Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraq banking & finance news, with information on developments and opportunities.
By John Lee. The Real Estate Bank of Iraq has unveiled its strategic plan for 2025, focusing on expanding financial services, digital transformation, and green financing. Director General Abbas Shihab Al-Jawahiri chaired a meeting with department heads, branch managers, and unit officials to review progress in 2024 and set priorities for 2025. According to a […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Higher Committee for Tax Reform has announced a 22-percent increase in tax revenues, reaching IQD 4 trillion [$3 billion] in 2024, as the country moves towards digitising its tax system to address name duplication issues and improve efficiency. According to state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), Khalid Al-Jabri, a committee member, stated […]
By John Lee. In line with directives from the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), Al-Rafidain Bank has announced the launch of the first issuance of national bonds worth IQD 2 trillion [$1.5 billion]. The issuance period runs from February 10 to March 10, 2025. The bonds are available in two […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has concluded its first quarterly meetings of 2025 with the US Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Bank, held in Dubai, UAE, with participation from international auditing and consulting firms EY (Ernst & Young), K2 Integrity (K2i), and Oliver Wyman. Key highlights from the meetings included: […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced General Tender No. (1/2025) for the supply, installation, and operation of 65 currency counting and sorting machines for its branches in Basra (35 units) and Mosul (30 units). The contract, with an estimated value of IQD 1.134 billion (approx. $865,000), will be financed from […]
By John Lee. Iraq has agreed to forgive 80% of Mozambique's bilateral debt, with the remaining 20% restructured over 15 years, following a four-year grace period (2029-2043). The original debt of $60.26 million was incurred in 1979-1980 for oil supply agreements but had grown in the meantime to $320.16 million. Under the agreement, $256.13 million […]
By John Lee. Germany's Frankfurt School of Finance and Management has won a contract with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to, "enhance the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Iraqi Company for Bank Guarantees (ICBG)." The contract value was not disclosed. According to information provided by the UN, the project has four primary objectives: Optimize […]
By John Lee. Standard Chartered has successfully arranged a $95-million term loan for the Iraqi Ministry of Finance, supporting the supply of five electrical substations across northern and southern Iraq. The financing, backed by a 100% UK Export Finance (UKEF) guarantee, covers both political and commercial risks. The Ministry of Electricity will use the funds […]
By John Lee. S&P Global Ratings has affirmed its 'B-' long-term and 'B' short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Iraq. "The outlook is stable," it added. More details, including economic stats, here. (Source: S&P Global Ratings)
By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Finance met with a delegation from the German Agency for International Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ), the European Union, and the German Embassy in Baghdad, alongside representatives from the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), the Federal Integrity Commission, the Federal Board of Supreme Audit (FBSA), and the […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi government, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), has launched a strategic initiative to modernise the country's banking sector. The reforms aim to enhance banking standards, strengthen financial resilience, and improve Iraq's integration with global financial systems. Key pillars of the initiative include: Governance and Ownership: Strengthening transparency […]
From Rudaw. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq imports over 50 kilograms of gold daily: Ministry Iraq imports between 50 to 75 kilograms of gold daily excluding the Kurdistan Region, the planning ministry said on Wednesday, adding that gold imports are […]
