BizNewZ-IRAQ!

GLOBAL BANKS EYE IRAQ BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN

Interest by Citibank and Standard Chartered to expand into Iraq highlights the vast potential of
the country’s banking sector, but the experience of a global rival points to the many pitfalls they
must navigate.
With tens of millions of potential customers, few of whom have bank accounts, the country could provide a windfall for firms that
manage to grab a foothold.
Iraqis are on the hunt for a full range of services, from current
accounts to insurance and mortgages, little of which is currently on offer.
But outdated regulations, a
preponderance of state—owned banks, poor infrastructure, and a litany of other obstacles mean
succeeding in Iraq’s banking sector is no mean feat.
“This is potentially a very, very rich market to do banking in,”
said one Western diplomat,speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Potentially.”
The industry has come into the spotlight in recent weeks thanks
to moves by banking giants Citibank and Standard Chartered
to establish their presence in the
country.
“We see Iraq as the next big thing,” Mayank Malik, Citi’s head for Jordan and Iraq, told AFP. “We
see this as a giant which is waking up.”
“We see ourselves as the front—runners. We want the first—
mover advantage.”
Citi will initially look to serve existing clients —— several
international energy companies working in oil—rich south Iraq
are its customers.
But in the longer—term the
multinational is looking to move into commercial and retail
banking, though it has not publicly laid out a timeline.
It has high hopes for the country—— Citi economists project that Iraq will have 50 million people and a $2 trillion economy in
2050.
The latter figure represents a 15-fold increase on current output,and is roughly equivalent to the size of India’s economy today.
And, as the sector develops,virtually the entire range of
banking services are required—— at present, Iraqis have
limited access to loans,insurance, credit cards,mortgages and a swathe of other financial products.
But while Malik voices optimism over the potential of Iraq’s
banking sector, major obstacles persist.
As Citi was opening an office in Iraq last month, HSBC announced shortly thereafter it would pull out of Dar Es Salaam, a local bank
in which it holds a 70 percent stake.