Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Monday Afternoon 7-7-25

The Specter Of Sanctions Haunts The "Ki Card." Will Iraqis Face "Salary Cuts?"
 
Baghdad Today – Baghdad  Fears are growing in Iraq over a looming financial crisis, following reports
that Qi Card could be included on the US sanctions list due to ongoing investigations into financial files involving several banks and companies.
 
With a large segment of Iraqis relying on the company for their salaries, attention is turning to the government and central bank's ability to avoid what could become a paralysis in the routine financial system associated with employees and retirees.
 

Salaries in the circle of concern 
 
Economic and financial expert Nasser Al-Tamimi told Baghdad Today,  "Fears over the salaries of employees and retirees due to the possibility of sanctions being imposed on K-Card are natural and justified," noting that  "the Central Bank of Iraq has actually begun moving to establish a national payments system to counter such threats." 

Al-Tamimi added that "the sanctions, if imposed, will restrict the company's transactions to Iraq alone,
meaning it will be barred from any external activity or transfers." He emphasized that "Iraq's delay in establishing an independent payments system has made it directly vulnerable to any pressure or sanctions affecting the financial sector."
 
The context of sanctions and banking tensions 
 
These warnings come at a time when the Iraqi banking sector is witnessing successive turmoil,
especially after the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on several Iraqi banks on charges of  money laundering and  dollar smuggling.
 
Global money transfer companies such as Western Union also announced they would suspend their dealings with some of these banks, sparking  market chaos and disrupting the flow of salaries and remittances.
 
Observers warn that any expansion of sanctions could include intermediary companies such as Qi Card,
potentially disrupting the payments infrastructure in the absence of effective alternatives in the short term.
 
Popular Mobilization Forces without salaries  

In one of the most striking manifestations of the current financial chaos, thousands of members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) have not received their monthly salaries for more than forty days, amid official silence from relevant authorities and a lack of clarification regarding the reasons for the delay. Observers believe  this delay may be indirectly related to  sanctions imposed on a number of local banks, or the result of  increasing restrictions on exchange and remittance channels, particularly in light of reports of tight US oversight of financing mechanisms, some of which are believed to be used outside official frameworks.
 
What next?
 
The Iraqi financial landscape is in a state of suspense amid delayed moves to establish national alternatives.

While the Central Bank confirms it is working to establish a new payments system capable of bypassing traditional intermediaries, actual implementation requires time, at a time when citizens cannot tolerate further delays in their salaries.
 
Experts believe this crisis could be a wake-up call for the state to reevaluate its financial and regulatory structure and provide sovereign tools to ensure financial stability, free from the dominance of companies that may be vulnerable to external targeting.      https://baghdadtoday.news/277952-.html 

Central Bank: National Electronic Payment Card Does Not Cancel International Cards
 
Time: 2025/07/04 3:30:17 PM Read: 1,860 Times  {Economic: Al Furat News} The Central Bank of Iraq confirmed that the   National Electronic Payment Card Project
     is an additional local option used exclusively within Iraq and 
     in Iraqi dinars, stressing that
     it does not cancel or restrict existing international cards.  

The Central Bank explained in a statement that "the National Electronic Payment Card Project
     is an additional local option used exclusively within Iraq and   in Iraqi dinars," emphasizing that
this project  aims to enhance local banking services.

The bank emphasized that  the National Card "does not cancel or restrict existing international cards such as Visa and Mastercard," denying any negative impact on the use of currently available international cards. 

The statement added that  "there are no plans to  cancel these cards or prohibit transactions in dollars outside Iraq," reassuring citizens and banking market users about the continuity of international banking services.
 
These clarifications come as part of government efforts to  develop the local banking system and  promote the use of the Iraqi dinar in local transactions, without  compromising nternational banking services or restricting foreign currency transactions outside Iraq.     https://alforatnews.iq/news/البنك-المركزي-البطاقة-الوطنية-للدفع-الإلكتروني-لا-تلغي-البطاقات-الدولية 

The Central Bank Of Iraq Organizes A Workshop On Improving The Skills Of Its Employees.
 
