Akbar explained that the "procedures and treatments approved by the Central Bank Governor and the members of the Governing Council, were aiming at stabilizing the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar against the American dollar at (1,250), but the precise procedures of the monetary policy of the Bank to restore confidence in its independence, gave results of bringing the value of the dinar exchange rate to about (1,234) versus the American dollar, which places the Iraqi dinar in a good market state, due to the optimism created by monetary policy on Iraqi future economy. "
He continued that "according to the monetary policy adopted by the Central Bank, it was decided to raise the price of the Bank (Policy rate) from 16 to 20% annually, in addition to raising the interest rates of credit: the primary credit would be for 22% annually and the secondary credit 23% annually." Pointing out that it was decided to raise the interest rate of the Last Resort Loan to 5,23% annually, as well as raising rates on banks' deposits in the Iraqi Central Bank to be 18% annually for the night investment, and 19% annually for the investment for 14 days, while the interest of investment for 30 days became 20% annually.
On the other hand, the banking expert and general manager of the National Company for Financial Services, Abbas Khudayr Al-Kaabi, praised the monetary policy adopted by the Iraqi Central Bank to deal with inflation, and described it as deliberate and successful policy.
Al-Kaabi said, "however, raising the interest deposits at the Central Bank, to hit 20% annually, would certainly reduce the investment opportunities for Iraqi private and governmental banks; instead of moving towards investment, Iraqi banks will turn towards deposit in the Iraqi Central Bank of, because the interest mentioned earlier represents secure profitability, particularly since Iraqi banks are currently operating in circumstances do not allow them to deal with investment cover from outside the country, which adversely affect the ability of banks to continue their investment directions again. "
Hassan Ghalib Kubbah, Director of Basrah International Bank for Investment stressed the importance of improving the performance of the banking sector to conform to global standards of banking activity. He explained that "treating the imbalances is impossible, without passing through new funding sources which foreign investment is considered one of their direct channels." He pointed out that productive and service companies are currently operating with support from the Bank of Basrah, in the sectors of shipping, tourism, food production and packaging, and achieved good results despite the difficult circumstances.
Kubbah concluded that "the Iraqi banking sector can create the appropriate investment environment, which would activate the investment law, in collaboration with other sectors involved in the Iraqi arena." (Source)AlSabah
