Archive | Iraq Banking & Finance News

Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraq banking & finance news, with information on developments and opportunities.

UN Identifies Iraq Investment Opportunities

By John Lee. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has issued a new 49-page report on investment opportunities aligned with Iraq's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in target markets and sectors. The report identifies investment opportunities in the following areas: Food Processing Mid-tech Greenhouses Specialty Dairy Products EdTech Platforms Low-fee Private Schools Education Infrastructure Utility-scale Solar […]

Iraq Allocates $2.3bn to Facilitate Housing Loans

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has decided to allocate additional funding amounting to approximately 3 trillion dinars [$2.3 billion] to facilitate housing loans through the Real Estate Bank and the Iraqi Housing Fund, supporting the government's housing initiatives. According to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), the Central Bank has instructed […]

EU Praises Iraq's National Bank Lending Strategy

By John Lee. In a significant step toward bolstering Iraq's financial sector, EU Delegation to Iraq Chargé d'affaires Mr. David Healy has expressed support for the launch of the Central Bank of Iraq's (CBI) National Strategy for Bank Lending for 2024-2029. This strategic initiative, developed under the EU and Germany co-funded project "Strengthening Public Finances […]

Iraqi Dinar: IBBC issues Major New Paper on De-Dollarisation of Iraq

From the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC): Professor Frank Gunter launches a new white paper on de dollarisation of Iraqi economy Professor Frank Gunter publishes a new paper commissioned as part of a series by IBBC's advisory council on the challenges of de-dollarisation for Iraq. The Advisory Council members and IBBC members have actively contributed […]

Billion-Euro Boost to Italy-Iraq Trade

By John Lee. SACE the state-owned Italian insurance and financial group, which specialise in supporting Italian companies and the national economy, has entered an agreement with the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) to support the development of the private sector in Iraq by promoting Made in Italy exports to the country, with a total value […]

Trade Bank of Iraq to join My Account

By John Lee. The Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) is joining My Account, the Kurdistan Region's "salary domiciliation program." A statement from the KRG said: "Following the instructions of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, representatives from the Kurdistan Regional Government and My Account program held several meetings this week with representatives of the Trade Bank of […]

Japan's JICA Continues Support to Iraq

By John Lee. Under the auspices of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, a memorandum of cooperation was signed today between the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning Mohammed Tamim, and the Prime Minister's Technical Advisor Mohammed Sahib al-Daraji. The agreement […]

Financial Literacy for a Sustainable Future in Iraq

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), with the support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), are partnering to empower individuals and businesses in southern Iraq with financial literacy skills. A week-long initiative kicked off in Al-Muthanna governorate this week aligns with the CBI's broader Financial Inclusion Week […]

Iraq in talks with Japan on Project Funding

By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Planning held a meeting with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to discuss the possibility of continued loans to fund new development projects in Iraq. These projects cover sectors such as health, electricity, sanitation, and the Basra refinery. Dr. Maher Hamad Johan, the ministry's Undersecretary for Technical Affairs, […]

$600m Iraqi Dinar Forex Scandal

By Dana Taib Menmy for The New Arab. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's Federal Board of Supreme Audit exposes US$600 million corruption scandal involving 'ghost travellers' Over 151,000 Iraqi citizens acquired US currency at the official rate for travel but […]

Tax in Iraq: IMF Identifies 6 areas for Reform

By John Lee. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has published a "High Level Summary Technical Assistance Report" looking at the tax system in Iraq. The report identifies six core reform areas: Establishing a reliable taxpayer base; Improving core functions through implementation of the SA system; Focusing on large taxpayers' compliance; Organizational design and workforce planning; […]