Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraq banking & finance news, with information on developments and opportunities.
By John Lee. Mobile operator Zain has hired Melak Investments and Rabee Securities as the leading adviser and broker to lead the initial public offering (IPO) of its shares. According to a report from The National, Melak Investments is run by the Iraq-born former Franklin Templeton asset manager Shwan Taha, who also founded Rabee Securities. Last […]
By John Lee. The Zambian Secretary to the Treasury, Fredson Yamba (pictured), says Government has not serviced the US$296 million debt owed to Brazil, China and Iraq as at December 2012. According to the report from Zambia Daily Herald, Mr Yamba said Brazil, China and Iraq are the only three remaining bilateral creditors that are […]
By John Lee. Ohio based publication The Toledo Blade has reported the beginning of a new trial of three local men accused of intentionally deceiving investors with the now familiar refrain that the Iraqi dinar will dramatically revalue. The accused ran a firm BH Group along with two hedge funds, with one defendant allegedly lying about fighting in Iraq. […]
By John Lee. Iraq is introducing new Iraqi Dinar notes with improved security features, such as guarantee ribbons and the internationally used SPARK feature. The Central Bank of Iraq treasury director Ihsan Shamran al-Yasseri announced the move, noting that this was a positive step forward that would help strengthen the currency. The new notes, to […]
By John Lee. Lebanese banks intend to expand their operations in Iraq, the president of the Association of Banks in Lebanon said on Friday. Addressing a Lebanese-Iraqi banking conference in Beirut, Francois Bassil said: “The size of the Lebanese banks in Iraq may be too small compared to the huge Iraqi market. "Iraq’s seven state-owned […]
Like a replay of the Great Depression, a bank in Iraq went under in 2010, nearly taking millions of American dollars with it. According to a report from the Washington Times, Iraq's Al-Warka Bank was already having stability problems when the U.S. began to close all its accounts as part of the withdrawal of troops […]
By John Lee. The Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) is the latest bank to expand business in Iraq, according to a report from The National. Currently the only UAE lender to operate in Iraq, ADIB plans to open a branch in Basra before the end of the year after it opened a branch in Erbil […]
By John Lee. The Deputy Transport Minister, Bangen Rekani, has told Bloomberg that Iraq will seek $2 billion in financing to cover part of the cost of the 40 jets it has on order from Boeing. Iraq ordered 30 737-800s in 2008, followed by 10 787-8 long-haul Dreamliners in 2009, and a single 777 in 2012 -- […]
By John Lee. The Erbil Stock Exchange (ESX) is reportedly due to start operations in the fourth quarter of this year. Ahmed Abdul Rahim Abdullah, Director General of the stock market in Kurdistan, confirmed the schedule to Shafaq News. It is understood that some of the work is being carried out by Nasdaq. (Source: Shafaaq)
By John Lee. The delay in adopting Iraq's federal budget, in large part due to the dispute between Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government over oil exports and revenues, has reduced banking activity in the KRG by up to 25%, according to Adham Karim Darwesh. Darwesh, the manager of the Erbil branch of the Central Bank […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq has purchased 36 tonnes of gold valued at $1.6bn to help stabilise the Dinar against foreign currencies, Bloomberg reports. Iraq is now the 43rd largest holder of gold reserves globally, having already held 29.8 tonnes as of August last year, but the latest purchase is one of the biggest by […]
A delegation from the UK Export Finance Department visited the Kurdistan Department of Foreign Relations to discuss opportunities for building further relations with Kurdistan in various fields of infrastructure and investment. The UK delegation was led by Steve Dodgson, the Business Group Director of UK Export Finance and included the British Consul General, Hugh Evans […]
