Author Archive | Editor

Asiacell Revenues Down 10%

By John Lee. In its results for the first nine months of 2014, Qatari telecom provider Ooredoo has reported that revenues at its Iraqi unit Asiacell are down 10 percent. The company gave the following update on operations in Iraq: "Asiacell continued to face the challenge of political and social instability during the period, allied […]

China's First Diplomat Posted to Kurdistan

Chinese Consul General Tan Banglin this week visited the KRG Department of Foreign Relations to present his credentials as his country’s first diplomat posted to Kurdistan, and to discuss areas of cooperation between both sides. Minister Falah Mustafa warmly welcomed Consul General Banglin and congratulated him on his new post, assuring him of the KRG’s […]

Video: Christians Seek Refuge in Erbil

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Many Christian families have fled ISIL seeking refuge in other areas in Iraq. Erbil shelters many internally displaced people, including an unfinished mall which houses 400 families. Aidah Nouh is not the only […]

More Chinese Trains Delivered

By John Lee. Iraq has received a second shipment of two new trains from China. Of the ten units ordered, this brings the total delivered to four, with the balance to be delivered by the end of the year. The total value of the contract is $138 million (161 billion Iraqi dinars). Chairman of the […]

Iraqi Economy to Shrink in 2014

By John Lee. A new report from the International Monetary Fund says that Iraq's economy is expected to shrink by 2.7 percent this year as a result of the security crisis in the country. This follows a 4.2 percent growth in GDP in 2013 and 10.3 percent the previous year, and would be the first […]

Oil Exports Up Despite Unrest

By John Lee. Reuters reports that oil exports from Iraq's southern terminals are "close to a record high" in October. Kurdish shipments are also reported to be increasing, despite the continuing unrest in the country. Exports from the southern terminals have averaged 2.55 million bpd for the first 23 days of October, slightly up from […]

Karbala, Najaf Plan Rail Link

By John Lee. The provincial councils of Karbala [Karbala] and Najaf have agreed to connect the two cities by rail. According to a report from Aswat Al Iraq, it is expected that Chinese or South Korean companies will implement the project. The intention is to facilitate the transport between the two holy cities, particularly during […]