Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Monday Afternoon 10-20-25

Al-Ghariri: Iraq's Negotiations To Join The World Trade Organization Are Ongoing.

Economy | 06:55 - 10/20/2025  Mawazine News - Follow-up:  Minister of Trade Athir Dawood Al-Ghariri confirmed on Monday that Iraq is continuing its negotiations to join the World Trade Organization, noting that regional initiatives are an opportunity to enhance institutional readiness and align legislative and investment frameworks.   https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=268812

Central Bank: Iraq's Public Debt Is Lower Than That Of The United States And Several Other Arab Countries.

Time: 2025/10/20 19:09:56 Reading: 30 times  {Economic: Al Furat News} The Central Bank of Iraq confirmed on Monday that the external debt curve is declining and that Iraq is within safe limits for public debt. The bank noted that Iraq's public debt-to-GDP ratio stands at 31%, a lower percentage than that of developed countries such as the United States and Japan, and other Arab countries such as Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco.

Samir Fakhri, Director General of the Statistics and Research Department at the Central Bank, said, "Total public debt is divided into domestic and external debt. Domestic debt, as of the end of last September, amounted to 90.6 trillion dinars."

He added, "The domestic debt is divided into more than 50% in favor of the Central Bank, and less than 50% in favor of banks, whether private or government-owned," indicating that "the majority of the debt owed to banks is owed to government-owned banks, i.e., from government to government."

He pointed out that "the external debt has reached $54 billion, and is divided into three parts: the largest part, namely $40.5 billion, dates back to before 2003. It is a suspended debt, and we are not currently bearing any burdens on it, whether interest or debt service, from 2003 until today."

He continued, "The second part is the Paris Club debt, which amounted to $120 billion, 80% of which has been written off, leaving $24 billion. With what Iraq has paid, only $3.8 billion remains, which was supposed to be covered until the end of 2028." We note here that the external debt curve is declining.

He pointed out that "the third portion amounts to approximately $10 billion, and is related to investment spending. It is a long-term debt of twenty years, owed to a group of countries and organizations, including Japan's JICA, Germany's Siemens, Spain, and Britain.

Thus, the total debt amounts to approximately $10 billion. If we exclude the forty and a half billion, the remaining amount is approximately $13 billion."

He emphasized that "if we convert these debts into dollars multiplied by the current exchange rate and add them to the domestic debt, the total debt-to-GDP ratio would reach approximately 43%. However, if we exclude the suspended debt of $40 billion, the public debt ratio would be around 30 to 31% of GDP."

Regarding financing the three-year budget deficit, Fakhri explained that “the deficit within the budget law was approved by Parliament for a period of three years. It is a planned deficit, not an actual one, of approximately 64 trillion dinars per year, meaning a total of 192 trillion dinars for the three years. What was actually spent as real debt is approximately 35 trillion dinars.

” He indicated that “if we divide 35 trillion by the planned deficit, the percentage will be approximately 18.2%,” noting that “the debt was 56 trillion dinars until the end of 2022, and from 2022 until today, 35 trillion has been added to it, bringing the total to approximately 90.6 trillion dinars that we mentioned.”

He added, "One of the most important indicators of monetary policy is the consumer price index (inflation), which is currently close to zero. If we compare it with neighboring countries like Iran and Turkey, we find a clear difference in inflation rates between them and Iraq, in addition to the exchange rate gap."

He stressed that "the focus must be on financing the deficit, so it must be directed towards investment spending, as this leads to growth in non-oil revenues."

Fakhry touched on some of the debt ratios in neighboring countries, noting that "in Egypt, public debt amounts to 90% of GDP, in Algeria: 49%, in Morocco: 70%, in Lebanon: 160-170%, and in Saudi Arabia: 29%, despite being a strong and industrially advanced economy."

He pointed out that "major industrialized countries, such as the United States, have a public debt of 120%, while Japan's debt ratio is 250%."  LINK

Iraq's Debt Is Within Safe Limits And Does Not Constitute A Burden On The Economy.

October 19, 2025  Baghdad - Qusay Munther  The Central Bank of Iraq revealed that Iraq's debt remains within safe limits and does not constitute a burden on the national economy.

A statement received by Al-Zaman yesterday stated that, “Within the framework of financial transparency and to clarify what is included in the public debt and deficit data, the Central Bank would like to clarify what was reported in the media, that the planned deficit in the three-year general budget law approved by the House of Representatives for the three years amounted to 91.5 trillion dinars, while the actual deficit for the three years mentioned amounted to 35 trillion dinars, which was covered internally with bonds and transfers and in accordance with the chapters included in the budget law.

” It added that, “Actual borrowing amounted to 18.2 percent of the planned deficit included in the budget law, reflecting the high level of coordination between the government and the Central Bank in controlling the public debt and its failure to reach the high levels included in the budget law.

” It continued, “The external debts due do not exceed 13 billion dollars after excluding the outstanding and unclaimed debts of the former regime, and Iraq has not defaulted on any obligation, maintaining an excellent financial reputation regionally and internationally in this regard.”

 It indicated that, “The internal debt of 91 trillion dinars represents 56 trillion dinars accumulated until the end of 2022.” The added amounts are 35 trillion dinars of debt for the three years, and most of the domestic debt is within the government banking system.

The statement explained that (due to the existence of government accounts and deposits in government banks, specialized committees and international consulting firms are working to convert part of this debt into investment tools within a national fund to manage the domestic debt with the aim of transforming obligations into investment opportunities), stressing that (the ratio of public debt to GDP did not exceed 43 percent, and this ratio, according to internationally recognized classification, is moderate and within safe limits and does not constitute a burden on the economy).

 The bank reiterated its confirmation that (it is working to provide an integrated vision of financial sustainability for the coming years that supports the government’s directions in comprehensive reform to diversify the economy and maximize non-oil revenues as an alternative to sole reliance on oil revenues and avoiding a financial deficit).

The bank also warned retirees against dealing with entities and individuals claiming to represent it, with the aim of defrauding them and stealing their data.

The statement said, “The bank warns citizens, especially retirees, against dealing with any entities or individuals impersonating or claiming to represent the Central Bank, and requesting personal data or official documents such as retirement IDs or financial information.

” It stressed that “any licensed financial institution does not request any information from citizens related to their cards, accounts, or financial data, and does not provide loans or request documents via social media or by phone call.” It continued, “Any request of this type is considered an attempt at fraud and deception aimed at exploiting citizens and stealing their data.

” It stressed, “Please do not provide any unofficial entity with any personal or financial information, and immediately report any suspicious contact or message through the official channels of the Central Bank or the competent security authorities.”  LINK

 

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