Iraq’s market turns away from “old US Dollar”
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Deeply entrenched since the 2003 US invasion, the dollar has become a cornerstone of Iraq’s economy, fueling oil exports, trade, and daily transactions, effectively operating as a parallel currency. However, older banknotes, especially pre-2003 issues, face growing rejection from traders and exchange offices.
Dollar in Iraqi Economy
The US dollar holds a significant position in Iraq's economy, functioning almost as a secondary currency. This prominence is rooted in the economic restructuring that followed the 2003 US invasion, during which the United States assisted in establishing the Central Bank of Iraq. Consequently, the dollar became deeply integrated into Iraq's financial system, especially given the country's substantial informal economy that relies heavily on cash transactions.
Iraq's oil industry, accounting for nearly 99% of the country’s exports, operates primarily in US dollars. This reliance reinforces the dollar’s dominance while closely linking Iraq’s economic stability to fluctuations in the US currency.