Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraq banking & finance news, with information on developments and opportunities.
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani chaired a special meeting on the Sovereign Guarantees Initiative, attended by the Minister of Finance, the Director General of Public Debt at the Ministry, the Head of the Sovereign Guarantees Committee, the President of the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI), and a number of advisers. The meeting […]
By John Lee. The Arab Energy Fund has led and closed a $346 million reserve-based lending (RBL) facility for Kuwait Energy Basra Limited (KEBL), operator of Block 9 (Faihaa Field) in Basra and a wholly owned subsidiary of China's United Energy Group Limited (UEG). The financing will support the next phase of expansion and development […]
By John Lee. The Second Karkh Investigative Court has recovered IQD 30 billion (approximately $23 million) in connection with a financial fraud case. According to a statement issued by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), the amount was recovered from a company that violated the law by exploiting exchange rate differences in foreign currency transfers conducted […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has issued guidance to licensed banks and non-bank financial institutions clarifying that no distinction should be made between old and new US dollar banknote series in exchange transactions. The Bank stressed the need to limit practices involving differential exchange rates between various US dollar print editions, […]
By John Lee. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched its SME finance and development programmes in Iraq, including the rollout of its flagship Star Venture initiative for high-potential startups. An official event in Baghdad marked the launch, outlining the Bank's strategic priorities and planned projects to strengthen the country's small and medium-sized […]
By John Lee. Rafidain Bank recorded more than IQD 841 billion (approximately USD 641.98 million) in electronic collection settlements on behalf of government entities during January 2026, reflecting continued expansion of digital payment systems. The bank said a total of 73,226 electronic settlements were processed the month, indicating growing adoption of digital collection services. It […]
By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has launched the e-Psule platform, a unified digital system for issuing government payment receipts, as part of efforts to modernise public financial services and reduce reliance on cash-based and paper processes. The platform has been officially approved by the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and is designed […]
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. Recent media reports have flagged up the growing gap between the official dinar exchange rate and its value in the informal market - see here and here. In his latest monthly investment report for Iraq Business News, Ahmed Tabaqchali attributes the fall in the dinar to the behaviour of certain importers following […]
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. "Equity Market Discounts Regional Tensions" The market, as measured by the Rabee Securities U.S. Dollar Equity Index (RSISX USD Index), was down 0.9% for the month, on […]
From Shafaq. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Liquidity shortfall freezes lending at Iraq's state banks Government lending programs remained suspended on Thursday as Iraq's state-owned banks, most notably Rafidain Bank and Rasheed Bank, continued to halt advances and loans due to […]
By John Lee. Discussions were held on supporting monetary and economic stability and strengthening strategic cooperation between Iraq and the United States. The Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), Ali Mohsen Ismail Al-Alaq, met the Chargé d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Iraq, Joshua Harris, on Thursday, to review prospects for enhancing […]
