Archive | 2012

Israel Concerned at US Sale of F-16s to Iraq

Israel is said to be particularly concerned about the Pentagon’s approval for the sale of 36 Lockheed Martin F- 16 multi-role combat aircraft to Iraq. “We are carefully watching the developments in Iraq,” an IDF officer told the Jerusalem Post. “The possible developments there are not immediate, but since the US withdrawal from Iraq we do […]

Iraq Seeks to Buy 30,000 Tons of Basmati Rice

Iraq plans to buy 30,000 metric tons of basmati rice from India and Pakistan, according to a report from Bloomberg. Fawziyeh Hameed, a spokeswoman for the Trade Ministry, told the news agency that the deadline for suppliers to submit bids is April 22. Bids should be valid until April 26. Iraq reportedly bought 53,000 tons […]

Minister Criticises Security and Insurance Companies

By Gavin Jones, Director of Iraq Business News, and Partner at consultancy firm Upper Quartile. Without doubt the security situation has improved significantly since I was last in Iraq, and made great strides in the south, where the first time I worked in Basra in 2007 we were never allowed into the city of Basra […]

Cost of Clearing Iraq's Landmines: $12bn

Aswat al-Iraq reports that the cost of clearing the estimated 25 million mines from Iraq will be around $12 billion. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had highlighted the work of United Nations mine action personnel around the world in preventing landmines and unexploded ordnance from causing harm long after conflicts have ended, and transforming danger zones into […]

President Barzani Meets Hungary's Leaders in Budapest

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, during a three day visit to Budapest this week, met Hungary's President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Economic Minister on an official visit to promote bilateral relations and cooperation. President Barzani and the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban discussed ways to develop cooperation and investment opportunities in a number of […]

Weekly Security Update for 12th April 2012

Levels of violence rose in Iraq last week. Security measures were gradually relaxed following the conclusion of the Arab League Summit which appeared to grant militants slightly more opportunity to conduct attacks. At least 29 people were killed and 19 injured in nationwide incidents. Tactics A total of 20 bomb attacks left 10 people dead […]

Getting Along With Your Neighbours

Iraq's improved relations with its neighbours have been particularly evident in recent times. Following Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's two-day visit to Kuwait in March, Iraq agreed to go ahead with the Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Maintenance Project, and to transfer its share of funds allocated for the completion of this project to the UN. The two governments […]

Najaf Attracts $7 Billion in Foreign Investment

Azzaman reports that the holy city of Najaf has turned into a hub for foreign investments, mainly in areas of housing and tourism, as numbers of foreign pilgrims to the city surge. The head of Najaf Investment Commission, Wafi al-Bahhash, said an estimated $7 billion had been invested, adding that his commission granted new licences […]

Border Crossing Between Iraq and Saudi to be Opened

The commercial attaché at Iraq's embassy in Saudi Arabia, Ali Jaberal- al-Utti, has reportedly announced the start of negotiations between the two sides to open the Ar Ar [Ara'ar, Arar] border crossing between the two countries. The town is situated in the north of Saudi Arabia, the Iraqi city of Karbala, The nearest town to […]

Metito, Snafee Win More Iraq Water Contracts

Metito, the provider of total, intelligent water management solutions in emerging markets, has announced four new projects in Iraq, worth over $185m. Metito is partnering with the Snafee Group, to supply the process design of three sewage treatment plants, in South Basra, Um Qasser, Safwan and Shatt Al Arab, which represent a combined contract total […]

Iraq Has Cash Reserves to Fight Dinar Depreciation

The finance committee in the Iraqi Council of Representatives warned on Wednesday about the deterioration of the Iraqi economy due to the low exchange rate of the dinar to the US dollar, assuring that proposals are underway to get the country back on its feet, reports AKnews. According to AKnews, the Iraqi dinar hit its […]