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CEOs Attending IAECL Cargo Exhibition

State authorities and CEOs of all major airports in Iraq will congregate at the Iraq airports expansion ,cargo ,logistics conference. The Ministers and the CEOs who have expressed their interest to participate are , Minister of Housing & Reconstruction- H.E.Kamaran Ahmed Abdullah , Minister of Interior, Kurdistan - H.E.Karim Sinjari,Minister of Trade and Industry - […]

Terrorist Attack Shuts Baiji Refinery

Gunmen shot their way into Baiji [Bayji] refinery early on Saturday, killing five members of staff, according to the Washington Post. Guards killed two of the gunmen, but the rest escaped. The gang set off explosions that forced the facility to shut down for at least two weeks, officials said. Baiji, situated about 150 miles […]

Iraq Protests Continue on Saturday

Al Jazeera reports that at least 12 protesters were shot dead by security forces during Friday's 'day of rage', during which at least 17 demonstrations were held throughout Iraq. Iraqi security forces detained hundreds of people, including prominent journalists, artists and intellectuals, according to a report from the Washington Post. Four journalists described being rounded […]

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Akkas Gas Deal Delayed Again

The long-awaited signing of the deal to develop Iraq's Akkas gas field in Anbar province has been delayed again. An Iraqi Oil Ministry spokesman said it was delayed because of disagreements about what the local government gets from the deal, according to Associated Press reports. An initial agreement to develop the 5.6 trillion cubic foot […]

Jail for British Sanction-Breaker (71)

Riad El-Taher has been jailed for 10 months for making illegal payments to the Iraqi Government of Saddam Hussein in contravention of United Nations sanctions and UK law Riad El-Taher, a British citizen aged 71 from Esher, Surrey, has admitted that in 2001 he made four illegal payments totalling over $500,000 to the Iraqi Government […]

Friday's Day of Rage in Iraq

Friday, billed as a 'day of rage' in Iraq, saw protests throughout the country despite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki urging people to not participate in the protests for security reasons. Baghdad: The center of the city was 'virtually locked down' on Friday. Demonstrators trying to get across a bridge going from the square to the […]

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Detailed New Briefing Paper on Iraq

The United Nations has prepared a comprehensive Briefing Book on Iraq, and presented it to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The book is comprised of two parts: The first part addresses key policy issues, including: macroeconomic challenges, development planning and prioritization, governance and public sector reform, anti-corruption, private sector development, social protection and the challenges of […]

Iraq Visa Requirements Change

By Marko Lukic. Iraq's once easy-going visa regime has tightened up, leading to protests from foreign ambassadors. In early 2010, the visa process to enter Iraq was both liberal and easily accessible, taking only around 24 to 72 hours to go through the relevant procedures and paperwork. Officials were so flexible in fact, that expats […]

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MSMEs – A Prerequisite for Inclusive Economic Development

By T. Keyzom Ngodup, co-founder and Executive Director at Ideas sYnergy, an Iraq based private sector development consulting company. Recent demonstrations across the country in Sulimaniya, Kirkuk, Basra, Kut and other provinces are indicative of the growing disenchantment among the youth who are often jobless or underemployed despite Iraq’s tremendous oil and gas resources. According […]

A Week of Surprises

With popular uprisings sweeping across the Middle East in recent weeks, Iraq too has seen its share of protests, but the focus here is different. Rather than trying to bring down the (elected) government, the people are expressing their anger at problems such as unemployment, sub-standard public services, scarcity of food, and the corruption and […]

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Fluor Wins Contract at West Qurna I

Fluor Corporation has announced that ExxonMobil Iraq Limited has awarded the firm an early works program contract for the West Qurna (Phase I) field near Basra, Iraq. The engineering, procurement, construction and management contract is a reimbursable continuing services agreement for oil field and related infrastructure development with an expected duration of three years. Fluor […]

WesternZagros to Raise C$40m in Share Placing

WesternZagros Resources has announced its intention to raise C$40 million in a brokered private placement of common shares. The funds will be raised through a syndicate of agents led by TD Securities Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc. (the "Agents") on an overnight-marketed best efforts basis (the "Offering"). WesternZagros has also granted the Agents an option […]