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MoU signed for Development of Al-Rafeel Economic Zone

By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Investment Commission (NIC) and Egypt's Talaat Moustafa Group for Real Estate Development (TMG) to develop part of the economic zone in Al-Rafeel [Rafael] City, west of Baghdad. The agreement involves Iraqi-Egyptian-Saudi investment and includes participation from […]

Board of Central Bank of Iraq to be Restructured?

By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired a meeting on Monday of the High Committee tasked with reassessing and restructuring the boards of directors of state-owned banks and the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI). The committee approved several recommendations focused on evaluating board performance as part of a broader programme of banking […]

Iraq announces Oil Exports for April

By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Oil has announced finalised oil export volumes for April. Total exports of crude oil: 100,953,282 barrels. Exports from the oil fields in central and southern Iraq amounted to 99,752,879 barrels. Exports to Jordan amounted to 299,819 barrels. Exports from Qayyarah were 900,584 barrels. Average daily crude oil exports: 3.365 […]

Central Bank of Iraq launches Financial Inclusion Strategy

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has launched its first National Financial Inclusion Strategy, covering the period 2025-2029. The initiative provides an integrated framework aimed at enabling all individuals and businesses to access the financial sector and use appropriate, secure financial services with consumer protection guarantees. The strategy is expected to contribute […]

Wayl Raises $150 k Pre-Seed Funding from EQIQ Ventures

By John Lee. Wayl, the payments platform for online sellers in Iraq, has secured USD 150,000 in pre-seed financing from EQIQ Ventures, a venture-capital fund led by Mohamed Al-Hakim. Wayl plans to use the capital to expand its digital-payments solution for social-media merchants and freelance workers, addressing a market where an estimated 97 percent of […]

Financial Sector supporting Green Growth and Jobs in Iraq

By John Lee. The International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), conducted a five-day training workshop in Erbil to equip Iraqi financial institutions with the expertise required to develop green microfinance products supporting sustainable small and medium-sized enterprises. Participants […]

SCOP Completes Gas Pipeline Crossing Under Tigris River

By John Lee. The State Company for Oil Projects (SCOP) has completed a major horizontal directional drilling (HDD) operation to lay a 42-inch gas pipeline beneath the Tigris River in the Sayafiyah area, as part of the Mahmudiya-Bismayah project. The crossing spans 600 metres in length and reaches a depth of 22 metres, making it the […]

Iraq Launches Water Initiative to Safeguard Tigris and Euphrates

By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has launched the Regional Initiative to Protect the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers under the slogan "Our Water... Our Future," during the Fifth Baghdad International Water Conference, held under the theme "Water and Technology: A Partnership for Development." The initiative represents a strategic regional platform to preserve the […]

Iraq's Oil Ministry Outlines Roadmap for Carbon Emissions Reduction

By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Oil has presented a strategic roadmap to reduce carbon emissions in the oil sector, structured around three core pillars: reducing flared gas, utilising gas and cutting methane emissions, and electrifying oil production operations to lower the carbon footprint. The plan was outlined by Abdulbaqi Khalaf, Energy Advisor to […]

Will Provincial Crises come to haunt Alliances in Baghdad?

From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Deep Dive: Will provincial crises come to haunt alliances in Baghdad? Across Iraq, governorate-level politics are broadly in a shambolic state. After being pushed back in 2019 amid anti-corruption protests, the 2023 provincial […]

Iraq signs HOA with KBR, Dragon Oil, and Al Hurra

By John Lee. Dhi Qar Oil Company (DQOC) has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with a consortium comprising KBR (USA), Dragon Oil (UAE), and Al Hurra International to develop the Abu Amoud and Saba [Subba] oilfields in Dhi Qar Governorate. The project will be undertaken as an integrated investment venture. The signing ceremony took […]