Author Archive | Editor

"No Appropriate Time" to Delete Zeros from Iraqi Dinar

By John Lee. MP Abdul Hussein Raisan, of the Ahrar bloc, has said that deleting the three zeros from the Iraqi currency was "inappropriate due to the present economic conditions". Citing a lack of real reforms in the banking sector, he said that the economic situation is not suitable for such a change, according to a […]

Pathfinder Matchmaking Trade Mission to Erbil

Following the success of the Pathfinder Trade Mission to Kurdistan earlier this year, Pathfinder Trade and Invest invites you to join its September high level Trade and Investment Mission to Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. The programme will include an important round table discussion with the Erbil Chamber business members, meetings with Government Ministers and Ministries as […]

Political Crisis Cancelled, Provincial Elections Next in Iraq?

By Reidar Visser. The following article was published by Reidar Visser, an historian of Iraq educated at the University of Oxford and currently based at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. It is reproduced here with the author’s permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq […]

India's Reliance Globalcom sets up Iraq Subsea Broadband Link

By John Lee. India's Reliance Globalcom, the underseas cable unit of Reliance Communications, has said it has launched a joint venture with the Iraqi Telecommunications and Post Company (ITPC) that substantially expands the country's broadband and telecommunications links to the outside world. By activating the Al-Faw Cable Landing Station (CLS), the venture will connect Iraq […]

Iran Discovers More Oil on Iraqi Border

By John Lee. Bloomberg reports that Iran has discovered crude reserves near its western Yadavaran oil field along the border with Iraq. Iran's Oil Minister, Rostam Qasemi (pictured), said the discovery of the deposits will add as much as 6 billion barrels to Iran's recoverable reserves. The Yadavaran field, which the country shares with Iraq, […]

Sonoro Update on Iraqi Progress

Sonoro Energy recently announced the following operational and corporate updates. Drilling Rig As previously announced on June 12, 2012, Sonoro and its partners entered into an agreement to establish a joint venture company ("JV Co") and purchase a 750 HP drilling rig, subject to certain conditions including a final satisfactory rig inspection. JV Co has […]

Video: Is Iraq a Failing State?

By John Lee. "Is Iraq a failing state, or has it already failed", asks Peter Lavelle on Russia Today's Crosstalk programme. Discussing the question are Robert Maginnis, Douglas Ollivant and John Glaser.

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Basra Oil to be Exported via Turkey?

By John Lee. Turkey's Energy Minister, Taner Yildiz, said the ministry has started technical work with Iraq's central government on shipping crude oil from Basra, in southern Iraq, via the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline to Turkey's Mediterranean coast, according to Reuters. The announcement came days after the KRG said it might sell natural gas directly to Turkey […]

Iraq Watchdog to Fine Zain for Failing to List

By John Lee. Following its recent fine on mobile phone operators Asiacell and Korek, Iraq's communications regulator is to fine Zain Iraq $12,864 a day since September of last year for failing to list on the country's stock exchange, according to Reuters. The three companies are required to list on the local stock exchange as […]

Iraq Re-Invites Bids for 44,000 Tons of Steel Products

By John Lee. Iraq has reportedly re-invited bidders to supply 44,000 metric tons of steel products, having received no bids when it first sought offers a month ago. The products include plain galvanized sheets and hollow window sections, said Trade Ministry spokeswoman Fawziyeh Hameed. According to a report from Bloomberg, the deadlines for bids are: […]

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Details Nearly Finalised for Diwaniya Housing Project

By Padraig O'Hannelly. Early last year, Iraq Business News interviewed Mohammed Alkhouzai, the head AMH Group, which, which along with a consortium of multinational companies was preparing to break ground on an exciting new project to build more than 10,000 housing units in Diwaniya. I spoke recently with Mr Alkhouzai, who confirmed that they are […]