July 07, 2025  The Human Resources Directorate of the Central Bank of Iraq, in cooperation with the Erbil branch, organized a workshop for branch employees titled  "Improving the Skills of Middle Management and Preparing Them for Digital Transformation."
 
The workshop covered a range of topics related to  new management skills,  strategic thinking,  job behavior, the use of modern digital and technical approaches, and the  art of dealing and negotiation.
 
Central Bank of Iraq  Media Office  July 7, 202   https://cbi.iq/news/view/2927 

Industry: Investment Opportunities For Phosphate Fertilizer Production
 
Economic 07/07/2025  Baghdad: The pillar of the emirate The Ministry of Industry and Minerals announced the referral of investment opportunities to establish new, integrated
phosphate fertilizer plants to a consortium comprising the  Iraqi Asas Engineering Company and East China Company,as part of its efforts to boost national production in the chemical industries sector.
 
The ministry's media spokesperson, Duha Al-Jubouri, told Al-Sabah:
 
"The Opinion Board and the relevant departments within the ministry are in the process of approving the referral decision in preparation for signing the final contract next month." She noted that "the new plants will operate with an annual production capacity of 1.5 million tons of phosphate fertilizers.

" Al-Jubouri explained that  the investment project includes the development of the phosphate ore mine in Akashat, west of Anbar.
 
This mine constitutes a fundamental pillar in the production chain, as the  raw materials will be transported to the Al-Qaim Industrial Complex for use as raw materials in fertilizer manufacturing.
 
She confirmed that all production lines in Akashat and Al-Qaim will adopt the latest technologies.
 
Regarding phosphate reserves, Al-Jubouri revealed that "the confirmed reserves in the Akashat mine alone amount to (3) billion tons, while the other mines in the Sawab and Al-Hari areas contain about (7) billion additional tons,  bringing the total confirmed national reserves to about (10) billion tons," considering
 
this a "strategic wealth suitable for long-term investment.

" She emphasized that the Minister of Industry and Minerals, Khaled Battal Al-Najm, has given special importance to investment in the phosphate sector since assuming office, as three investment conferences were organized specifically for this purpose, and their outcomes were the referral of these major investment opportunities, while there are still two additional opportunities under study by the ministry.
 

Chemical industry 
 
Regarding the importance of phosphate, economic expert Dr. Ikram Abdel Aziz explained that   phosphate represents a vital mineral with multiple uses and is an essential material in many vital and agricultural industries.

Speaking to Al-Sabah, Abdel Aziz said, "Phosphate is used in the manufacture of animal feed supplements, as it provides the phosphorus and calcium necessary for bone growth and reproduction in livestock."

She noted that  "this substance is also used in the chemical and agricultural detergent industries, as  it is an essential raw material for the production of phosphoric acid, which in turn is used in the manufacture of many industrial chemicals." 

She added that phosphate plays an important role in mining operations, by  helping to remove impurities and enhance the fluidity of molten metals,  which aids in the extraction and purification of metals such as iron, steel, aluminum, and copper.
 
On the environmental side, Abdelaziz explained that "phosphate is used to stabilize soil and prevent soil erosion by strengthening its structure, which contributes to supporting land management practices, especially in areas prone to erosion."
 
In the medical field, she emphasized that "calcium phosphate compounds are used to  ensure the safety and quality of drinking water and industrial systems, in addition to their role in promoting public health and protecting infrastructure."
 
Abdelaziz concluded her remarks by highlighting the growing role of phosphate in renewable energy, saying,  "Phosphate is a key topic in energy storage research, as it has significant potential in this area.
 
Scientists are currently seeking to develop technologies to improve its extraction efficiency and  expand its use in recycling phosphorus from organic waste and wastewater." https://alsabaah.iq/117039-.html 

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