Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. 09/05 to 01/14/07

Word on the street is the reval is waiting on the passing of the hydrocarbon law. Very probable. Was thinking bout this last night, the FIL was passed few weeks ago, why have they not put it into the gazette and opened the doors to foreigners? Why, because they are tying it in with the hydrocarbon law and will reval at the same time.

Right, now to go back 20 pages for overnight stuff!!!

Source: Government of the United States of America

Date: 14 Dec 2006
U.S. Agricultural programs in Iraq - Dec 2006

Agriculture serves as the foundation on which many countries build their economies. The U.S. Government is therefore helping Iraq revitalize its agricultural sector.

Agricultural Trade. USDA efforts in Iraq have helped establish a growing market for U.S. agricultural exports of wheat, rice and poultry. Iraq currently imports almost $3 billion in food annually. Of that amount, U.S. agricultural exports in 2005 totaled $325.6 million. During the period January-October 2006, U.S. agricultural exports to Iraq increased to $339 million compared to $244 million for the same period in 2005—a nearly 39-percent increase in one year. Iraq was the No. 2 buyer of U.S. hard red winter wheat in marketing year 2005-2006. In addition, Iraq was the No. 1 buyer of U.S. long grain milled rice in 2005. In the late 1980s, it was our top market for rice and one of our top 10 wheat export markets.

Trade Capacity Building. The United States supports Iraq's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). To help Iraq gain a better understanding of U.S. trade policy and the WTO, USDA expects to place an agricultural advisor in Baghdad to work with the Iraqi Government on agricultural policy issues. In July 2005, the United States and Iraq signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement to promote bilateral trade and investment. Prior to that, a large Iraqi delegation, including representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Trade and Investment, attended a WTO orientation workshop in Washington, DC, in November 2004. These efforts are coupled with ongoing activities by the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other U.S. Government agencies, all of which are aimed at accelerating Iraq's WTO accession so that it becomes integrated into regional and global markets.

Development. USDA's Cochran Fellowship Program in Iraq resumed for the first time since 1990 in December 2004. Thirteen individuals participated in agricultural education and extension training in the United States in 2005. Up to 15 Cochran Fellows are expected to participate in the program in 2007. This program provides short-term, market-oriented agricultural training to help countries develop market-driven food systems.

Technical Assistance. In January 2007, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is sponsoring an Iraqi Government scientist's training in epidemiological Avian Influenza (AI) at its office in Cairo, Egypt. Another Iraqi Government scientist will visit APHIS' key epidemiology center in Fort Collins, Colorado, in March 2007. In August 2006, USDA and the U.S. military organized a regional AI workshop in northern Iraq, which was attended by 15 Iraqi Government veterinarians. In May 2006, two Iraqi scientists attended training on diagnostic testing for highly pathogenic AI at USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. This training is a joint effort of Iowa State University and USDA. As part of the training, U.S. diagnostic experts will travel to Iraq to observe and provide feedback on the implementation of what was learned.

Revitalization. By providing aid and assistance, the U.S. Government is helping Iraq revitalize its agricultural sector so it can become an engine for economic growth and strengthen U.S. market share.
On June 30, 2005, USDA signed a $10.8 million Food for Progress food aid agreement with the U.S. Grains Council under which USDA provided Iraq with 21,250 tons of corn and 8,750 tons of soybean meal. Commodities were delivered and sold in Iraq in early 2006. The Grains Council is using the proceeds from the sales to revitalize the country's poultry sector.

USAID conducted a variety of agricultural production, infrastructure and machinery and capacity building projects through the Agriculture Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq (ARDI). This program ended in October 2006. A new program, INMA, is scheduled to continue USAID's efforts in this area in spring 2007.

Advisors. Currently, six USDA employees are in Iraq to support the country's reconstruction. Two U.S. agricultural officers from USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service are posted at the American Embassy in Baghdad, starting in July 2004. Two employees of USDA's Rural Business Cooperative Service are serving as agricultural development officers on Provincial Reconstruction Teams. These employees are serving one-year details assisting Iraq provincial government officials in developing the agricultural sector. One extension advisor from the Natural Resources Conservation Service is assigned to the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture to build its capacity in agricultural extension, agricultural strategic planning and food safety and inspection. Two other USDA agriculture advisors are expected to be on duty at the Ministry of Agriculture soon. A USDA public affairs specialist is part of the U.S. Embassy's public affairs team.

