Tishwash: Oliver Wyman Company and lifting sanctions on banks banned from the dollar
The Central Bank of Iraq has contracted with Oliver Wyman, a global consulting firm that has the ability to “restructure companies to succeed in difficult times, build a new strategy in banking, and be a leader in risk, strategy, and human resources, helping clients navigate a dynamic environment across four global firms.”
A firm like Oliver Wyman can therefore help sanctioned Iraqi banks understand the sanctions imposed on them, work on strategies to mitigate their impact, and even help remove these sanctions in some cases.
Legally, the firm can help Iraqi banks understand international laws and sanctions applicable to them, identify any legal risks associated with their activity, and then provide recommendations on how to improve banks’ compliance with international sanctions, and develop plans to mitigate risks.
In addition, the firm will help Iraqi banks communicate with international government agencies to learn more about the sanctions imposed on them, or to request “exceptions or mitigations,” by providing training programs for employees in Iraqi banks to develop their skills in the field of sanctions compliance.
From the above, we conclude that Oliver Wyman can play an important role in helping Iraqi banks understand and implement international sanctions effectively, and then submit a recommendation to the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve that paves the way for lifting the sanctions. link
Tishwash: Parliamentary Economy Committee Discusses Amending the “Investment Law”
The Iraqi legislative arena is currently witnessing intensive discussions about the fourth amendment to Investment Law No. 13 of 2006, as amended, in light of the significant expansion of investment activity in the country in recent years.
These discussions come within the framework of efforts aimed at improving the investment environment and addressing the gaps in the current law.
In a press interview followed by “Economy News”, member of the Economic Committee, Diaa Al-Hindi, confirmed that the proposed amendment is “important and necessary” due to the many problems that the current law suffers from, explaining that “the current law requires fundamental amendments in several aspects, including the mechanism for selecting heads of bodies and members of the board of directors in bodies, in addition to the conditions for granting and withdrawing investment licenses, additional extensions, and grievance procedures.”
Al-Hindi pointed out that the amendment seeks to address those issues that the current law did not adequately address, which negatively affects the investment climate in Iraq. link
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Tishwash: Business Impact Conference – Iraq (BICI) kicks off in Erbil
36 companies collaborate to create positive, inspiring and sustainable work environments
The Business Impact Conference – Iraq (BICI) kicked off today in its first session with the distinguished participation of 36 Iraqi companies, where entrepreneurs and business leaders meet to start the process of collective learning on how to create positive and sustainable work environments. The conference aims to promote the concepts of trust, unity, and diversity within Iraqi work environments, which contributes to improving performance and increasing productivity in the long term.
On the first day of the conference, the sessions began with a welcoming speech followed by a general introduction to the conference objectives and its importance in the local context. The agenda included interactive sessions and open discussions aimed at exploring and developing effective working practices.
The first session, titled “Building Positive Work Environments,” was led by Mr. Fahim Da’at Al-Thakreen, Founder of Popcorn Marketing, who provided valuable insights on how to create a work environment that encourages collaboration and innovation.
This was followed by a “Trust” session presented by Heba Hamadeh, General Manager of Cedars International School, which focused on the role of trust in strengthening relationships within teams and clients. The program also included small study sessions and group discussions to deepen understanding and exchange experiences among participants.
After a lunch break and group photos, the conference resumed with a session on “Unity and the Power of Diversity,” presented by Ali Alwan, HR Manager at Ramlah Real Estate Development. This session discussed how to leverage cultural and intellectual diversity to achieve integration and unity in the workplace. The first day concluded with a session on “Fixing the Roots, Not the Branches,” which focused on an open discussion to explore radical solutions to the challenges facing workplaces.
The conference continues tomorrow for its second day, focusing on growth and collective activism. The fifth session, titled “Growth,” will be led by Rawaa Al Saqr, founder of Sagerlabs, who will present practical strategies for driving growth in companies. After group study sessions and a short break, the “Activity” session will bring participants together for an artistic workshop that promotes team spirit and creativity.
The second day concludes with the “BICI Process and Units” session, which will review the outcomes of the conference and identify next steps to enhance business impact in Iraq. link
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Tishwash: Fouad Hussein discusses with the US Ambassador the details of the international coalition conference against ISIS in Washington
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein discussed with US Ambassador to Baghdad Alina Romanowski on Saturday the details of the international coalition conference against ISIS, which will be held in Washington next month.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement, a copy of which was received by Kurdistan 24, that “Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein received today, Saturday, August 31, 2024, the US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romansky.”
The statement indicated that “during the meeting, the ongoing negotiations regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and sending aid, especially medical aid, to the Strip were discussed.”
He added, “The military operation carried out in the Anbar desert was referred to, which resulted in the neutralization of 15 ISIS terrorists. The minister praised the joint cooperation between the Iraqi and American forces and the success of this important operation.”
He added that the meeting “touched on the conference of the international coalition against ISIS scheduled to be held in Washington early next month, and Iraq’s participation in it. It is worth noting that this coalition includes 87 partners, and was established primarily to fight the terrorist organization ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and the conference will be at the level of foreign ministers of the participating countries.”
The statement concluded by saying, “The United Nations General Assembly meetings to be held next month, which will be attended by dozens of world leaders, were discussed. The role of the two countries in these meetings and the required coordination between them to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the participation of the two countries’ delegations in New York were also discussed.” link
