary Fund estimates that investing $10 billion in infrastructure could boost Iraq's economic growth by 2.5% annually.
Job Creation: Transport and logistics projects could create 500,000 direct and indirect job opportunities by 2030.
Diversifying revenues: Currently, 90% of Iraq's revenues come from oil, but the transportation sector could add $5-7 billion annually by 2030.
Reducing the trade deficit: Transportation costs for the trade sector are expected to decline with improved infrastructure, which will provide an incentive to develop export industries that will reduce the $30 billion annual trade deficit between Iraq and its neighbors (Turkey, Iran, and Jordan).
B. At the level of regional trade and international investment:
Reducing shipping costs: The Gulf-Türkiye route via Iraq may reduce shipping time from 20 days (by sea around the Arabs) to 48 hours (by land).
Positive impact on foreign investment flows. With improved infrastructure, the region could attract investments from Turkey, other Arab countries, China (under the Belt and Road Initiative), the Gulf (particularly in energy and logistics), and European companies seeking new markets.
Therefore, the Baghdad Development Summit represents a very opportune opportunity to stimulate the growth and diversification of the national economy, as well as to revitalize Iraq's strategic role in regional cooperation in the field of transportation and logistics.
Iraq is on the cusp of a major economic transformation, transforming it into a trade hub between Asia and Europe and supporting its economy with non-oil revenues.
This requires effective policies to prepare and rehabilitate relevant sectors and establish strategic partnerships with neighboring countries and international investors. https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=55515
EXCERPTS FROM MARKZ: I continue to hear about $1.47 US
EXCERPTS FROM MARKZ
MZ: No fresh bond updates since last night. But it is reassuring seeing many different bond holders saying they have now finished their final paperwork and initiated payments. Now we have to see how many start receiving it.
Member: my platform saying triggers to be paid today, i hope they are right. could this mean we reached that 30%?
MZ: I think we are at about 20%
Member: Mike Bara said things will start at any time now.
Member: I hear different exchange rates are coming up on the forex- Rumor?
Member: Any new rates for the Indonesian Rupiah?
MZ: I continue to hear about $1.47 US. I have been hearing that for a long time now, but we won’t know for certain until we get there.
Member: Nader posted the Dinar jumped to 0.0014 briefly.
MZ: Its moving in the right direction
Expert: Central Bank Reserves Declined By More Than 12% In Three Years
Expert: Central Bank Reserves Declined By More Than 12% In Three Years
economy | 11:23 - 05/16/2025 Mawazine News - Baghdad - Economic affairs expert, Manar Al-Obaidi, confirmed today, Friday, that the Central Bank of Iraq's reserves witnessed a significant decline of more than 12% from the end of 2022 until March 2025.
Al-Obaidi said, in a statement received by Mawazine News, that "reserves declined by more than 20 trillion Iraqi dinars in a period of only 15 months, at a rate of 1.3 trillion dinars per month, equivalent to one billion dollars."
He added, "This decline cannot be read in isolation from the continuous rise in the import bill, which has begun to drain the state's hard currency resources on a daily basis."
Al-Obaidi pointed out that "this decline is due to Iraq's almost total dependence on foreign exchange to meet its consumer and production needs, in light of the absence of efficient local alternatives, the weakness of the industrial and agricultural sectors, and the continued operation of the currency window mechanism in its current form." https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=261491
“Hearing $1.47” – Coffee with MarkZ and Mr. Cottrell Intel Stream Highlights 5-16-25
Coffee with MarkZ and Mr. Cottrell. 05/16/2025
Some highlights by PDK-Not verbatim
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 Morning- Let’s get this RV weekend started
Member: Good morning Patriots and Dinarians.
Member: Just a thought: Tomorrows the 17th maybe we will get our notifications, but can’t go to the bank /redemption centers until Monday??
Member: did the dinar come off the exotic currency list on the 15th?
