Iraqi Oil Executive Jailed and Ordered to Repay $37m
By John Lee. A former director-general of Iraq's state-run Oil Products Distribution Company (OPDC) has been sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to repay IQD 55 billion (USD 37 million) after being convicted for illicitly benefiting from contracts and agreements involving the North Refineries Company (NRC). According to the Federal Commission of Integrity, […]
New $900m Residential City Approved for Basra
By John Lee. An investment licence has been granted for the Mawten Basra Residential City project, at a total investment cost of over 1.4 trillion Iraqi dinars ($930m). The project will be developed by Al-Mawj Company for Investment and Real Estate Development across five consecutive phases. According to the National Investment Commission (NIC), the project […]
Telecoms MoU Signed Between Iraq and Huawei
By John Lee. A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between the General Company for Telecommunications and Informatics and China's Huawei, aimed at strengthening strategic partnership, developing telecommunications and information technology infrastructure, and supporting digital transformation in Iraq. The agreement was concluded during a visit to China by Minister of Communications Mustafa Jabbar Sanad. (Source: […]
New AI Tutoring Platform for Iraqi Students
By Padraig O''Hannelly. A French-based Iraqi engineer has launched an interactive educational platform built on the official Iraqi curriculum. ManarWay offers an AI tutor, 3D virtual labs, and on-the-spot practice correction, and is designed to run on a student's smartphone without additional hardware. Key features of the platform include: Curriculum alignment: built on the official […]
Iraq-Syria Talks Cover Oil Exports and Economic Ties
By John Lee. Talks between Iraqi and Syrian officials in Damascus have covered oil exports from Iraq via the Syrian port of Baniyas, trade volumes, and agricultural cooperation. According to Iraq's Prime Minister's Office, the meetings were co-chaired by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Topics discussed included: Exporting Iraqi oil through […]
New Automotive Hub Opens in Zakho
By John Lee. A new automotive centre has opened in Zakho in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The facility was developed by Harlem Group in partnership with Muhanad Group and spans close to 200,000 square metres. The centre covers vehicle reception and preparation, pre-delivery inspection (PDI), accessory fitting, vehicle care, spare-parts warehousing, body repair, quality […]
NIC Chairman Holds Talks with Qatari Investors
By John Lee. The head of Iraq's National Investment Commission (NIC), Adel Dakhil Muhammad al-Yasiri, held a series of investment meetings in Doha on the sidelines of the World Investment Forum 2026, engaging with the Qatar Investment Authority and leading Qatari private-sector firms. According to the National Investment Commission, al-Yasiri met with a high-level delegation […]
Iraq Outlines Gas Strategy at Moscow Energy Forum
By John Lee. Iraq's Deputy Minister of Oil for Gas Affairs, Dr Izzat Sabir Ismail, addressed the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) meeting in Moscow on Tuesday, outlining the country's priorities for developing both free gas and associated gas resources. According to the Ministry of Oil, Dr Ismail described gas sector development as a national […]
Turkish Business Delegation Visits Kurdistan Region
By John Lee. A business delegation from Türkiye, comprising business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors who are members of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK), has met with Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Erbil. The meeting was also attended by Anıl Bora İnan, Ambassador of Türkiye to Iraq, and Erman Topçu, Consul General of […]
Court Rules Ba'athist Ban on Foreign Ownership Unconstitutional
By John Lee. Iraq's Federal Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional a decree issued by the dissolved Revolutionary Command Council that had blocked foreign nationals from owning assets or investing in companies inside Iraq. The court, sitting under the presidency of Judge Munther Ibrahim Hussein with all member judges present, found that Revolutionary Command Council Decision […]
NIC Head Calls for Qatari Factories in Iraq
By John Lee. Talks on expanding investment between Iraq and Qatar took place at a meeting between National Investment Commission (NIC) chairman Adel Dakhil Muhammad al-Yasiri and Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, chairman of the Qatari Businessmen Association, held in the presence of Minister of Trade Mustafa Nizar Jumaa and a number of Qatari […]
First Automotive Plant Contract Signed in Kurdistan Region
By John Lee. An agreement has been signed to build an automotive manufacturing plant in Zakho, in Iraq's Kurdistan Region. The contract was signed between Harlem Group and China's Jetour International, marking what the companies describe as the first and largest domestic automotive manufacturing project in the Region, covering more than 1,000 dunams. The contract […]