Archive | 2014

First of 10 New Fast Trains Ready for Shipment

By John Lee. China's Dongfang Electric Corp. has completed the first of 10 high speed, desert modified diesel trains at a ceremony attended by Iraq's ambassador to China, Railway Gazette reports. The trains were ordered in 2012, a year after Iraq announced plans for a Basra to Baghdad high speed rail route, an initiative that does not […]

Iraq Calls For Foreign Investment For New Housing

By John Lee. Iraq's housing minister Mohammed al-Darraji says that the country is planning to spend $5bn on new housing units in the next 3 years, but that the required 2.5 million new units will not be complete on time to meet demand, Rebuilding Iraq reports. Currently there will only be 130,000 new units by next year, […]

Shahristani Welcomes Barzani's 'Good Will' Offer

By John Lee. Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussein al-Shahristani (pictured) has welcomed Nechirvan Barzani's offer of sending 100,000 bpd of oil through the State Oil Marketing Company. According to Aswat al-Iraq, Barzani's widely reported "good will" gesture was also welcomed by former oil minister Ibrahim Bahr al-Uloum who was positive about the offer. Until the […]

Disqualified Candidates Spark Controversy in Iraq

By Mushreq Abbas for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The newly issued judicial decisions disqualifying election candidates in Iraq have reopened the debate on the standards of justice and equal opportunity for candidates. This time the controversy was accompanied by a debate on the loose mechanisms […]

KRG Offers 100,000 bpd Through SOMO

By John Lee. Kurdish Regional Government PM Nechirvan Barzani (pictured) has offered to send 100,000 bpd of oil from the Kurdish region through the State Oil Marketing Company, Reuters reports. The move is designed to partially appease Baghdad in the on going and tortuous dispute over oil revenues and exports to Turkey. Currently over 1 million […]

US Delivers Critical Arms to Iraq

The United States continues to accelerate delivery of weapons and ammunition to Iraq consistent with our Strategic Framework Agreement and long-term security partnership. These deliveries are made in response to specific Iraqi requests and pursuant to a holistic counter-terrorism policy that incorporates political, economic, and security measures. On the security side, it is essential that […]

Basra’s Mighty Petro-Dollar

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. Basra’s Mighty Petro-Dollar: But Does the Province Have Anything to Show for it? Basra is one of the country’s wealthiest provinces in terms of oil it produces; its budget for 2014 […]

UK Export Finance to Help Kurdistan Development

A delegation from the UK Export Finance Department visited the Kurdistan Department of Foreign Relations to discuss opportunities for building further relations with Kurdistan in various fields of infrastructure and investment. The UK delegation was led by Steve Dodgson, the Business Group Director of UK Export Finance and included the British Consul General, Hugh Evans […]

Jordanian Economic Delegation to Visit Iraq

By John Lee. A Jordanian economic delegation from the public and private sectors will visit Iraq later this month to discuss economic issues of concern to both Jordan and Iraq, Jordanian Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Hatem Halawani [Hatem Hafez Al-Halawani Al-Tamimi] (pictured), said. During a visit to three factories in Eastern Amman, the […]

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A Challenge for the Electoral Commission

With just six weeks left to the parliamentary elections in Iraq, scheduled for 30th April, former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has sais that the elections may not be held due to the security problems in the country. Addressing a youth organization affiliated to his National Iraqi Alliance, Allawi expressed doubts about the integrity and transparency […]

Gulf Keystone to Raise $250m Debt

Gulf Keystone has announced that it has mandated Deutsche Bank and Pareto Securities to arrange a series of fixed income investor meetings in the US, Europe and Asia commencing 20 March 2014. A debt offering of up to US$250 million in accordance with Reg S/144A is expected to follow, subject to market conditions. On 13 […]