“Tidbits From TNT” Monday Morning 1-13-2025
TNT:
Tishwash: Central Bank Renews Directive to Spread and Expand Financial Services and ATMs
The Central Bank of Iraq renewed, on Sunday, a directive to banks and non-banking financial institutions to spread and expand their financial services in areas that lack the presence of various services for bank card holders.
The Central Bank said in a statement received by "Al-Eqtisad News" that "the bank is working within its strategy to provide various services to bank cardholders, by expanding the spread of cash delivery outlets and through all available channels, including ATMs and POC cash payment devices, as well as authorized exchange companies, electronic payment company outlets, and POS electronic payment devices spread throughout Iraq."
The statement added, "The Central Bank confirms in its circulars that included directing banks and non-banking financial institutions to spread and expand their financial services in areas that lack the aforementioned services."
He continued, "The bank seeks to develop these services by establishing the latest infrastructure for financial products and services in Iraq, and improving them continuously," calling for "submitting inquiries and complaints, if any, through the following link: https://complaint.app.cbi.iq/."link
Tishwash: Currency smuggling.. Central Bank punishes 10 Iraqi banks due to foreign transfer violations
MP Baqir Al-Saadi confirmed today, Sunday, that the Central Bank of Iraq issued penalties against ten Iraqi banks due to violations related to the foreign transfers file, which has become a direct threat to the local economy.
Al-Saadi said in a statement to Al-Maalouma Agency, “The file of smuggling hard currency outside Iraq is still a source of great concern, amidst multiple question marks about the mechanisms for implementing these operations, especially with the ongoing investigations into the commission of serious violations by exchange offices and banks in foreign transfers.”
He added that "the penalties issued by the Central Bank against 10 banks so far come within the framework of reducing violations related to foreign transfers, which are considered one of the most prominent methods used to smuggle currency out of the country."
Al-Saadi pointed out that “currency smuggling has serious effects on the local economy and causes an increase in financial crises in the country,” noting that “most of the transfers made for the purpose of smuggling go to one of the Gulf countries, which "Requires serious reconsideration and the implementation of strict measures to stop this ongoing bleeding."
The representative stressed that "the Iraqi Financial Institution is working seriously to address this problem by setting new criteria and re-evaluating the tools used in financial transactions, with the importance of revealing the results of the investigations to public opinion." link
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Tishwash: Government Advisor: ASYCUDA System is a Vital Tool for Developing Customs Work and Boosting International Trade
The Prime Minister's Advisor for Financial Affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, reviewed today, Sunday, the importance of adopting the ASYCUDA system in customs administration, noting that it reduces delays at ports and boosts international trade.
Saleh told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "ASYCUDA is a customs data management system developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) since the eighties of the last century, as this system aims to simplify and accelerate customs and border crossing operations using modern digital technology, according to the generations of the system applied, including the second advanced generation that relies on cloud digital technology."
He added that "in line with the government program to enhance the efficiency of collecting non-oil revenues and make them no less than 20% of total revenues, the Ministry of Finance and government support agencies have taken the step of joint cooperation with the United Nations to develop customs control and collection systems and control the movement of imports and exports in accordance with the best digital measures in applying customs tariffs on incoming imports and conducting matches with countries of origin."
Saleh continued that "the General Authority of Customs and the Border Ports Authority completed the procedures for working with the ASYCUDA system last year and are progressing in the new year 2025, including providing high-quality digital infrastructure," noting that "the importance of implementing the ASYCUDA system is that it provides comprehensive automation of customs operations, such as data recording, fee assessment, customs clearance, and records management."
The Prime Minister's Advisor for Financial Affairs explained that "this system reduces delays at border crossings and increases efficiency, in addition to enhancing transparency and disclosure of traded materials, and most importantly, it reduces corruption by reducing direct human interaction and adopting a reliable electronic system for recording and processing data," noting that "the increase in customs revenues that occurred last year was due to ASYCUDA's role in improving the process of assessing customs duties and taxes, which ensures fair and accurate collection of revenues."
Saleh explained that "the system enhances international trade by reducing administrative obstacles and allowing for the acceleration of the clearance process, which encourages the growth of trade between countries, and helps support analysis and statistics, and even provides a comprehensive database on the movement of goods across borders, which supports decision-makers in setting economic and trade policies. As for improving border security, the ASYCUDA system allows for better tracking and inspection of shipments, which helps combat smuggling and illegal activities."
He stated that "the ASYCUDA system is a vital tool for developing customs work and achieving a balance between facilitating trade and protecting borders, which makes it a fundamental pillar of any modern customs system, as Iraq is among the group of Arab countries that apply this system in an integrated manner in ports, airports and land borders, including Jordan, the Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt."link
Mot: .. Warning them Young fur Sure!!!
Mot: .... Frustrating When This Happens