MZ: Not that I know of- but we did see a lot of rates populating yesterday ….it was a very interesting day.
MZ: No fresh bond updates since last night. But it is reassuring seeing many different bond holders saying they have now finished their final paperwork and initiated payments. Now we have to see how many start receiving it.
Member: my platform saying triggers to be paid today, i hope they are right. could this mean we reached that 30%?
MZ: I think we are at about 20%
Member: Mike Bara said things will start at any time now.
Member: I hear different exchange rates are coming up on the forex- Rumor?
Member: Any new rates for the Indonesian Rupiah?
MZ: I continue to hear about $1.47 US. I have been hearing that for a long time now, but we won’t know for certain until we get there.
Member: Nader posted the Dinar jumped to 0.0014 briefly.
MZ: Its moving in the right direction
Member: Well the Arab Summit starts tomorrow. Hope that brings good news for us.
Member: Iraq will look like the poor relation going to the summit with a 1310 rate on dinar. do you think that’s what Iraq wants to look poor tomorrow?
Member: At this point I would be thrilled with a 1 to 1 rate
Member: imagine how much easier it would be for Iraq to purchase the 3 zero notes off the streets with a 3 dollar to 1 dinar exchange rate
Member: Trump is on his way home to see his newborn granddaughter. So will not be attending the Arab Summit in person. Maybe via a zoom call or something?????
MZ: “Baghdad summit and support for transportation and logistics projects is a strategic pillar for diversifying the national economy.” A neat article talking about all the investments going on in Iraq and Iraq working on prosperity for its citizens. This is not a country who will keep sitting around with a 1320 value on their currency.
MZ: “Rolls Royce offers a dealership in Iraq” first one in over 120 years there. It will be in the Erbil region. I think this is telling us they are expecting a lot of very wealthy people soon in the area.
Member: I think the Iran deal is the key to this rv going.
MZ: You could be right.
MZ: “Scientists discover $1,500,000,000,000 trillion in white gold in Oregan that could transform the car industry” This is lithium. Every time we turn around there is another discovery.
Member: WOW, everyday it’s another place finding gold , lithium, everything all at once !!!
Member: I just got off the phone with a JP Morgan wealth advisor got an email to come in for a consultation. told them what I would be talking about
MZ: It seems the World Economic forum are pursuing Christine Lagarde to lead them since the departure of Klaus Swab.
Member: If the WEF was to be abolished, would anyone miss this organization? What good does the WEF do to support the world in a good way? I see no use for them.
Member: Praying this upcoming week is looking good for the RV
Member: Huge July 4th celebrations coming for the US 250 birthday. I would hope we all have exchanged by then.
Mod: Mark’s next travel schedule. He leaves on May 17th (which is Mark’s dad 80th B-Day) and comes back on May 21st. Zester will host the podcast when Mark is gone. Mark will pop in when he can.
Member: If the RV goes off while Mark is on vacation, hopefully he has a pre-recorded with his golden suit on
Member: Thanks Mark and Mr. C….everyone have a wonderful weekend. Safe travels Mark and enjoy your vacation Mark.
Mr. Cottrell joins the stream today. Please listen to the replay for his information and opinions.
THE CONTENT IN THIS PODCAST IS FOR GENERAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY&NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE ANY PROFESSIONAL, FINANCIAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE CONSIDER EVERYTHING DISCUSSED IN MARKZ’S OPINION ONLY
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
4/18 Latest Iraq Dinar Update and Govt Formation News
Read also: Bank appointment for Currency EXCHANGE Instructions/Checklist
-
🌍 Global Currency Reset: What’s Happening Now The so-called “RV Redemption” is reportedly entering a new phase, according to various sour...
-
A groundbreaking and irreversible shift is occurring in the global financial system as it rapidly transitions to a gold-backed structure. T...
-
Confirmed on Live TV – Announced Exchange Rate: $6.02! – Take Advantage!🔊 Highlights Summary Here are reports on the officially confirmed...