More Iraqi News Thursday PM 11-18-21
More Iraqi News Thursday PM 11-18-21
TLM724 Administrator BondLady’s Corner
An international research center: great internal and external challenges await the next new government
Posted On 2021-11-18 By Sotaliraq Translation / Hamed Ahmed In 2019, thousands of Iraqis, resentful of a corrupt political system, took to the streets in popular protests, demanding an end to rampant corruption that plunders their country's oil wealth, and demands for better services and a change of government. The protests resulted in early elections, the results of which gave a new image different from the previous one. Iraqi national parties, independents and activists, emerged among the main winners in these elections.
A report by the Manohar Parrikar International Center for Military Studies and Research indicates that this result has given hope that the new government will try to address the problems afflicting the country such as political instability, economic crisis, inflation and unemployment, among other problems.
It must also maintain a balanced position in its relationship between the United States, Iran and its Arab surroundings, and Turkey, one of the main players in Iraq. Given the scale and intensity of these challenges, the new government will have to demonstrate some exceptional diplomatic skills to manage them.
The rampant corruption in the country is another dilemma that ordinary people pose as the most harmful to them. A recent study conducted by the Center for Empowerment of Peace in Iraq revealed that 80% of Iraqis view corruption as one of the biggest problems facing Iraq, and this percentage is ten times more than those who mentioned that the terrorist organization Daesh (8.8%) or health care and the accompanying outbreak of an epidemic Corona (5.9%) are the most serious problems.
The report indicated that the next government is likely to face enormous challenges in its presentation of short and long-term economic reforms, in its fight against corruption and the improvement of basic services, while addressing the problem of unemployment, inflation and poverty in Iraq.
The next government must also deal with the accumulated problems over the years, which forced the government of Adel Abdul-Mahdi to resign, as well as dealing with the issue of trying and prosecuting the killers of the protesters who revolted against the government in 2019.
The country is also afflicted by the crisis of deteriorating health care as a result of the outbreak of the Corona epidemic, as Iraq has the minimum percentage of vaccinations in the region, and until this time, only one million people have received a full vaccination, and this percentage constitutes less than 2% of the total population. The new government must also be very careful to prevent the domination of political parties over the state's resources.
Oil revenues constitute 94 percent of the state’s treasury, whose budget in 2021 amounted to 89 billion dollars, with a deficit of 19 billion dollars. The challenge will be how to use these financial revenues to improve the living standards of Iraqis, rather than going into the pockets of networks of political parties that share them among themselves.
The other challenge will be the issue of rebuilding the country and the cities that were destroyed during the liberation battles against ISIS. From 2003 to 2014, nearly $220 billion was spent on rebuilding the country. During the post-liberation period, Iraq held a reconstruction conference in Kuwait, where donor countries pledged to allocate $30 billion.
To date, many of the promised funds have not been transferred for reasons related to corruption and financial mismanagement of the previous government. Without accountability and transparency in the government, it will be very difficult to stop the cycle of corruption and inefficiency in order to win the trust of donors.
Another challenge is the security aspect, as ISIS sleeper cells are still carrying out a number of attacks in different parts of the country, causing loss of life and material losses as well. Security experts say that hunting down groups and small cells is a more difficult and complex task than hunting and killing militants on an open battlefield. The process of completely eradicating terrorist armed cells and groups from the country may take between 5 to 10 years.
As for external challenges, since 2003, every government in Iraq has to deal in balancing its foreign policy between Tehran and Washington. It is very important for the new government to maintain good relations with Iran and the United States for two reasons.
The first is to negotiate a SOFA agreement with the United States, and the second is to continue to point out to the new government of Ibrahim Raisi in Tehran that Iraq wants strong relations with Iran based on the principle of non-interference in the country's internal affairs. This will build trust with the Iraqi people, who in October 2019 demanded that protesters remove foreign influence in the country. However, this task will not be easy for the new government.
Another challenge that Baghdad will face is how to deal with neighboring country Turkey. In 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a military operation against the PKK forces inside Iraq, and Baghdad considered it a violation of the country's sovereignty, and at the time an official complaint was filed against Turkey.
As well as the drought crisis that the country is suffering from, and Turkey's control of the sources of the Tigris and Euphrates through the construction of huge dams that reduced the levels of water flow into Iraq. This is why the new Iraqi government must deal cautiously in its negotiations with these issues and keep in its calculations the interests of the country and its people. LINK
Federal Service: We Work According To Electronic Competition
Posted On 2021-11-18 By Sotaliraq Baghdad: Muhannad Abd al-Wahhab
The Federal Service Council confirmed that it is working to provide opportunities for appointments to holders of higher degrees and (scientists) according to the principle of competition in a transparent manner through electronic submission, indicating that nearly 13,000 applicants are competing to obtain more than 7,000 job degrees in the Ministry of Health recently announced by the Council.
The spokesman for the Federal Service Council, Alaa Al-Fahd, said in an interview with Al-Sabah: “The council aims to implement its own laws within the budget law, which allows the council to open the door for employment for the categories covered by Law 23 of 2021, which are the segments (higher studies: masters and doctorate, and top students for a bachelor’s degree) as well as appointments to municipal departments in the governorates.
He added that "the council began appointing a segment of scientists (graduates of scientific colleges) who hold higher degrees, and the Ministry of Health has grades and was announced by the council as it is (7038), and they were submitted through the website and the official page of the council, and applications for appointment were submitted electronically from Without interference and according to the preference for (families of martyrs and certificate holders and according to preference for married people, those with high rates and the breadwinner of the family) and these points were differentiated electronically,”
noting that “12960 applicants were selected to enter the electronic competition for those degrees, and the first stage was completed and the names were announced. And the second stage will start, which is the examination for university applicants in order to obtain job grades.
