More Iraqi News Sunday PM 4-11-21
More Iraqi News Sunday PM 4-11-21
TLM724 Administrator BondLady’s Corner
Confusion And Anxiety In The Markets Precedes The Month Of Ramadan ..!
Pratha News Agency53 2021-04-11 Special clay tablets / report prepared by journalist Zaid Osama Al-Nuaimi
Who is behind the 'burning' of food prices?
More than 15 days before Ramadan, the Iraqi market is witnessing a record boom in food prices due to the government's devaluation of the dinar against the dollar, and Iraqis going out for shopping in preparation for the month of Ramadan, which has increased the demand for some items whose prices have nearly tripled.
The government tried to blame the price hikes on merchants, whom it described as "weak souls."
Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi said during a speech at a cabinet session, last Tuesday, that “the high prices of some foodstuffs that are manufactured locally are an attempt by those with weak souls and some greedy merchants to confuse the social situation,” stressing that these people are taking advantage of the citizens ’demand to buy these materials. With Ramadan approaching.
He continued, "The Ministry of the Interior and Economic Security has directed to take appropriate measures to prevent tampering with the citizens' food, stop the greed of some merchants, and monitor the markets."
Calls for urgent intervention
A member of the Businessmen Union in the capital, Baghdad, Sarmad Al-Shammari, believes that “the increased demand for foodstuffs contributed to the high prices of foodstuffs, and the lack of awareness among many in the market, as they rush to buy these materials, well before Ramadan arrives, which constitutes an opportunity for those with weak souls. To raise prices ”.
Al-Shammari added in a statement, "The government must intervene in the issue of price cuts, set clear and consistent pricing for all foodstuffs, activate market oversight, and adopt modern systems in monitoring the price exchange," pointing out that "real traders are the ones who carry the citizenship and take into account." The conditions that the country is going through, and they do not take advantage of that to achieve gains and maximize profits. ”
The local markets witnessed an unprecedented increase in the prices of foodstuffs, vegetables and fruits with the approaching month of Ramadan. The price of one bottle of oil reached (3) thousand dinars, after it was (1500) dinars, while the price of a bag of milk increased to (2500) after it was (1500), and the price of a kilogram of sugar increased to (1500) dinars after it was (750). Dt
The prices of all kinds of legumes and rice increased by (750-1000) dinars per kilogram, in addition to the increase in the prices of medicines and other service goods.
The prices of red and white meat, table eggs, fish and dairy alike increased with the approach of the holy month of Ramadan. The reasons for this are to "the high value of the dollar against the Iraqi dinar, in addition to the exploitation of merchants, poor economic conditions that negatively affect the citizen's income and the approaching month of Ramadan."
For his part, the advisor to the Prime Minister for Financial Affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, considered that the rise in prices in the markets "is one-time and does not continue into the future."
Saleh said in a press statement, "The contradictions between the political blocs on the issue of changing the dollar's exchange rate will affect the movement of supply and demand, which creates turmoil in the market movement, especially since these expectations have not yet been settled." It continues into the future, and I think that this (color information) is based on false expectations. "
He pointed out that “the import paths are continuing without stopping, so expectations regarding the general level of prices will stop at a stable point, and the commodity supply ways are now wide open, whether in terms of financing or in foreign currency fixed in its rates to finance foreign trade in its various forms, so I think that the rise Prices will stabilize in the future, and will not remain this way.
Street worried and affected by the 'exchange rate'
The high exchange rate of the dollar against the Iraqi dinar raised a state of concern among the street about its repercussions on the economy in the country, stressing the need to take the necessary measures to attempt to manipulate the exchange rates and expose the parties behind them.
Citizen Mahmoud Al-Obeidi, in the Dora area of the capital, Baghdad, says that "the prices of foodstuffs have increased during the last period, especially those needed by the Ramadan table, which confirms that the merchants do not care about the reality of the poor."
He added to "Al-Nuaimi" that "if the rich and affluent have the ability to keep up with those prices, and to buy these basic materials naturally, then there are millions of poor people who are unable to buy even the basic necessities of life."
In turn, citizen Ayat Nael, in Salah al-Din Governorate, says, "The shortage of ration card materials was the reason for the rise in foodstuff prices in the markets, as the prices of some foodstuffs doubled."
