Archive | 2011

Iraq's Per Capita Income to Double by 2015

An economist from the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has said that per capita income in the country is projected to more than double within the next four years as a result of a sharp increase in Iraq’s oil output and higher market prices for oil, according to a report from RFE/RL’s Radio Free Iraq […]

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Iraq to Import 400k Tons of Grain

Iraq has decided to import 400,000 tons of American and Australian wheat, according to a statement by the Director-General of the General Company for Grain Trade on Saturday. “Trade Minister Kheirullah Hassan has approved a deal to purchase 400,000 tons of wheat, 300,000 tons of it from America and 100,000 tons from Australia,” Muthanna Abdul-Jabbar […]

$40m Renovation of Kurdistan Hydroelectric Dams

Two hydro-electric plants in Sulaimaniya province of Iraqi Kurdistan are being renovated at a cost of $40 million [48 billion Iraqi dinars], according to a report from AKnews. Sirwan Mohammed Mahmoud, the media and relations director at Sulaimaniya electricity office, told the agency that the budget to renovate Darbanikhan (pictured) and Dokan dams comes from […]

Iraqi Govt Pumps $400m into Agriculture

The Iraqi Agriculture Minister has said that 470 billion Iraqi Dinars ($400 million) has been allocated to his ministry this year to develop the country’s agricultural sector, according to a report from AKnews. Izzeddine al-Dawla [Izzuldin al-Doula] said that the implementation of an irrigation project using the latest techniques and covering an area of more […]

Hahn Air Enables e-Ticketing in Iraq

Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry operating the Galileo global distribution system (GDS) and worldwide ticketing expert Hahn Air announce the implementation of new e-ticketing functionality that will enable Galileo-connected travel agents in Iraq to issue e-tickets on bookings made with any of Hahn Air’s 230 partner airlines. Leveraging Travelport’s innovative […]

Kufa Uni Signs Broadband Agreement with Omnnea

In a move to enrich Kufa University's educational and research activities, Kufa University president Dr. Abdul Razzak Al-Issa signed a broadband service agreement with Omnnea. The broadband service will be used to allow both Kufa University faculty and students to conduct research, hold video conferencing and to utilize e-learning curriculum. Dr. Al-Issa stated, "One of […]

Iraq Taxi Drivers Protest Against Fuel Oil Prices

Dozens of taxi drivers in Duhok demonstrated this week asking for an increase in their allocation of fuel, and for the provision of better quality fuel. As a result, Duhok's Governor confirmed that taxi drivers' allocations will be increased. One protester, Khalil Mohammad (40), told Alsumaria News that as oil prices increased, taxi drivers were […]

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Water Supply Problems in Maysan

The volume of waters from the Tigris River reaching Iraq has been receding to the extent that several water purification plants in the Province of Missan [Maysan] are running without water. Mohannad Kadhem, the head of water purification and distribution in the southern province, said the problem started with tributaries belonging to the river feeding […]

Baghdad Clamps Down on Unlicensed Liquor Stores

Stores selling alcohol in the Iraqi capital were shut down by the Baghdad provincial council on Monday amid protests from their owners, according to a report from AKnews. Store owners were caught by surprise when police patrols arrived unannounced at their premises with orders from the provincial council to close down all unlicensed shops and […]

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It’s the rentier economy, stupid!

The protests in Iraq, while obviously inspired by those in other Arab countries, have a different focus. The latter have been primarily about politics. In Iraq the protestors’ demands center on economic problems. They want more jobs and electricity and less corruption. Due to its natural resource endowment, Iraq is an example of what political […]