Archive | 2013

US, Iraqi Govts Work for Business-Friendly Environment

The U.S. Embassy, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and working with the Government of Iraq (GOI) and private sector leaders, has launched the second phase of the Iraqi Solutions for Administrative and Regulatory Reform (ISRAR) project at Nahrain University. The Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council Dr. Thamer Al Ghadhban, and […]

Weekly Security Update

    By Tom Walker, Director, Assaye Risk. (Please click on graphics to view.) COUNTRY OVERVIEW The reporting week ended on a somewhat wretched note with the news that Baghdad had witnessed heightened levels of violence with the reported deaths of at least 52 people and approx. 108 wounded, however it is difficult to gauge […]

Second Attack on Baiji-Nineveh Pipeline

By John Lee. A second bomb blast has set fire to a pipeline carrying fuel oil from Beiji [Bayji, Baiji] refinery (pictured) to Nineveh province, reports Reuters on Wednesday. A similar attack on Saturday disabled the 16-inch pipeline, which is used to transport fuel oil. "Terrorists placed bombs and landmines around the location of the […]

New Oil Find in Iraqi Kurdistan

Gulf Keystone notes today's update by MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc., the operator of the Akri-Bijeel Block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (in which Gulf Keystone has a 20 per cent working interest), on its extensive exploration and appraisal programme. Bakrman-1 Exploration Well Discovery Bakrman-1, the first exploration well to target the Bakrman […]

Cabinet OKs Iran-Syria Pipelines

By John Lee. Iraq's Cabinet has authorized the Oil Ministry "to sign an agreement of principles" on two key oil and natural gas pipeline projects, reports Platts. The agreement will be between the Iraqi Oil Ministry, the Iranian Oil Ministry, and the Syrian Oil and Mineral Resources Ministry, and it relates to the construction of […]

German IT Firm to Expand Iraq Operations

By John Lee. Germany's largest company and the world's leading business software company has announced it is ramping up operations in Iraq, according to Gulf Daily News. The managing director of SAP Middle East North Africa, Sam Alkharrat (pictured), told the newspaper: "Iraq is an exciting market for SAP ... This is a country where IT […]

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Zain Iraq Plans IPO by July

John Lee. Zain Iraq's Chief Financial Officer, Wael Ghanayem (pictured), has told Bloomberg that the company plans to list 25 percent of its shares on the Iraq Stock Exchange  (ISX) by the end of June. But Geoffrey Batt, managing director of the $44 million Euphrates Iraq Fund, told the news agency: “A more realistic estimate is […]

L-3 Wins F-16 Simulator Contract

L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) has announced that its Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) division has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, to build two F-16 Block 52 Full Mission Trainers (FMTs) for the Iraqi Air Force. “L-3 is focused […]

KRG President Barzani Begins Visit to Russia

President Masoud Barzani departed from Erbil International Airport on Tuesday with a high-level delegation to make his first official visit to the Russian Federation. During the visit, President Barzani is expected to meet senior Russian officials to discuss a number of important matters, including relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Russian Federation, political developments […]

Swiss Ambassador Presents Credentials

By John Lee. The Swiss Non-Resident Ambassador in Iraq, Michael Winzb, has presented his credentials to Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. During the ceremony, the two sides discussed the development relations between the countries, and plans to gain full diplomatic representation. Minister Zebari stressed the Ministry's readiness to provide support and assistance for the success of […]