Archive | 2025

Iraq Announces 135 Strategic Investment Opportunities

By John Lee. Iraq's National Investment Commission (NIC) has announced more than 135 ready-to-offer investment opportunities across key economic sectors as part of its preparations for the Iraq Investment Forum 2025, scheduled for 14-15 June. The NIC has held a series of intensive coordination meetings with provincial investment commissions to review and validate the legal […]

Japan Reaffirms $21bn Commitment to Iraq, Signs Coop Agreement

By John Lee. Japan's Ambassador to Iraq, Akira Endo, has reportedly reaffirmed his country's support for Iraq, announcing over $21 billion in economic cooperation projects since 2003. Speaking at the signing ceremony of a new agreement between the Iraq Development Fund and the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME), he emphasized Japan's ongoing […]

Iraq to Boost Summer Power Supply through Karpowership Deal

By John Lee. Iraq's Council of Ministers has approved direct contracting with Turkiye's Karpowership Group to enhance electricity supply during the high-demand summer period. The contracts will add 650 megawatts through the deployment of power ship. In a parallel move, the Cabinet also approved the launch of a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) project for […]

UK's Agrium Capital to Build Infant Formula Plant in Iraq

By John Lee. The Iraq Development Fund has reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding with British firm Agrium Capital to establish Iraq's first modern infant formula production facility, with a planned capital expenditure exceeding $200 million. The plant, which will use locally sourced ingredients including Iraqi milk, is expected to meet 85 percent of the […]

Iraqi Start-Up secures Funding to Expand Across ME

By John Lee. ToolMart, an Iraqi-based e-commerce platform that sells tools and hardware products, has successfully closed its seed funding round led by Plus VC and Oasis500, along with prominent angel investors from across the region. The newly-secured capital will be used to accelerate the company's growth, expand its workforce, and scale operations into new markets […]

UK/UAE Firm signs MoU with Iraq's Carbon Agency

By John Lee. BB Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iraq's General Company for Carbon Economics (GCCE) during the country's inaugural Conference on Carbon Economics. The agreement outlines plans for collaboration between BB Energy's Renewable Energy Division and GCCE to implement projects aimed at offsetting carbon emissions and supporting environmental restoration in […]

New Food Processing Plant opens in Al-Mahmoudiya

By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani has officially opened the United Arab Company for Food Industries factories in Al-Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad. The first phase includes pasta and noodle factories built on 20 percent of the 123-dunam [12 hectares; 30 acres] site, with an investment of 128 billion Iraqi dinars [$98 million]. […]

Petroleum Sector in New AI-based Iraqi National Memory Project

By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Petroleum Sector in A New AI-based Iraqi National Memory Project A group of dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) specialists and professionals are enthusiastically racing against time and actively working on a first of […]

Modernising Iraq's Financial Infrastructure: The Rise of Digital Payments

By Samer Khraishi, Regional Director for Account Management and Business Development, GCC, Iraq and Jordan at BPC. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Modernising Iraq's Financial Infrastructure: The Rise of Digital Payments Iraq's financial infrastructure has long been in need of significant […]

Baghdad Airport Development progresses with Public-Private Partnership

By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani has reaffirmed his government's commitment to upgrading Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), chairing a high-level meeting to advance a public-private partnership (PPP) project aimed at overhauling Iraq's main aviation hub. Attended by representatives from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Prime Minister's advisors, and the Head of the […]

Iraq Lifts Ban on Imports of E-Cigarettes, Tobacco

By John Lee. The Iraqi Council of Ministers has approved a request by the Ministry of Health to lift the ban on importing electronic cigarettes, electronic hookahs, and tobacco products, provided that all imports comply with the country's Anti-Smoking Law (No. 19 of 2012). Under the new policy, the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality […]

CBI highlights Iraq's Commitment to AML/CFT Standards

By John Lee. Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), Mr. Ali Mohsen Al-Allaq, participated in the opening of the second edition of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) Conference, held in Baghdad. Organised by the Central Bank of Iraq, the Union of Arab Banks, and the Iraqi Private Banks League (IBPL), the […]