General information about FAS programs, resources, and services is available on the Internet at the FAS home page: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) - Homepage

Originally Posted by Adster

Word on the street is the reval is waiting on the passing of the hydrocarbon law. Very probable. Was thinking bout this last night, the FIL was passed few weeks ago, why have they not put it into the gazette and opened the doors to foreigners? Why, because they are tying it in with the hydrocarbon law and will reval at the same time.

Right, now to go back 20 pages for overnight stuff!!!

i believe, like ive always said, they will unveil the entire economic package together hence why theyve waited for this hcl. thats ok, if waiting on the passing of that baby will enable them to reach a higher revalue quicker im all about that!!! DONT trade in all your dinar coz holding onto some will be well worth it!!!

and im not so sure the disagreement about the hcl isnt what has delayed it from being announced yet. 14th delay confirmation??

Originally Posted by cigarman

Recap of the good news day.
1 .Mike found the great article on the rate.
2. Dick Chenney just bought 750 million dinar ( wonder why)
3. Suzie got confirmation that it would reval when HCL is done ( Before end of December )
4. That's it so far that I've seen, feel free to add more.

Anyone got the link for number 2 please!!!!

Originally Posted by Offshore-Wealth.com

Interesting,

You would think the reporter would have been just a little more excited than adding nothing to this? Sure is strange, so don't get too excited yet. (g)

Happy Holiday Season to all, Mike

Maybe he just doesn't have any of these Mike....

--->>>

You know those darn Editors, they sure are picky about their reporters being professional.

Originally Posted by Adster

Anyone got the link for number 2 please!!!!

Adster, neno has put it in the RUMOR thingy where it belongs (I think)!

Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

youre 'afraid' im right? lol
thats funny stuff!!

For once I'm afraid you are right too Susie, damnit. I have seen them write dollar amounts with too many zeros to the right side of the decimal point (in those cases they were using European notation-i.e. the comma, so they would say something like $1,800 when they would have meant $1.80 if they were writing it for the American papers). I think it has to do with us using a 100 units (cents) in our dollars versus them thinking in terms of 1000 units (fils) per dinar. Thus, when they state something they use 3 significant digits to the right of the decimal point (or comma) where we just use 2 significant digits. However, I hope he wrote it correctly for us Yanks.

Wish we could confirm this. Best thing I've seen yet though. Not trying to rain on the parade here folks, just want a confirmation. Seen so many confusing articles so far, just want to be sure this time. But oh wouldn't $0.66 so sweet.

Originally Posted by Adster

Anyone got the link for number 2 please!!!!

that would be the question. lol

no link, and it has been refuted as the pres and vp cant invest in certain stuff which was listed in the earlier post. legally and all that rot.

its merely an urban legend on the internet. but i wouldnt put it past him to have talked someone into being ad litem so to speak

[QUOTE=bultn;149715]However, it says 10,000 dinars (approx. $6,600) comma in both places

Also, when you say approx you do not usually give three decimals.[/QUOTE]


Three Cheers for this very clever observation!

Before one person decides what's true and what's false for everyone else - the coma is used consistently in both places. Sure it could have been a misprint if one number used a coma and one used a dot - but let's give the author some credit for being consistent.

It's true until proven indisputably false!

The numbers are as plain as the nose on your face - 10,000 (6,600)

Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

i believe, like ive always said, they will unveil the entire economic package together hence why theyve waited for this hcl. thats ok, if waiting on the passing of that baby will enable them to reach a higher revalue quicker im all about that!!! DONT trade in all your dinar coz holding onto some will be well worth it!!!

and im not so sure the disagreement about the hcl isnt what has delayed it from being announced yet. 14th delay confirmation??

Also makes it more justified if they do it as an all round package. As for the typo mistake I wouldn't read too much into this, and anyways, we're hoping for a higher reval.