Archive | Iraq Industry & Trade News

Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraq Industry & Trade News, with information on developments and opportunities.

Iraq Set to Expand Free Trade Zones

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. Iraq, with its privileged geographical location, plans to improve the performance of its three free-trade zones. It also intends to establish new free-trade zones as part of efforts to diversify its […]

Canada Opens Diplomatic Mission in Iraq

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird (pictured), issued the following statement on Monday: “Today’s opening is a historic milestone in Canadian relations with Iraq and comes at a pivotal moment. Ten years after the Iraqi intervention, Iraq is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, despite deep and lingering sectarian tensions. “With conflict raging […]

Caliburger to Franchise in Iraq

By John Lee. Chinese fast-food chain CaliBurger has announced that it has signed a franchise agreement to begin opening CaliBurger restaurants in Kuwait and Iraq. According to a report from Fast Casual, the franchisee, Ali Hashem, will have rights to open multiple units in Kuwait and serve as the master franchisee for Iraq. Hashem is […]

Iraqi Delegation Meets Arab Leaders

By John Lee. During its participation in the 24th Arab Summit held in Doha, the Iraqi delegation headed by His Excellency the Vice President Dr. Khudair al Khuzaie, with Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and their accompanying delegation, met a number of Arab kings, presidents and leaders. The delegation met Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa […]

Zebari Delivers Arab Summit Presidency to Qatar

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari headed the Arab League Council at the ministerial level on Sunday. In the opening session minister Zebari gave a speech in which he stressed the achievements of the Iraq's presidency to the 23rd Arab Summit, indicating the Iraq's positions towards the issues of the Arab region, particularly the Palestinian issue and […]

DoubleTree by Hilton Announces Growth In Kurdistan

Hilton Worldwide today announced its expansion in Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan into the city of Sulaymaniyah following the signing of a management agreement with Kurdonia Company for Tourism & Hospitality Ltd, owned fully by Hiwa Rauf Company. The new build, 223-room DoubleTree by Hilton Sulaymaniyah is expected to open early 2015. The hotel will […]

KRG PM Barzani’s Speech in Reichstag Building

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen Thank you for inviting me to address this important forum on energy and foreign policy. We in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have a great respect for Germany, one of the world’s most successful and established federal democracies. Ten years ago, the US and its allies removed Saddam Hussein from […]

Contractors Get $138bn from Iraq War

By John Lee. Research by the Financial Times shows that the top 10 American and foreign contractors in Iraq have secured business worth at least $72 billion between them, with the total for all contractors coming in at $138 billion. Top of the list is KBR (formerly Kellogg Brown and Root), which was once run […]

Italy Considers Kurdistan "Gateway to Iraq"

By John Lee. Italy’s new ambassador to Iraq, Massimo Marotti (shown here presenting his credentials to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hoshyar Zebari, in January), has said that Italy considers the Kurdistan Region as the “gateway” to Iraq. On a recent visit to Erbil, he said: "Trade between the Kurdistan Region and Italy has reached $4 billion […]