Archive | 2015

Zain Iraq Shares Jump on ISX Debut

By Simon Kent. Zain Iraq is now listed on the Baghdad stock exchange, some 4 years after the company was required to do so under the terms of their market entry to Iraq, Reuters reports. Analysts such as Hassan Aldahan, chairman of Baghdad investment company Bain Alnahrain, explained that the 50% rise on share value was artificially […]

Rif'at al Chadirji Wins Tamayouz Award

By Robert Tollast. Iraqi architect Rif'at al Chadirji has been awarded the 2015 Tamayouz Architectural Lifetime Achievement Award in a ceremony at the University of Coventry, UK. Michael Fitzpatrick, the Dean of Engineering and Computing at the university, presented the award which was announced on line in English and Arabic (video.) The architect and author was […]

Unaoil Joins IBBC

The Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) has just welcomed Unaoil as its latest member. A provider of industrial oil and gas solutions, Unaoil's services include engineering and construction, workforce solutions, and repair and maintenance. The company has been active in Iraq since 2003 and engages over 1,100 people working in and for Iraq, 75 percent […]

Belgium to Open Erbil Consulate

By Simon Kent. Belgium has announced plans to open a consulate in Erbil, capital of the semi autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq. In a sign of deepening ties between the KRG and Belgium, the central EU nation also announced they would provide hospital treatment for injured Peshmerga soldiers. The Peshmerga are the armed forces of […]

Kuwait Commits $200 million for IDPs

By Simon Kent. The Kuwaiti government has announced that $200 million will be dispersed to internally displaced people--refugees-- throughout the south, centre and north of Iraq. The aid will be distributed through the Kuwaiti Red Crescent and assist some of the 5 million conflict displaced people within Iraq. According to the Kuwaiti Red Crescent, the […]

WHO in Aid Warning

By Simon Kent. The World Health Organization, long critical to internally displaced people in conflict zones and known for stemming epidemics and hunger during times of crisis, is facing a critical funding shortfall in Iraq. The BBC has reported the WHO may have to shut down many of its health clinics, some in critical areas […]

Akkas Pipeline Cancelled

By Robert Tollast. Korean firm STX Heavy Industries has cancelled a proposed 500km pipeline to the Akkas gas field in Western Iraq, which is operated by state Korean gas firm KOGAS. STX Heavy were working on the project with KOGAS Akkas B.V and work was due to be finished in 2017, however the project ran […]

Coalition Air Strikes Expanding?

By Robert Tollast. US and Coalition air strikes may be marginally increasing the area of terrain covered in the campaign so far, according to attack data released by the US Department of Defence in the past 24 hours. Critics of the strikes note how they are few in number compared to comparable air campaigns against […]

KRG to Enter Bond Market

By Simon Kent. After months of talks, the Kurdish Regional Government says it has authorisation from Baghdad to issue bonds, in a move aimed at easing growing financial pains in the semi autonomous region. According to Bloomberg, the region needs approximately $1.4 billion to balance its books. Quoting IBN blogger Robert Tollast, the report noted how the KRG […]

Re-settling refugees: Iraq's endgame?

By Robert Tollast. Loveday Morris, who usually reports on Iraq for The Washington Post, has written an engaging piece on the returning "internally displaced persons" or IDPs, to Tikrit following the expulsion of Islamic State forces in the town. Morris' piece touches on some of the nuance that is often lost in reporting on Iraq. For […]

Syrian Traders Flock to Mosul

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. The New Masters of the Market: Syrian Traders Flock to ISIS' Mosul For Iraqi Profits The city of Mosul had turned its back to the other Iraqi cities as of […]