Iraq News Highlights and Points To Ponder Tuesday AM 10-22-24

Parliamentary Finance: 2025 Budget Expected To Reach Parliament Early Next Year

Economy  - 2024-10-21  The head of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Atwan Al-Atwani, confirmed today, Monday, that the government has begun meetings to restructure the items of the 2025 budget, while he expected it to reach the House of Representatives early next year.

He pointed out that the Finance Committee discussed the public financial management project with a delegation from the Adam Smith International Foundation.

The media office of the head of the committee stated in a statement that "the head of the Finance Committee, Atwan Al-Atwani, received a delegation from the Adam Smith International Foundation at the headquarters of the Finance Committee, to discuss the public financial management project prepared by the international institution to help reform the tax and customs sectors, public debt management and the Development Fund."

He added that "Al-Atwani reviewed before the delegation, in the presence of the economic advisor to the British Embassy, ​​the most important challenges facing the financial system in Iraq, as well as the steps and priorities of the Finance Committee within the framework of finding a correct philosophy and rational management of public money and the economy by diversifying sources of income and not relying excessively on oil to feed the state budget."

Al-Atwani said, according to the statement, that "the parliamentary finance committee, as part of its ongoing efforts and continuous efforts to maximize non-oil revenues, is currently working on amending the law of the General Authority for Monitoring the Allocation of Federal Revenues, so that it can play its role in evaluating, monitoring and collecting these revenues in a sound and regular manner, in addition to including a new task in the law related to evaluating the performance of the budget and expenditures."

He added that "the committee is conducting an in-depth study of the Stock and Commodities Market Law, which it intends to legislate during the coming period, and is holding specialized workshops in order to encourage Islamic banks to enter into banking and financial activity."

He pointed out that "the finance committee is working on a number of proposed laws that aim to regulate financial management, including the proposed law on investment in Islamic bonds, and the proposed law on the Center for Banking Studies."

Regarding the 2025 budget, Al-Atwani estimated that it would reach the House of Representatives early next year, indicating that "the government has begun meetings to restructure the budget items."

He noted that "the oil dispute with the Kurdistan Region is one of the most prominent problems facing the preparation of next year's budget," referring to "the committee's efforts and efforts to resolve the dispute between Baghdad and Erbil, through meetings with representatives of the regional government and the federal government.

The points of contention have been identified and diagnosed by the committee, and the legal and constitutional path to overcome them has been determined; as we hope to reach a final agreement in the next stage, in order to resume the export of the region's oil, in a way that ensures the enhancement of the state's resources." In

 turn, the institution's delegation confirmed its interest and keenness to support the financial system in Iraq, through a long-term strategy, specialized training and consultations to develop Iraqi systems and legislation.   https://kirkuktv.net/AR/Details/22785

Western Report: Iraq's Financial Situation Is Strong And It Is Working According To A Transitional Development Approach

 Politics  Baghdad-Mil    A Western report praised the developments taking place in Iraq, noting that it is in a strong financial position and its government is working according to a transitional approach that links humanitarian work with development.

According to the report, which was published by the "Really Vibe" website and translated by "Mill", "Iraq is largely going through a transitional phase from a humanitarian response to a more development-oriented approach."

He added, "The Iraqi government has developed a national plan on internal displacement and launched a sustainable development programme in cooperation with the United Nations.

The report confirms that "the Iraqi government is now in a much stronger financial position, given its ability to generate capital from its oil reserves, and the country has a transitional document linking humanitarian work and development programmes."  https://miliq.news/political/37518--.html#hathalyoum

Parliamentary Finance Committee Talks About Non-Oil Revenues In The Budget And Directs An Invitation To The Government

 Policy  2024-10-22 | Sumerian News – Politics  The Finance Committee in the House of Representatives called on the government to expedite the preparation of next year's budget according to the specified timetable. While discussing Chairman of the Committee Atwan Al-Atwani with the delegation of the Adam Smith International Foundation group Of the laws related to the development of the financial and banking system.

Member of the Finance Committee, Mustafa Al-Karawi, stated that “the current year’s budget stipulated the necessity of providing Parliament In the financial schedule before the end of the fiscal year, and any delay in that will cause a delay in the start of implementing the budget and its schedules,” noting that “the non-oil revenues targeted in the budget are estimated at 27 trillion dinars, while what has been achieved so far does not exceed 8 trillion dinars only,” he said.

Al-Karawi added that "the Ministry of Finance indicated the possibility of collecting 3 trillion dinars per month during the coming period, and that the Finance Committee called on the government to enhance non-oil revenues and ensure the achievement of financial targets to avoid any economic imbalances."

The MP stressed that "the committee is closely following up on how the budget funds are distributed, to ensure that they are used effectively to serve citizens and enhance the national economy."Pointing“It discusses from time to time ways to increase government revenues by developing the tax and customs system,” the MP noted.

“There is a government plan that relies on automating and modernizing the work systems in these institutions, and it is expected that its implementation will be completed by the end of this year, which will contribute to enhancing revenues and ensuring better efficiency in collecting them,” according to the official Al-Sabah newspaper.

In addition, he reviewedChairman of the CommitteeFinance, Atwan Al-Atwani, yesterday, Monday, with a delegation from the Adam Smith International Foundation, projectslawsThe mission includes the Securities and Commodities Law, the Banking Studies Center Law, and the Islamic Sukuk Investment Law, with the necessary amendments, noting that these laws will be read in the upcoming sessions.

 Al-Atwani also reviewed before the delegation the most important challenges facing the financial system in Iraq, as well as the steps and priorities of the Finance Committee within the framework of finding a correct philosophy and rational management of public money and the economy through diversifying sources of income and not relying excessively on oil to feed the state budget,

stressing that the Parliamentary Finance Committee, within the framework of its permanent movement and continuous efforts to maximize non-oil revenues, is currently working on amending the law of the General Authority for Monitoring the Allocation of Federal Revenues.  LINK