Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraq banking & finance news, with information on developments and opportunities.
Singapore-based Sansar Capital Management has issued a comprehensive new report on the Iraqi banking sector. The report finds that while the mix of an improving macro environment and security situation offer attractive investment ingredients, many challenges remain for those interested in participating through public markets. Nevertheless, Iraq remains one of the most under-banked countries in […]
By Omar al-Shaher for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. According to experts, the hard-currency auction governed by the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) — the authority in charge of implementing monetary policy in the country — has ushered in the […]
By John Lee. UK-based banking giant HSBC has said it is reviewing its operations in Iraq. Simon Cooper (pictured), chief executive for the Middle East and North Africa, told reporters in Dubai: "In terms of Iraq, it's a market that we will continue to review." According to a report from Reuters, he did not elaborate […]
By John Lee. Iraq Business News is growing. Less than three months ago, the list of subscribers to our free weekly newsletter hit 13,000 -- last week we topped 15,000! To put it another way, every working day forty new readers join the ranks of the best-informed business minds in Iraq. Many of these join on […]
The Louis Berger Group has announced that it will help the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to start up the Erbil Stock Exchange (ESX) in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, a joint endeavor of the Iraqi government and private sector to build a modern securities market. “The launch of the ESX initiative is yet another testimony of the […]
By Marc Snaid. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced that the introduction of the new Iraqi currency has been further delayed due to teething problems with the cutting-edge technology that it will employ. Radical new functionality including fingerprint recognition and near-field communication (NFC) promises to create a world-leading new monetary system, which will […]
By John Lee. Standard Chartered bank plans to expand operations in Iraq this year. The firm's regional head, Christos Papadopoulos (pictured), told Reuters in an interview: "The amount of economic activity in Iraq now is substantial. We always wanted to be onshore in Iraq. It was never a question of if but a question of […]
By Matthew Gayle. The Burgan Bank Group announced that it has won Global Banking and Finance Review's award for Best Banking in MENA (Middle East and North Africa) for the second year in a row. The award was given to Burgan Bank Group in recognition of its performance in 2012, and its consistent delivery of sound […]
By Omar al-Shaher for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. There were conflicting accounts of the reasons for the rise in the value of the US dollar against the Iraqi dinar earlier this month. Politicians and economists have said that Iranian […]
By John Lee. Warka Bank has issued the following statement with regard to its legal case against the Central Bank of Iraq: "With regards to the legal court case Warka Bank for Investment and Finance has filed against the Central Bank of Iraq Warka Bank for Investment and Finance is delighted to inform its cliental, […]
Italy’s new ambassador to Iraq last week visited the Kurdistan Region for the first time and met President Masoud Barzani. He came with a delegation from SACE, Italy’s export credit and project finance agency. President Barzani and Ambassador Massimo Marroti, who arrived from Baghad, discussed bilateral relations and explored ways to further strengthen ties. Their […]
By Omar al-Shaher for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The controversial Iraqi Sunni politician Ahmed al-Alwani, who is president of the Economic Commission in the Iraqi parliament, ridiculed the notion that if Anbar province gains autonomy, its economy will be […]
