Iraq surpasses Saudi Arabia in oil exports to America
The US Energy Information Administration announced on Saturday that Iraq surpassed Saudi Arabia in oil exports to the United States during the past week.
The administration stated in a table seen by Shafaq News Agency, that “the average US imports of crude oil during the past week from 9 major countries amounted to 5.765 million barrels per day, down by 79 thousand barrels per day from the previous week, which amounted to 5.844 million barrels per day.”
She added that “Iraq’s oil exports to America reached 212 thousand barrels per day last week, down by 17 thousand barrels per day from the previous week, which reached 229 thousand barrels per day, thus exceeding Saudi Arabia, whose exports to America reached only 87 thousand barrels.”
The administration indicated that “the largest oil revenues for America during the past week came from Canada at a rate of 3.733 million barrels per day, followed by Mexico at an average of 551 thousand barrels per day, then Venezuela at an average of 353 thousand barrels per day, and Colombia at an average of 289 thousand barrels per day.”
According to the table, “the amount of US imports of crude oil from Brazil amounted to 280 thousand barrels per day, from Libya it was at a rate of 189 thousand barrels per day, and from Nigeria at a rate of 71 thousand barrels per day.
The Iraqi government succeeds in recovering 50 billion dinars from the corrupt during 2024
The Parliamentary Integrity Committee confirmed, today, Saturday, that the government succeeded in recovering 50 billion dinars from the corrupt during the past year, while indicating that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani played a prominent role in reducing corruption files.
Committee member MP Alia Nassif said: “Al-Sudani and the Integrity Commission had an effective impact in reducing the aggravation of these files and prosecuting those involved in them,” noting that “the government also succeeded in recovering about 50 billion dinars from those involved in corruption files in the Deal of the Century, in addition to the Director General of Refineries and the Assistant Director of Investment during the year 2024.”
Nassif pointed out that “the anti-corruption operations also included pursuing those involved in real estate fraud files,” noting that “most ministries and governorates formed sub-committees to stop the waste of public money.”
Iran invests $1 billion in joint oil field with Iraq
The executive director of the joint Azar oil field development project with Iraq, in the city of Ilam in western Iran, stated that the Economic Council’s approval for developing the second phase of the Azar oil field is in the form of new oil contracts with an investment of more than one billion dollars, expecting this contract to enter into force before the end of this year (the Iranian year ends on March 20).
In a statement to the official Iranian news agency IRNA on Saturday, Keyvan Yar Ahmadi said: By holding several specialized meetings with representatives of the Planning and Budget Organization and submitting an explanatory report with supporting documents related to the technical work description and financial estimate for the implementation of the project
And explaining the objectives of developing the Azar oil field, the approval of the Economic Council was finally obtained for developing the second phase of this oil field in the form of new oil contracts with an expected investment of more than one billion dollars, and it is expected that this will be done with the fulfillment of the basic conditions in the contract by the contractor and the relevant procedures by the employer, and this contract will be implemented and become effective before the end of this year.
Yar Ahmadi pointed to the launch of the Dehloran Gas and LNG Plant (NGL-3100) in the near future, and said: The compression and sweetening facilities of the associated gas in the Azar field, which were completed a long time ago, have been launched and are ready to send gas to this plant.
Accordingly, all the activities of the first phase of the development of this field will be determined and the main milestone (the turning point and main point of the project’s progress) will be delivered. The first phase of the development of this complex plant will reach its goal by achieving all the contractual targets and sharing the Iranian share of more than 70%, which has led to the production of 83 million barrels of oil and revenues of nearly $6 billion.
It is noteworthy that the Azar oil field is located in the city of Mehran in Ilam province, western Iran.
The reserves of this field amount to 2 billion and 500 million barrels of crude oil, and the amount of oil that can be extracted from it is estimated at 400 million barrels.
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Tishwash: Al-Sudani’s Advisor: 3 Economic Benefits for Iraq from Foreign Partnerships
The economic advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed that the common external ties with the world contribute to achieving three main positive results for the Iraqi economy, while pointing out the importance of these ties in enhancing comprehensive economic development.
Saleh explained to {Euphrates News} that: “The first result is represented in diversifying the national economy, as these links contribute to breaking the monopoly of the economy and reducing dependence on oil resources, by supporting the advanced agricultural, industrial, tourism, and services sectors.”
He also stressed “the importance of encouraging small and medium enterprises, which are the backbone of the sustainable economy, especially with the strength and stability of global links.”
The second result is related to strengthening partnerships with the private sector, as Saleh pointed out “the need to facilitate partnerships between the public and private sectors to implement major projects, in addition to providing incentives to the private sector to invest in non-oil sectors, which enhances the diversity of the economy.”
He added that “the third result lies in investing in human resources, by developing the education and vocational training system to meet the needs of the labor market rapidly.”
Saleh called for “promoting innovation and entrepreneurship among young people, with a focus on artificial intelligence technology and the effective integration of information technology and knowledge,” noting that “Iraq can benefit from its strategic geographical location as a link between Asia and Europe to enhance its role as a global trade center through the “Development Road” project.
