Archive | 2013

Basra Locals Move Because of Oil Pollution

By Saleem al-Wazzan. This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Fighting for Clean Air: Locals Living Near Basra Oil Wells Move Because of Pollution The oil wells in southern Iraq have made the areas relatively prosperous. […]

Iran, Iraq Sign Oil and Gas Drilling Pact

By John Lee. The National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) has signed an agreement with the Iraqi Drilling Company under which Iran will provide personnel training and supervision of Iraqi drilling operations. According to a report from Iran's PressTV, the agreement was signed by NIDC Managing Director Hamid-Reza Golpayegani and Deputy Director-General of the Iraqi Drilling […]

Sumitomo Invests in Iraqi Car Service Firm

Japan's Sumitomo Corporation has purchased about 320 million yen in shares (equivalent to 45% of shares) of SAS Automotive Services Ltd, a subsidiary of Iraq’s largest automotive business, the Sardar Group through a third-party allocation of shares. The company claims that this is the first private investment and joint venture by a Japanese company in […]

Fake Bomb Detectors 'Still Used in Iraq'

By John Lee. Fake bomb detectors are reportedly still being used in Iraq, months after British conman James McCormick was jailed for selling them. The former policeman is thought to have made £50 million from selling devices, based on a novelty £13 golf ball finder, to Iraq and other countries. Sentencing him to 10 years in […]

Foreign Minister Holds Talks in Romania

By John Lee. Foreign Minister of Romania, Mr. Titus Kurlaan, received the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and his accompanying delegation on Thursday. Minister Zebari and his team were on an official visit to Romania to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment the diplomatic relations between the two countries. The two sides held talks […]

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Lukoil Forecasts Exports from West Qurna-2

By John Lee. Andrei Kuzyayev [Andrey Kuzyaev] (pictured), head of Lukoil's overseas operations, has said that Lukoil plans to reach commercial levels of oil production at West Qurna-2 in the first quarter of 2014, and is interested in participating in the Kirkuk oilfield in northern Iraq. He told Reuters: "There are no infrastructure risks [in […]

Leighton Shares Dive on Iraq Corruption Allegations

By John Lee. [UPDATE: In January 2017, Wal King, former CEO of Leighton Holdings, received an apology and an out-of-court settlement from Fairfax Media following their claim that he knew of alleged corporate misconduct, including the payment of a $42 million bribe in Iraq.] Shares in the Australia's Leighton Holdings, Australia’s biggest builder, fell more […]

Economists Divided Over Deletion Of Zeros

By Amina al-Dahabi for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has been attempting to delete three zeros from the Iraqi currency since 2003. This project has raised many concerns among the Iraqi public and within the […]

Multi-Nationals Ramp Up Business Protection

The latest upsurge in violence in Iraq and continuing political instability across the Middle East has seen global corporations taking steps to improve the safety of their workers, according to Advanced Glass Technology (AGT), a leading international specialist in protective window films and anchoring systems, which has recently established a permanent presence in the country. […]

Is Iraq "the Next Big One"?

Following its survey of 10 Iraqi cities the market research organisation TNS Mena says Iraq could be "the next big one" for consumer spending. The company's CEO, Steve Hamilton-Clark, said: “Considering the economic slowdown in the developed world, more and more clients would like to enter the Iraqi market which has intrigued marketers for years, […]

Weekly Security Update 26 Sep - 02 Oct 2013

By Tom Walker, Director, Assaye Risk COUNTRY OVERVIEW Nearly 900 civilians were killed across Iraq in September as sectarian violence worsened, raising the death toll for 2013 to more than last year's total, the United Nations reported this week.  Sunni Islamist militants have perpetrated the overwhelming majority of violence, with the ISI leading the campaign. […]