She added, in an interview with "Al-Nuaimi," that "the shortage of card materials, the reduction in the price of the dollar, and the arrival of Ramadan are all factors that have made the Iraqi market inflamed, and government agencies must intervene and curb the gathering of merchants and importers, even if temporarily, as demand increases dramatically during the month of Ramadan." , For food. ”
A wide range of Iraqis depend for their basic food on what is supplied through the ration card, and this has been in effect since the start of the siege on Iraq in 1990, as the ration card includes the distribution of five main foodstuffs at a symbolic price to Iraqi families every month, which are flour, rice and oil. And sugar, in addition to infant formula, but citizens complain that they have not received these items in full for several years.
For its part, the Ministry of the Interior said that all materials on the Iraqi market are not priced by the Ministries of Commerce and Agriculture, while attributing the reason for the high prices of edible oil and sugar to their rise in the global stock exchanges.
Ministry spokesman Major General Khaled Al-Muhanna said in a statement to the official agency that “there are several complaints received from citizens regarding the increase in prices of some foodstuffs, especially oil and sugar,” indicating that “after an audit by the Directorate of Economic Crime Control and the Directorate of Combating Organized Crime it became clear that these two articles were Their rise is related to a rise in global stock exchanges due to the Corona pandemic and what came with it. ”
He added that "some countries producing these materials have suffered from problems related to the desire of some countries to secure their food security, and there is a demand for these materials in addition to the issue of maritime transport in which there is a rise in prices," noting that "this price increase is in line with the global increase in global stock exchanges." And the Ministry of Commerce has the official pricing on the international stock exchanges, the numbers are up to date.
"All materials on the market are not priced by the ministries of commerce and agriculture," Al-Mihna added, noting that "the Ministry of Interior is concerned only with the legal aspect, which is related to the monopoly or speculation in the market and other such matters that are inconsistent with the law."
A member of the Finance Committee in the Iraqi Parliament, Jamal Cougar, confirmed that some food prices rose by 300% despite the fact that the increase in the dollar exchange rate is only 18.5%, describing the rise in food prices as "painful."
He pointed out in a press statement, "The rise in a package of one liter of edible oil, for example, from 1,250 dinars (less than one dollar) to 3,000 dinars (more than two dollars)," explaining that "the government is unable to control the prices of foodstuffs."
He added in a press statement that "prices are very high, and we hope that the conscience will rule," stressing that the government is required to follow up on the purchase prices of imported materials and set a reasonable profit rate on them. http://burathanews.com/arabic/reports/390150
Minister Of Labor: We Will Provide Guarantee For 5 Million Workers In The Private Sector
Sunday April 11, 2021 256 Baghdad: Hazem Muhammad Habib Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Adel Al-Rikabi confirmed that the administration of the retirement and social security fund for workers decided to raise the minimum wages for insured workers from 350 to 450 thousand dinars per month, while noting that the ministry aims to provide insurance for between 4 to 5 million workers in the private sector.
Al-Rikabi said to Al-Sabah: “The number of retired workers who will benefit from this increase is approximately 21,000 guaranteed workers,” stressing that “the decision was submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval after its inclusion on the agenda.”
He added that "the number of registered insured workers who will be referred to retirement in the future amounted to 561 thousand workers," indicating that "the target number of workers for their inclusion in the insurance and retirement law ranges between 4 to 5 million workers in the private sector, while the number of those covered so far has reached 561 thousand workers in the law." Security And retirement ».
Regarding the ration card file, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs explained that there are new mechanisms that the ministry will work on in coordination with trade to amend the target groups for inclusion in the ration card file, indicating that “these steps will target all segments sponsored by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs specifically from the beneficiaries of the social protection network and those with "Disabilities, special needs, insured workers and other vulnerable groups sponsored by the Ministry of Labor have no or limited income."
He pointed out that “the Council of Ministers has directed all ministries to provide the Ministry of Trade with the names of their employees who receive monthly salaries of more than one million and 500 thousand dinars with the aim of withholding the ration card from them, as well as other groups registered in the Department of Companies Registrar in the Ministry of Commerce, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, the Union of Contractors and some of the unions Dentists and pharmacists are people with high incomes who do not need the ration card. LINK
The Arab Parliament Issues Decisions That Support Openness To Iraq
Sunday April 11, 2021 144 Baghdad: Al-Sabah, Cairo: Israa Khalifa Yesterday, Saturday, the Arab Parliament issued decisions supporting the Arab openness to Iraq and responding to the campaign targeting Arab countries under the pretext of protecting human rights. Representative Zafer Al-Ani, a representative of the House of Representatives, attended.
