Iraq Considers Deleting Zeros from Dinar; Officials Revive Currency Overhaul
By Sinan Mahmoud, for The National. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq Considers Deleting Zeros from Dinar as Officials Revive Currency Overhaul Iraq is again considering a long-standing and controversial plan to delete zeros from the dinar as the country […]
New Loan Under Discussion for Iraq Electricity Infrastructure
By John Lee. Priorities for a new World Bank loan to Iraq's electricity sector were discussed at a meeting between Electricity Minister Ali Saad Wahib and Emmanuel Salinas Munoz, the World Bank's country director for Iraq, on Wednesday. According to the Ministry of Electricity, the meeting also reviewed progress on projects under the current World […]
New Oil Export Mechanisms Approved for Iraq
By John Lee. Iraq's Council of Ministers has approved new mechanisms for exporting Iraqi oil through specialist international and domestic companies via multiple outlets, under contracts of three months' duration beginning 1 September 2026. The Council also approved exceptional authorisations to expand export and import capacities. The Minister of Oil, Basim Muhammad Khudhair al-Abadi, has […]
Protecting Foreign Investors from Administrative Corruption in Iraq
By Bayan Al Hashimi. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Protecting Foreign Investors from Administrative Corruption in Iraq A practical legal framework for reducing administrative and compliance risk. Foreign investors considering Iraq usually begin with familiar questions: Is the project commercially viable? […]
Iraq to Cut Fuel Subsidies from September
By John Lee. Iraq's Cabinet of Ministers has approved a set of measures to reform crude oil pricing and reduce fuel subsidies, effective from 1 September 2026. Under the approved measures: Crude oil purchases will be priced at either the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) rate or the price stipulated in the general budget, whichever […]
Italian Companies Invited to Join Iraq's Development Drive
By John Lee. Iraq has expressed interest in deepening economic ties with Italy and broader engagement with European Union member states. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met with Italian Ambassador Niccolò Fontana in Baghdad on Sunday, with discussions covering bilateral relations and ways to develop cooperation across multiple sectors. According to the Prime Minister's Office, Ali […]
Basra Lime Plant Re-Opens
By John Lee. A lime production plant operated by the General Company for Iron and Steel in Basra has resumed operations following the completion of rehabilitation works, with an initial daily capacity of 200 tonnes. According to the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, the plant produces quicklime (calcium oxide, CaO) to specifications the company says […]
Iraq-Iran Trade Ties Under Discussion
By John Lee. Talks on expanding trade and economic cooperation between Iraq and Iran have taken place in Baghdad. Iraq's Minister of Trade, Mustafa Nizar Jumaa, met with an Iranian delegation to discuss ways to develop bilateral trade volumes, facilitate the movement of goods, and activate existing agreements and memoranda of understanding. The discussions covered […]
Jiyad: A New Initiative to Expand Iraqi Crude Oil Exports
By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. A New Initiative to Expand Iraqi Crude Oil Exports Calls to expand Iraq's oil exports have intensified lately. All such calls focus on a westward direction, suggest unilateral routes, and are governed […]
New Chairman for Trade Bank of Iraq
By John Lee. Ali Abdul-Reza Hassan al-Alwan has been appointed chairman and board president of state-owned Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI). The appointment was made by order of the Prime Minister. Al-Alwan said the coming period would focus on consolidating the bank's development trajectory and strengthening its institutional performance through a strategic vision and integrated […]
Iraqi PM Meets Turkish Business Delegation
By John Lee. A delegation of Turkish business leaders has met Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in Baghdad to discuss bilateral economic and investment cooperation. The delegation was led by Lütfi Elvan, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Treasury and Finance of Turkey. According to the Prime Minister's Office, al-Zaidi invited Turkish companies to […]
EBRD Trade Finance Facility for Iraq's Al Mansour Bank
By John Lee. A $75 million trade finance facility has been agreed between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Al Mansour Bank for Investment (MBI), one of Iraq's leading private-sector banks. The facility is provided under the EBRD's Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) and will offer guarantees and cash advances to support MBI's […]