The second session of the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Conference kicks off in Baghdad with broad Arab participation.
5/28/2025
- Baghdad
The second conference on combating money laundering and terrorist financing kicked off in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, under the title "International Compliance: A Gateway to Strengthening Relations with Correspondent Banks." The conference was attended by high-level officials and banking officials, and drew broad Arab and international participation.
The conference began with a welcoming speech by the Chairman of the Iraqi Private Banks Association, Wadih Al-Handhal, who expressed his happiness at holding this important event in Iraq.
He emphasized the importance of the central topic it addresses, given the challenges facing the Iraqi and Arab banking sectors alike.
It's been many month, a long time, that we've heard any talk about the World Trade Organization but they're doing it again. I don't think that's a coincidence.
It's obvious Iraq is pushing to go and integrate into the international financial system...All of this is coming together quite beautifully.
Article Quote "Iraq has made significant progress towards joining the World Trade Organization." ...Integration is inevitable as far as I can tell.
Prime Minister's financial advisor, Mazhar Mohammed Salih, confirmed on Wednesday that Iraq is moving towards diversifying its gross domestic product (GDP) sources by expanding investment in the mining sector, He noted that the value of Iraq's natural resources exceeds $16 trillion. Saleh told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Iraq is moving towards diversifying its GDP sources by expanding investment in the mining sector, a sector that has been neglected for decades, the government has signed memoranda of understanding with reputable international companies in the fields of exploration and investment in minerals, especially in the fields of phosphate, sulfur, lithium and copper, this is within the framework of the strategic directions of the Iraqi government program to diversify sources of
national income and optimally exploit the country's wealth." He added,"Investment in the mining sector will contribute to attracting billions of dollars in fields ready for development, such as sulfur, phosphate, lithium, and other minerals, "He pointed out that "Iraq ranks first in the world in terms of the concentration of natural resources per square kilometer, and ninth in the world in the value of various natural resources, with an estimated value exceeding 16 trillion US dollars, according to published global estimates." He pointed out that "the various reserves of the earth's wealth constitute a diverse stock of minerals, foremost among which is phosphate: its reserves are estimated at more than 10 billion tons, and our country is second in the world in terms of reserves, and it is concentrated in the Akashat area in Anbar Governorate, secondly, free sulfur: which our country enjoys large reserves in Mishraq in Nineveh Governorate and is considered one of the largest free sulfur fields in the world, the third is silica: in the Najaf Ashraf region and western Iraq, and it is used in the glass, electronics and semiconductor industries, and it is one of the most important and purest reserves in the world according to international published global readings." He continued, "Likewise, iron, manganese, copper, and gold are distributed across various regions of Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan Region and the western and central borders, except for southern Iraq, which possesses vast reserves of other rare natural resources." He pointed out that "the policy of diversifying the national economy through the extraction and processing of mineral resources for national industries, and then adopting their export by maximizing value-added chains in manufacturing or semi-manufacturing industries, will add at least 10 percent to the GDP in the first phase."
He pointed out that "after that, the percentage will increase to form, over time, one of the pillars of diversifying national income sources, especially if the link between mineral investment and the development of national manufacturing industries grows, such as fertilizer, aluminum, glass, electronics, and batteries related to renewable energy, in addition to the introduction of foreign capital, advanced digital technology and services, the provision of national job opportunities, and investment in Iraqi people as a productive national energy." He emphasized that "present and future generations will witness a new era of investment for Iraq in economic and technological progress and prosperity, towards building a promising model of balanced development." He noted that "Iraq, which is strongly looking forward to building investments in mining fields as an additional resource in the medium and long term, does not rule out investment in oil fields, but it cannot completely replace oil in the near term, rather, it serves as an important complement to the strategy for diversifying the national economy." He concluded by saying, "The mining sector represents a promising opportunity for Iraq, not only to increase public revenues, but also to restore the structural balance of the Iraqi economy, create significant national employment opportunities, and achieve diversified development in regions rich in natural resources, which will lead to increased investment in infrastructure, as part of a model of geographically balanced economic development for all of Iraq."
...we understand that we're going to be getting notified either Friday or Saturday of this week...we did hear from one source ...he's the head of the redemption center in this area, and he said he does not go back in until noon on Friday...
could be a possibility – that we receive notifications, Friday afternoon, set appointments, and start exchanges on Saturday, that's what we hope because we have heard, we expect to get started this week...And the same person said that
the rates on the screens...
were amazing...They were fluctuating before, but they solidified...and we've got amazing rates, and everything's really good to go for us...So that is very exciting..
FRANK26: Experts: Liberation from the rentier economy occurs through modern banking.
6/2/2025
Baghdad - Qusay Munther
Banking, academic, and legal experts predict that Iraq is on the path to a radical banking transformation that will transform the national economy from its dependence on oil to a diversified and sustainable capital market.
banking power
“The United Nations mission confirmed that Iraq possesses strong components that qualify it to become a regional banking power in the coming years, provided that available opportunities and capabilities are effectively invested,” said expert Anwar Dawood Al-Khafaji in a statement received by Al-Zaman yesterday. She added that “the Iraqi banking sector, which has suffered for decades from serious challenges such as wars, sanctions, corruption, and mismanagement,is now witnessing important transformations, represented by the adoption of modern banking reforms, the move towards financial inclusion, and linking Iraqi banks to international networks.” She pointed out that “the United Nations mission believes that Iraq possesses significant liquidity and huge cash reserves, in addition to a strategic geographical location between the markets of the Gulf, Turkey, and Iran, which enhances its chances of becoming a regional financial center.” Al-Khafaji explained that “transforming into a banking power is not limited to modernizing the infrastructure alone, but rather requires building an integrated financial system characterized by transparency, efficiency, and trust, and attracting capital and investments,” stressing “the importance of establishing a modernbanking culture based on financial inclusion, digitization, and compliance with international standards, stressing that this will redraw the map.” The national economy and enhances the status of the Iraqi dinar), and she went on to say that (the development of the banking sector will create a suitable environment to attract local and foreign investment, and provide financial support to small and medium enterprises that form the backbone of any productive economy, especially since these developments will positively reflect on stimulating the market and moving the wheel of industry, agriculture and trade, away from excessive dependence on oil), and she pointed out that (citizens will benefit directly from this transformation through the provision of easy financial services such as loans, payment cards and savings accounts, in addition to improving financial stability and reducing the parallel economy that burdens the state and citizens)
strong will
He continued, saying, "There is a need for strong political will to support the independence of the Central Bank, develop human resources in the banking sector, and firmly combat financial corruption, as trust is the cornerstone of building true banking strength. It cannot be bought, but rather earned through commitment, transparency, and achieving tangible results." For their part, bankers said, "Iraq's success on this path will transform the country into a vibrant financial center in the heart of the Middle East," highlighting that, "This is the transformation the economy needs, the citizen deserves, and future generations await."