Yesterday, Saturday, the Arab Parliament headed by Adel bin Abdul Rahman Al-Asoumi held the fourth and fifth sessions of the first session of the third legislative term. Deputy Dhafer Al-Ani, head of the Foreign Affairs and National Security Committee in the Arab Parliament, said that the decisions praise the openness of the Iraqi government on the Arab front and commend the visits of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi For a number of Gulf countries, in addition to the Arab Parliament's support for the tripartite contacts between Iraq, Egypt and Jordan,
in addition to condemning any attack on Iraq that threatens its unity and territorial integrity. ”Al-Ani stressed that“ Iraq, represented by members of the House of Representatives in the Arab Parliament, has an imprint in all Parliament’s decisions, and he is strongly present. In all parliamentary committees, his opinion is respected in all the statements issued by him, considering that the positions and statements issued embody the aspirations and interests of the Iraqi people.
For his part, the President of the Arab Parliament, Adel bin Abdul Rahman Al-Asoumi, affirmed the support and support of the Arab Parliament for the moves made by the Prime Minister in the Republic of Iraq to strengthen Iraq's relations with Arab countries, including his recent tour that included the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This represents an important step towards strengthening the Arab incubator for Iraq and supporting Arab coordination and solidarity. LINK
Emphasizing His Support (Made In Iraq) .. The Governor Of The Central Bank Of Iraq Is Inspecting A Number Of Investment Projects In Baghdad
His Excellency the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Mr. Mustafa Ghaleb Makhaif, visited a number of investment projects funded by the Central Bank's initiative (one trillion dinars) concerned with large, medium and small projects.
During his tour of productive factories in Baghdad, the governor affirmed that the slogan "Made in Iraq" must receive all support, not only from the Central Bank, but from all official bodies in the Iraqi state.
He explained that the initiative of this bank for projects, since its inception, has paid great attention to stimulating the industrial, agricultural, residential and investment sectors that would support the Iraqi economy and employ Iraqi hands. The Central Bank of Iraq Information Office April 11, 2021
https://cbi.iq/news/view/1698
The Agriculture Committee Holds Its First Conference To Support The Local Product, Entitled Planting In Iraq ... Made In Iraq
04/11/2021 Under the auspices of the First Deputy Speaker, Mr. Hassan Al-Kaabi, the Agriculture, Water and Marshlands Committee headed by Representative Salam Al-Shammari, Chairman of the Committee, and in the presence of the committee members and a number of women and members of the House of Representatives, on Sunday 11/4/2021, held its first conference entitled “Planting in Iraq .. Made in Iraq ”, To discuss ways to advance the agricultural sector and modern irrigation systems and their role in rationalizing water, developing agricultural marketing and protecting the local product.
The conference also discussed work to further enhance coordination and cooperation between the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources and the ministries supporting the agricultural process to achieve the tasks entrusted to it and the goals for which it was established and referred to in the two ministries' laws, as well as presenting the Ministry of Agriculture’s plan and vision in developing agricultural production processes of both types of plant and animal and providing services. Of various kinds and the size of the support provided to farmers and farmers, spreading modern agricultural methods and providing their requirements.
The conference also examined the government, represented by the Ministry of Finance, to settle the issue of providing dues to farmers who marketed crops and seeds, and to monitor the necessary financial allocations, especially after the House of Representatives placed it within the expenditures of the ruling sections in the 2021 budget. Beyond their control, in addition to studying the provision of ministries' allocations on time to ensure the implementation of their investment plans.
His Excellency the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives opened the agenda of the conference, which was held in the Shabibi hall in the Parliament building in the presence of the President of the Union of Agricultural Associations and the heads of their branches and representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, Trade and Finance and a number of farmers and peasants with a speech in which he stated that the conference title came from the words of Mr.
He called to support the local product and make real reforms in various sectors, including the agricultural sector (planted in Iraq, made in Iraq), and affirmed his sovereignty for Parliament's support for the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources to promote the agricultural sector and reach self-sufficiency in various agricultural crops and animal products, noting the interest of the House of Representatives With the Ministry of Agriculture and supporting it financially and morally, as well as supporting farmers and peasants and working to overcome the obstacles facing them in order to continue their work and reach self-sufficiency in Iraq.
