Al-Sudani: Iraq is on the right track
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani did not want the year (2024) to end without launching a package of projects in a new governorate, and it was the turn of Nineveh, which had previously suffered from terrorism and was waiting for someone to help it.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister sent reassuring messages from Mosul, when he confirmed that the government was able to spare the country from dangers in light of the critical circumstances in the region, indicating that Iraq has today become a pivotal and influential country in the region, and is on the right track to build a state based on respect for the citizen and commitment to the constitution.
While al-Sudani launched work on a group of service and infrastructure projects in Nineveh Governorate yesterday, Sunday, he directed the opening of Mosul International Airport on (10) June, which coincides with the anniversary of the occupation of the city by ISIS, to serve as a message of defiance to terrorism.
The Prime Minister returned to the capital, Baghdad, yesterday evening, Sunday, after concluding a visit he made to Nineveh Governorate.
According to a statement issued by his media office, Al-Sudani’s visit included launching the executive work on the North Thermal Power Plant Project/Phase One, with a capacity of (700 megawatts), out of the total project capacity of (1400 megawatts), launching the executive work on the (local administration) stadium project and the indoor sports hall, directing to increase the stadium’s capacity, launching the executive work on the project to organize and rehabilitate the riverfront of the old city in the right side of Mosul, in addition to field follow-up of the Mosul International Airport reconstruction project, the completion rate of which has reached more than (80%), and directing its opening on (10) June next. It
also included “following up on the ongoing work on the Nineveh Archaeological Wall Rehabilitation Project, opening the new Nineveh Governorate building, and announcing the launch of a series of new projects in Nineveh Governorate, including those related to infrastructure, the second phase of the Ring Road Project, and the project to convert the military base in Qayyarah into a model base, in addition to chairing A meeting of the leaders of the security and military services in the province, and a meeting of tribal sheikhs and representatives of the various components and nationalities in Nineveh.
Al-Sudani stressed that “the projects we are talking about today are at the heart of erasing the effects of the terrorist gang and serving the citizens of Nineveh.”
He stressed that “Iraq is secure and stable, and on the right track, on the security level, political and societal stability, and economic construction.”
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EU: Iraq’s development path represents infrastructure for the entire region
The European Union Ambassador to Iraq, Thomas Sailer, stressed that the Iraqi development path
It represents a major infrastructure for the entire region.
“There is cooperation in many areas,” Sayler told the official newspaper, expressing his “hope for increased trade and investment exchange between the EU countries and Iraq.”
The EU Ambassador explained that “the Iraqi Development Road project is a major infrastructure project for the entire region for the European Union,” stressing that “European companies are operating in the Grand Faw Port and we want to expand our cooperation.”
Regarding regional and global developments, he explained that “the European Union is in continuous consultations with the Iraqi government regarding regional developments, and we exchange views and try to work together to face challenges, especially the situation in Syria now,” expressing “the European Union’s great appreciation for the successful position of the Iraqi government to calm tensions.”
Regarding entry visas for Iraqis to the European Union, Sailer stated that “the European Union is aware of the increasingly positive development of the security situation in Iraq, and that we are working with member states to find out how to facilitate the entry of Iraqis.”
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24 new military industries projects to be launched in Iraq
The General Company for Military Industries announced the launch of (24) new projects at the beginning of next year 2025.
The company’s director, Ali Mohsen Khader, told the official newspaper, “The projects will be opened within two to three months, in addition to (12) projects under study and completion at the Al-Yusufiyah complex site, to become 36 projects.”
Khader pointed out that “the first contract out of (7) contracts was signed during the current month with the Ministry of Defense, and it is being completed to provide it with special military products for various categories.”
He pointed out that “the production of various types of reconnaissance drones, thermal cameras and binoculars has begun, and contracts have been concluded with security agencies of various types, in addition to continuing to produce pistols, including (Babylon) with a production capacity of (30) thousand pistols annually, as (25) thousand were marketed as a first stage after signing contracts with the Ministries of Interior, Defense, Popular Mobilization and National Security, in addition to producing (Ashur) pistols.
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Dollar Auction.. What is the truth about stopping the Central Bank’s platform for currency conversion?
A responsible source in the Central Bank of Iraq revealed, on Monday evening, the truth about stopping the Central Bank’s platform for currency transfer starting today.
The source told Shafak News Agency, “The talk about the official suspension of the Central Bank’s platform for the currency transfer window, on today’s date 12/23/2024, is incorrect. Today, the auction worked normally and there is no official decision to suspend it so far.”
The source, who requested anonymity, added, “This platform will be stopped at the end of this year, according to what the bank officially announced. This does not mean stopping transfer operations, as some are trying to promote. However, after this step, there will be direct dealings between banks and correspondent banks, and not canceling transfer operations, as is being promoted. The issue is not limited to specific banks, but rather the process will be much broader.”
The responsible source in the Central Bank stated that “many Iraqi banks have the capabilities to deal directly with correspondent banks and operate in accordance with the work of advanced global banking sectors.”
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Al-Sudani: Iraq needs to diversify its sources of armament
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stressed, on Monday, Iraq’s need to diversify its sources of armament.
This came during his reception of representatives of the Korean Aerospace Industries Company (KAI) in his office in the capital, Baghdad, according to a statement received by Shafaq News Agency.
The Prime Minister stressed the government’s keenness to cooperate with the company and benefit from its expertise and capabilities to develop and enhance air defence capabilities, which are among the objectives of the government programme to achieve security reform and develop security agencies .
Al-Sudani pointed out Iraq’s need to diversify its sources of armament, which the government has worked on as part of a comprehensive plan to raise the efficiency and readiness of the security forces, and enhance the country’s ability to face various internal and external challenges .
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Project to remove zeros from Iran’s deteriorating currency
The Iranian government has submitted a bill to the Islamic Consultative Assembly to remove four zeros from the national currency and convert its unit from the rial to the toman.
The government of Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the purpose of preparing this bill and submitting it to parliament is to “reduce the problems caused by chronic inflation and the decline in the purchasing power of the national currency,” which in recent years has led to a significant increase in daily transactions and a “clear decline in the reputation of the national currency” compared to other currencies.
Tasnim News Agency reported that this bill was approved by the second government of President Hassan Rouhani in August 2019, and has now been submitted to the parliament as an emergency bill in the fourteenth government.
An attempt is being made to preserve the “reputation” of the national currency by removing four zeros, while the Iranian rial is currently the least valuable currency in the world, and its value continues to decline, as it was exchanged against the dollar for more than 760,000 Iranian rials.
Although removing four zeros from the national currency may make trading easier in the market, the government has not explained how it expects inflation to be reduced by removing four zeros from the national currency.
