Archive | 2015

Video: Humanitarian Crisis, Thousands Flee Ramadi

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The humanitarian crisis in Iraq is worsening, as people try to flee the city of Ramadi - which is now controlled by the Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL). Many civilians have spent days […]

Iran Sets Up Trade Centre in Erbil

By John Lee. The head of the Trade Promotion Organisation of Iran, Valiollah Afkhami Rad (pictured), has signed a contract to set up a trade centre in Erbil. He said that a better understanding of the market in Erbil and throughout Iraq will result from the improved economic ties, and recommended that Iranian companies research […]

Gazprom Increases Investment in Kurdistan

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani has received a delegation from the Russian Federation that included President Vladimir Putin’s Envoy to the Middle East and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, Chairman of Gazprom Neft, Alexander Dyukov, and Deputy Energy Minister, Yuri Sentyurin. The delegation highlighted historic relations between Kurdistan and Russia, and their intention to […]

CBI Lends $5.1bn to Iraqi Banks

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has allocated $5.1 billion (6 trillion Iraqi dinars) in loans to banks in a bid to keep a handle on inflation. Ali Allaq, Central Bank general manager, told the Al-Hayat newspaper on Monday that the CBI is responsible for the stability of the market, adding that […]

Frontier Markets Fund hit by Iraq Oil Stocks

By John Lee. BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust has said that the fund's most significant detractors from performance were its Iraqi oil stocks. In its Half-yearly Report, the fund commented: "Although Kurdistan has started exporting oil through it's pipeline to Turkey, the International Oil Companies ("IOCs") are still not receiving payment for these exports which is […]

KRG needs Further Support for Refugees

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) says it has been struggling to provide adequate humanitarian assistance to an overwhelming number of Iraqi internally displaced persons, IDPs, and Syrian refugees. However, according to the KRG Ministry of Planning, the Kurdistan Region needs further assistance from United Nation agencies and the international community in order to be able […]

SOSi Wins $36m Iraq Order

By John Lee. SOS International (SOSi) of, Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a $36-million (42-billion-Iraqi-dinar) modification to contract W56KGZ-15-C-4000 for base life support at Camp Taji, Iraq. The estimated completion date is June 30, 2015. Funding will be determined with each order. Army Contracting Command Kuwait, is the contracting activity. (Source: US Dept of Defense) […]

BP to Cut Spending at Rumaila

By John Lee. Oil major BP has reportedly agreed with the Iraqi oil ministry to cut this year's expenditure on development work at Rumaila oilfield from $3.5 billion (4.1-billion-Iraqi-dinar) to $2.5 billion. According to The Economic Times, the cut in spending will have no impact on production from the oilfield this year, where output is […]

Iran, Iraq to Cooperate on Environment

By John Lee. The head of Iran’s Department of the Environment, Masoumeh Ebtekar, and Iraq’s Minister of the Environment, Ibrahim Turki al-Juburi (Qutaiba al-Jibouri), have met to search for solutions to the environmental issues affecting the countries. According to the report from BasNews, the Ministers discussed the dust storms that blanket the region, particulate pollution, […]

Improving Human Rights through Education

By Shukur Khilkhal for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. In a society where conservative religious trends and the rule of tribal law are on the rise, the dissemination of human rights principles is a difficult task. Often, interpretations of religious and tribal customs contradict […]

Japan Implements Water, Sewerage Projects

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, has received Mr. Akihiko Tanaka, head of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan’s Ambassador to Iraq. Mr. Tanaka expressed his appreciation for the assistance that Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, provides to the agency during the implementation of their projects in the Region. He briefed the Prime Minister about […]