He pointed out that "the council began two days ago to interview those covered by the graduate degree holders who were chosen by the program, and their percentage is 15% of the applicants. ) and also included a number of specializations from holders of higher degrees and the first on the universities,” and he explained that “the application continues through the website for a period of 20 days in order to choose the degrees,”
stressing that “the council announced the availability of job grades in the municipal departments (Maysan and Basra), and it is continuing. Announcing the job grades resulting from the movement of owners after they arrive from the Ministry of Finance. LINK
Planning: There Are Thousands Of Projects Under Implementation
Today, Thursday, the Ministry of Planning announced that there are more than 6000 projects under implementation.
Ministry spokesman Abdul-Zahra Al-Hindawi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "There are more than 6000 projects under implementation," noting that "the ministry's priority is how to sign these projects and ensure that they do not stop in front of any financial or any other circumstance."
He added, "There is a focus on service-oriented projects with high rates of implementation and projects that provide job opportunities, including health, housing, education, roads, irrigation, water and sewage projects," noting that "these projects are essential because they represent a service to the citizen while providing job opportunities." He pointed out that "there are many projects that will be completed in 2022, including hospitals, schools, bridges, and others." https://www.radionawa.com/all-detail.aspx?jimare=26592
The Minister Of Oil Stresses The Need To Provide An Appropriate Investment Environment
Today, Thursday, Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar stressed the importance of attracting new investments to the oil and energy sector in Iraq, while stressing the need to provide the appropriate investment environment and the cooperation of all concerned parties in this.
The ministry's media office said in a statement, "Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail participated in the work of the ADIPEC conference and exhibition in Abu Dhabi."
Abdul-Jabbar stressed that "the oil sector needs more investments, financing and modern technology that supports the oil industry and clean energy, and contributes to its advancement and advancement," pointing to "the need to provide the appropriate investment environment and the cooperation of all concerned parties in this, to provide greater opportunities for work, development and contract agreements with reputable international companies.
Ismail added that "our participation in this global forum, which brings together international companies and investors, is an opportunity to hold meetings and serious discussions with them," noting that "the oil and energy sector in Iraq is receiving great interest from everyone."
Iraq will participate in the ADIPEC Conference and Exhibition with a large delegation representing the sectors of extraction, liquidation, gas, clean energy and training, as well as a pavilion in the exhibition representing the Ministry of Oil and oil companies. https://www.radionawa.com/all-detail.aspx?jimare=26596
An International Foundation Donates $250 Million To Support Farmers In Iraq
Farms from southern Iraq
Money and business Economy News – Baghdad The PepsiCo Foundation has donated $250,000 to support farmers affected by conflict and climate change in Iraq.
A statement issued by the United Nations office, seen by "Al-Iqtisad News", stated that "the PepsiCo Foundation, the charitable arm of PepsiCo, made a donation of $250,000 to enable the World Food Program to expand its ongoing initiative in Iraq (food aid in exchange for asset building)," Which seeks to help rural communities become self-reliant and withstand disasters and shocks, such as climate change.”
He pointed out that "this initiative received support from senior government officials in Iraq and the Iraqi-American Business Council."
"This cooperation will allow Iraqi smallholder farmers to establish strong links with the market, obtain the necessary financing for their agricultural businesses, increase the quality of their crops, and make progress in approaching international food and safety standards for sustainable agriculture," he added.
He explained that "the World Food Program, through the support of the PepsiCo Foundation, will provide the necessary training and technical expertise to farmers, and best agricultural practices, such as the targeted use of irrigation and fertilizers, while PepsiCo will purchase the potato crop from farmers for use in food production, which helps in enhancing farmers' livelihoods." ".
The statement quoted PepsiCo's Vice President for Corporate Affairs in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, Wael Ismail, as saying, "We are very pleased to cooperate with the World Food Program to help support the agricultural sector in Iraq, build sustainable livelihoods, and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations sustainable development goals, which Focused on ending hunger and building a better and more sustainable future for all.
"This partnership is a great example of the importance of public-private sector cooperation to address a pressing global issue, which is food insecurity, and this partnership will have a significant impact on tens of thousands of people in local communities," he stressed.
This partnership is part of PepsiCo's Positive Agriculture (Pep+) strategy, which focuses on regenerative farming practices and empowering farming communities to improve the livelihoods of more than 250,000 people working in the company's agricultural supply chain, achieving the company's goal of reaching 100% of key components. to feed them sustainably by 2030.
More than 32,000 farmers in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia are under the umbrella of PepsiCo's Sustainable Agriculture Programme, which focuses on adopting responsible agricultural practices that can improve crop yields, improve farmers' livelihoods, enhance levels of respect for human rights, and protect the local environment and natural resources.
For his part, the representative of the World Food Program in Iraq, Ali Reda Qureshi, welcomed the new partnership with the company, explaining that “PepsiCo, through the exchange of experiences and resources with the World Food Program and local communities in Iraq, will help build a more sustainable food system, and provide solutions for small Farmers are able to increase the productivity of their land and improve their income through better market links, ultimately transforming their lives.
It is worth noting that the PepsiCo Foundation has long been a partner and supporter of the United Nations World Food Program, as the Foundation has supported the mission and programs of the World Food Program since 2006, by providing funds in excess of $12.2 million, including grants and donations from company employees. .
The new initiative is part of PepsiCo's global commitment "Food for Good", which aims to enhance food security in the communities in which the company operates, and benefit from collaboration with local partners.
Number of Views 116 Date Added 11/18/2021 https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=26811
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