Archive | 2011

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How Risky Is Iraq?

Let's start with a little test: Can you rank the following economies in order of the expected risk of their defaulting on their sovereign debt – Ireland, Argentina, Dubai, Greece, Iraq? The correct order, based on the cost using credit default swaps (CDS) to insure their debt against default, is: Greece (riskiest), Ireland, Argentina, Dubai, […]

Iraqi Govt to Create 171,000 New Jobs

This year will see the creation of 171,000 new jobs, according to the latest ruling by the Iraqi parliament. Azzaman reports that the new jobs are part of the government's efforts to fight unemployment but officials say they will not alleviate unemployment in the country, which they estimate at more than 15%. Iraq has one […]

Turkish Company to Clean Up Baghdad in $24m Contract

Baghdad municipality has signed a contract with a Turkish company, Akdneiz, to clean up the city while statistical figures show high unemployment rates. According to the contract, the districts of Karkh, Rusafa and Karrada [Karadah] in central Baghdad will be cleaned up by Akdeniz for a period of one year. Iraq's Central Statistics Agency (CSA) […]

Iraq and Egypt Discuss Increasing Trade

The Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, and the Trade Minister, Roze Nouri Shawis met the Egyptian Trade and Industry minister, on Monday to discuss ways to increase trade between the two countries. Shawis told AKnews that the meeting dealt with the mechanisms to support and promote Arab economic cooperation with Iraq, especially in the Kurdistan […]

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Syria Plans to Boost Relations with Iraq

The Syrian Trade and Economy Minister, Lamyaa Assi, says her country is planning to deepen “historic and strategic” Syrian-Iraqi relations. The Syrian Minister spoke to AKnews correspondent in Egypt as the Arab trade and economy ministers are coming together in the Sharam al-Sheikh resort to discuss economic development. Iraq and Syria will develop a strategic, […]

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ICB Submits New Law on Money Laundering

AKnews reports that an adviser at the Iraqi Central Bank (ICB) stated on Tuesday that a new law has been submitted to the parliament to combat money laundering in coordination with other government institutions, in order to provide greater protection for Iraq's economic system. Muzher Mohammed Saleh told AKnews that the new law is more […]

Talk Show Host Wants US to Take Iraqi Oil

A Fox News talk show host has called for the US to take Iraq's and Kuwait's oil to "make them pay for their liberation". Sean Hannity (pictured), who was discussing high oil prices with his “Great American Panel”, expressed outrage at the proposed increases in the price of oil and suggested that Kuwait and Iraq […]

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Weekly Security Update for 19th January 2011

Overview Levels of violence fell last week, but the past 48 hours have seen three suicide attacks in the central provinces, killing dozens and injuring over 200. As with the recent spate in assassinations in the centre of the country, the main target of the suicide bombers were state employees and members of the Iraqi […]

Kurdistan Oil Exports to Resume in February

Reuters reports that Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq has agreed with Baghdad to resume oil exports from the start of February, the Kurdish prime minister Barham Salih (pictured) said, taking the two sides closer to resolving bitter disputes over oil and land. Around 40 companies, such as Norway's DNO, have invested in Kurdistan, but […]

Iraqi Drilling Company - 140 Wells in 2011

Citing a report from Reueters, we reported at the weekend that Iraq's state-owned Iraqi Drilling Company was planning to dig 76 wells in 2011. But according to Aswat al-Iraq, the company dug 189 oil wells in 2010 and is planning to dig and rehabilitate another 140 other oil wells in 2011. "Our Company had dug […]