Al-Kaabi praised the role of the Ministry of Water Resources in the process of distributing and rationing water quotas and providing them for agricultural lands, which greatly contributed to achieving self-sufficiency in the wheat and barley crops, appreciating the role of the Agriculture, Water and Marsh Committee in holding seminars, workshops and dialogue sessions on the agricultural and irrigation sectors and discussing proposals and draft laws that are idle. In supports and supports the work of the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources for their work and achieving self-sufficiency.
The First Deputy Speaker affirmed that the self-sufficiency that arrived came with joint efforts and cooperation between the House of Representatives and the Executive Government represented by the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources and the ministries supporting them in the process of developing the agricultural and irrigation plan, calling for reaching the results, decisions and recommendations in this conference that will be joint work methods between the parties Concerned with the agricultural sector, farmers and peasants.
In turn, MP Salam al-Shammari explained the importance of the agricultural sector joint, which was previously called permanent oil agriculture, but unfortunately this important vital sector has witnessed neglect in recent years due to poor planning and slowing down the process of upgrading it, stressing the keenness of the Agriculture, Water and Marsh Committee to work to advance it through support The Ministries of Water Resources and Agriculture, farmers and farmers, and overcoming obstacles to their work, referring to the committee's efforts, in coordination with the House of Representatives, to approve the import ban decision to support the local product, which cast a shadow over achieving self-sufficiency in some agricultural crops and animal products.
The Chairman of the Committee stressed the importance of coming up with recommendations at the conference that support Iraqi farmers and farmers, especially in the issue of marketing crops and combating insects and agricultural pests, as well as establishing crop marketing yards and building new silos that accommodate the quantity.
The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Muhammad Karim Al-Khafaji, referred to the importance of the agricultural sector issue, appreciating the role of Mr. Muqtada Al-Sadr in supporting this sector and his ministry to advance its work, stressing his work with reform measures by combating financial and administrative corruption in his ministry.
The Minister added that agriculture in Iraq once took place in different stages, including the feudal landlord in the monarchy and then the socialist during the era of President Abdul Karim Qasim and the era of the Baath rule, which was more severe than the feudal landlord for the Iraqi farmer and peasant, indicating that after 2003 the agricultural sector witnessed a clear interest in it.
However, the plans for its advancement were moving slowly, as we worked to accelerate it by concerting efforts with the House of Representatives and the Agriculture Committee and overcoming obstacles facing farmers and peasants, stressing that in the coming days, spraying agricultural pesticides after coordination with the Iraqi army aviation and repairing private aircraft to spray agricultural pesticides in Ministry.
The head of agricultural societies, Haider Al-Asad, said that the Iraqi farmer today is in dire need to put points on the letters to advance this vital sector, pointing to the holding of many seminars, workshops and dialogue sessions, but they did not come out with much, hoping that this conference will come out with recommendations that solve all the problems facing farmers and farmers. Iraqi.
For your part, the members of the House of Representatives affirmed their full support for the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources to complete their plans for the advancement of the agricultural sector, affirming their full support for the Iraqi farmer and farmers to overcome the obstacles facing their work, appreciating the role of the efforts made by everyone to reach self-sufficiency, especially for the wheat and barley crops and table eggs. And chicken and fish.
The conference witnessed interventions by the guests, the most important of which was the issue of renewing agricultural contracts and fish breeding contracts, as well as the marketing process for agricultural crops and limiting them to one government agency that is responsible for organizing the marketing process, in addition to their request for the restoration of the headquarters of the Union of Agricultural Associations spread throughout the country.
In turn, MP Salam Al-Shammari called on the Ministry of Trade to work with the marketing system for the year 2021 with the same marketing instructions and controls for the years 2019/2020, in addition to his request to the Ministry of Finance to expedite the disbursement of farmers' dues that were included in the 2021 budget within the ruling expenditures.
For his part, the Minister of Agriculture stressed that the issue of contracts and their renewal must be organized for him a discussion session between the Committee on Agriculture, Water and Marshlands and the Ministries of Water Resources and Agriculture and the Federation of Agricultural Associations to reach a solution after the renewal of some of them was stopped by the Ministry of Water Resources.
House of Representatives Media Department 4/11/2021 LINK
To read more current and reliable Iraqi news please visit BondLady’s Corner: