Iraq: The first center for testing, marking imported gold at Baghdad Airport

INA - BAGHDAD

The Ministry of Planning announced on Tuesday the opening of the first center for testing and marking imported gold jewelry at Baghdad International Airport, noting that a similar center was opened at the airports of Najaf, Basra and Kirkuk.

"The opening of the center came in implementation of the directives of PM Muhammed S. Al-Sudani and under the direct supervision and continuous follow-up of the Minister of Planning," said the head of the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control, Fayyadh Muhammed Abd, in a statement by the ministry - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

He added, "It is one of four centers in Iraqi airports for testing and marking gold jewelry imported to Iraq by Iraqi traders. The Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control, the Central Bank of Iraq, the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Office and the Ministry of Trade now have a single database e-platform to know the details of gold in Iraq."

"The opening of the gold testing and marking center at Baghdad Airport was preceded by the opening of a similar center at Najaf Airport, then at Basra Airport, and then at Kirkuk Airport. These procedures will facilitate the flow of work and shorten the time and date by facilitating procedures for suppliers of gold bullion and jewelry, as well as activating the supervisory aspect of the device's work in protecting gold. Thus, this will have a positive impact on the economic movement in the country," he explained.

He pointed out that "the devices used in testing and marking gold made Iraq one of three countries in the region that possess these devices, which are distributed as (3) testing devices and (3) jewelry marking devices at each airport. The Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control worked on training Iraqi staff in addition to the staff of the organization so that we have a great technical capacity to facilitate procedures and protect citizens from fraud." 

The Assistant Director of Baghdad International Airport, Hussein Ali Hussein, also said that "the opening of the jewelry inspection and marking unit came in cooperation between the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control and the airport administration and will contribute to facilitating procedures at the airport," indicating that "the administration worked to provide the technical requirements and facilities necessary to complete this technical and technological center and its sustainability, which was recommended by the regulatory authorities."