Central markets... a gateway to employ 45 thousand workers and hold hard currency

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[size=52]Central markets... a gateway to employ 45 thousand workers and hold hard currency[/size]

[size=45]Baghdad/ Saif Al Hurr[/size]
[size=45]Since 2003 until now, Iraq has witnessed a halt in the activity of commercial supermarkets that was previously established, which caused an increase in unemployment across the country. .[/size]
[size=45]Representatives and specialists stressed the importance of re-working the central markets to revive the local Iraqi economy, amid calls to speed up their reactivation.[/size]
[size=45]In this regard, the deputy of the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce, Hassan Al-Sheikh, considered that supermarkets are a major step in stabilizing food security and can contribute to supporting the poor in various sectors.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Sheikh said in an interview with (Al-Mada), that "the existing consumer associations are formal and are a private sector and their goal is profit, and all they offer is selling in installments and at the same market prices."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Sheikh added, “The reason for not activating the central markets is administrative corruption, and even if they are activated, they will be profitable targets for influential parties and they will be sold on the black market, as is happening now in the Ministry of Health from selling medicines on the black market.”[/size]
[size=45]For her part, member of the House of Representatives, Suhaila Al-Sultani, explained that "the central markets that existed previously are a successful experiment and are supposed to be re-worked, as it is an opportunity to control the market from large fluctuations."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Sultani said in an interview with (Al-Mada), that "the quality and sobriety of the goods previously available in these markets made them an essential center for citizens and thus prevented foreign merchants and sellers from working according to the principle of speculation."[/size]
[size=45]She explained, "It is an almost above-good experience because it supports the governmental trade sector and achieves great profits for the state, as it contributes not to the exit of hard currency that can be wasted in one way or another."[/size]
[size=45]In addition, the researcher specializing in economic affairs, Jalil Al-Lami, stated that “the central markets are one of the thorny and complex files, as they represented the most important nerve of the market in Iraq and the first experience of its kind in the Arab region at the level of commercial centers.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Lami said in an interview with (Al-Mada), that "the reason for neglecting these markets is the dispute over the ownership of these properties between various government agencies," noting that "these centers are modern and built with good methods and only need rehabilitation." He pointed out that "these markets can provide at least 45,000 job opportunities and enhance state revenues by renting shops, squares, warehouses and other work sites, in addition to enhancing the state's ability to deliver subsidized prices to citizens and establishing a competitive market between traders and importers."[/size]
[size=45]The Director General of Central Markets in the Ministry of Trade, Zahra Al-Kilani, confirmed at the end of last October, that there are efforts to reactivate the central markets, noting that the goods in the private consumer associations amounted to 5 times their price.[/size]
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