He stressed “the importance of building strong economic relations with countries such as China, Europe, Turkey, Iran, and the Gulf states to achieve an exchange of economic benefits,” stressing that “Iraq looks forward with steadfastness and a clear vision to achieving this goal through legislation and regulations that facilitate its integration into the global economy, while enhancing international cooperation and building long-term economic relations.”
At the end of his statement, Saleh stressed that “stability in all its aspects is a basic condition for implementing these steps and achieving comprehensive economic development.”
The head of the National State Forces Alliance, Mr. Ammar al-Hakim, stressed during his speech at the mass gathering in Najaf on the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Martyr of the Mihrab, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim {may God sanctify his secret} yesterday, Friday, that combating corruption, establishing security, and building a balanced economy is our gateway to building a strong state, while calling for striving through Iraq To establish long-term economic ties and common interests that our peoples and the peoples of our Arab and Islamic region enjoy.
Mr. Ammar Al-Hakim also stressed the importance of focusing on reconstruction projects, economic development and increasing investments in the country.
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Tishwsh: Al-Nusairi: Monetary policy indicators for 2024 confirm that the Central Bank is the first economic institution in Iraq
The economic and banking advisor and member of the International Union of Arab Bankers, Samir Al-Nusairi, confirmed that through accurate financial and statistical analysis, the Central Bank of Iraq revealed the positive indicators it achieved for the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2022-2023, and also announced the suspension of work on the electronic platform on 12/31/2024.
Al-Nusairi explained in an interview with “Al-Eqtisad News” that the success of the monetary policy adopted by the bank during the year 2024 and the positive indicators of business results for the third quarter/2024 compared to the same period for the years 2022-2023, which indicated the following: Total deposits in banks operating in Iraq achieved a growth of (4.2%), in contrast, cash credit granted by operating banks recorded a growth of (11.6%), and deposits in private banks operating in Iraq recorded a growth of (14%), in contrast, cash credit granted by private banks achieved a growth of (15.1%), in contrast, the broad money supply in Iraq recorded a growth of (3.3%) in the third quarter of 2024.
He added that the gold reserves of the Central Bank of Iraq recorded a significant growth of (57%), as their value reached (16) trillion dinars, compared to their value of (10.7) trillion dinars in the third quarter of 2023. The important thing is that the annual inflation rates recorded a percentage that is among the lowest annual inflation rates in the countries of the region for the months of August and September of 2024, as the rest of the percentage is acceptable at (3.7%) and (3.1%) respectively, and this reflects price stability, maintaining the general price rate, achieving the most important goals of monetary policy, and the success of monetary policy in Iraq.
Al-Nusairi stressed that by the end of 2024, it becomes clear beyond doubt that the procedures of the Central Bank of Iraq and the efforts it has made since the beginning of 2023 until now, with the support and cooperation of the government, have borne fruit and begun to yield positive results according to what was planned, with detailed procedures and administrative and technical steps and understandings
To regulate the financing of foreign trade with Arab and international banks by approving the opening of accounts for Iraqi banks in American, Chinese, European, Emirati, Indian and Turkish correspondent banks to deal directly with them for foreign transfers in the currencies of these countries, which are the dollar, euro, Chinese yuan, Indian rupee, Emirati dirham, Turkish lira, Jordanian dinar and Saudi riyal,
And leaving the electronic platform in 2024 and allowing banks to supply dollars and foreign currencies into Iraq from their accounts with correspondent banks or abroad according to specific controls issued by the Central Bank of Iraq, as well as reaching the opening of many accounts for Iraqi banks in correspondent banks.
He pointed out that the strategy of the Central Bank of Iraq implemented in 2024 to reform the banking sector adopted the restructuring, development and classification of banks and increasing their capital to the ceiling set by the Central Bank according to the specified timetables, which led and will lead to raising the capabilities of Iraqi banks to provide the best banking products and services to customers and to the economy, investment and development and moving to comprehensive digital transformation and compliance with international standards and helps in lifting the restrictions imposed on our (28) private banks.
He pointed out that foreign transfers, which reach 97%, are made at the official exchange rate, and work is underway to facilitate foreign transfers for small traders and to identify speculators’ plans to harm the Iraqi economy.
A foreign exchange reserve of 153 tons of gold has been maintained, with a cumulative reserve ratio of 140%, to cover imports and local currency in circulation and provide the necessary liquidity to meet the needs of the Ministry of Finance to implement the government’s operating budget.
He also noted that the developmental measures for technical, technological and administrative infrastructure in the Central Bank are being implemented accurately and comprehensively in its banking reform strategy in all its axes, and are an embodiment of what it has specified in the roadmap that it has clarified in cooperation with the government in accordance with what is stated in the government’s program in Axis 12 (Financial and Banking Reform) and Paragraph 7 thereof, which is related to developing and enabling banks to contribute to development and investment.
Al-Nusairi concluded his speech by saying that the efforts made by the Central Bank in 2024 are an affirmation of the soundness of the implementation of its third strategy for the years 2024-2026, and it is trying to achieve its main and subsidiary goals according to their timetables, with wishes for success and achieving economic stability because the primary duty of banks is to be (stability) banks.
Mot: Clears That Question Up!! — HUH!!!!
Mot: … One More of the Plexing Things We —-
