Al-Kazemi advisor outlines the advantages of removing Iraq from the list of high-risk countries for money laundering

04/24/2021 20:31

Baghdad Today- Follow-up

The Prime Minister’s Advisor for Financial Affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, today, Saturday, identified several advantages for removing Iraq from the British list of high-risk countries for money laundering.

Saleh said in a statement to the official Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The monetary authority realizes that Britain and the London Financial Market in particular is the first global financial center."

He added that "the step taken by the United Kingdom in the field of strengthening the governance of international financial work for Iraq by removing the name of Iraq from the list of countries with high risks in the issue of money laundering and terrorist financing crimes, will provide the Iraqi financial market with a greater confidence of the international financial community towards Iraq and its banking institutions. As it has a high degree of reliability and low business risks in its financial dealings, especially in the circulation of funds and their use and the importance of this in providing a sound and safe economic investment environment.

Saleh explained, "This is a result of the high diplomatic efforts made by the Central Bank of Iraq in monitoring the flow of funds within the framework of international financial cooperation, which is reflected in the active membership of Iraq and the Iraqi Anti-Money Laundering Office and the role of the international financial work team for the Middle East and North Africa since 2004 until the time." the present".

He stated that "removing Iraq from the British list, which classifies dangerous countries in the issue of money laundering and terrorist funds, will be a pillar in maximizing the international investment climate and international investors to work in Iraq and invest in it in all fields without legal risks or exposing them to accountability for that, as well as expanding horizons." Safe credit dealings between Iraqi banks and British banks, which will provide lines of credit to all Iraqi banks by British banks at the lowest costs in conducting banking transactions.

He continued that "the positive British assessment resulting from raising the name of Iraq from the high-risk countries on the British list in the field of combating money laundering, and in this positive form will enhance the degree of credit rating of Iraq and give confidence to the three European bonds for Iraq that are currently traded in global capital markets, whose value is close to less." From $ 5 billion, as well as that it will enhance the creditworthiness of Iraq when conducting the next credit rating, which means that the Iraqi environment has become positive, attractive and encouraging for work and international economic activity. "

Last Sunday, the Central Bank of Iraq announced the issuance of a decision by the British Treasury not to include Iraq in the British classification of high-risk countries, indicating that this would positively affect the facilitation of business and the entry of companies between the two countries.

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