Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraq banking & finance news, with information on developments and opportunities.
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced a new initiative to support clean energy solutions, aligning with global sustainability efforts and the environmental policies of central banks worldwide. As part of its renewable energy initiative, CBI will offer low-interest loans to local brick factories, enabling them to switch from high-pollution fuel […]
By Ahmed Tabaqchali, Chief Strategist of AFC Iraq Fund. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Banks End a Second Year with a Bang The market, as measured by the Rabee Securities U.S. Dollar Equity Index (RSISX USD Index), continued with the process […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has decided to revoke the licence of Al-Tufan Company for Currency Exchange and Brokerage due to what it describes as violations of Regulation No. (1) of 2022, which governs the operations of exchange and brokerage firms in Iraq. Click here to see the full statement from […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has reported a 5.4-percent increase in banking sector loans and advances in Q4 2024, reaching IQD 64.12 trillion [$49 billion], up from IQD 60.81 trillion in the same period of 2023. According to state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), the CBI noted that this growth reflects improved […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has reported a 45.1-percent increase in its gold reserves in Q4 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Reserves rose from IQD 12.29 trillion in Q4 2023 to IQD 17.83 trillion [$13.6 billion] in Q4 2024, driven by both an increase in gold holdings and […]
By John Lee. In his speech to a conference in Baghdad, Ali Mohsen Al-Allaq, Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), highlighted significant progress in digital payments, citing an increase in ATMs and e-wallets, which helped boost financial inclusion to 40% from 20% in just two years, supported by CBI initiatives. He noted that […]
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 […]
