Archive | Iraq Industry & Trade News

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

Jordanian Companies in Kurdistan to Double by End-2011

The Kurdistan Regional Government's Minister of Trade, Sinan Chalaby [Chalabi], told AKnews that the number of Jordanian companies in Iraqi Kurdistan is expected to double by the end of the year. Currently 50 Jordanian companies do business in the Kuristan Region. According to Chalabi, this figure is expected to increase to 100 by the end […]

Baroness Nicholson Apologises for British Visa System

Baroness Emma Nicholson, Executive Chairman of the Iraq-British Business Council (IBBC), has apologised for the complexity and inefficiency of the British visa system. Addressing the opening of the Iraq Mining 2011 conference in London, the Baroness described the visa system as an inhibitor rather than a facilitator of business interests. Several Iraqi delegates to the […]

Ex-Iraq Official Slams Leaders over Graft

Iraq's former anti-corruption chief slammed its leaders Monday, describing graft as "part of the struggle for power", according to a report from AFP. Rahim Hassan al-Uqailee [Judge Rahim al-Akili; al-Ugeily], who last week stepped down as head of Iraq's Integrity Commission, sharply criticised interference in his inquiries, and said he had lost political support for […]

Dr Sami al-Araji Speaks with Iraq Business News

Following his address to the Iraq Mining 2011 conference in London, the Chairman of Iraq's National Investment Commission, Dr Sami al-Araji, was interviewed by Padraig O'Hannelly for Iraq Business News: Iraq Business News: Dr al-Araji, in your speech you mentioned the visa problems that Iraqis sometimes have entering the UK; what some businesses are also […]

Hilton Worldwide To Open Hotel in Erbil

Hilton Worldwide is set to open its first hotel in Erbil, the flourishing capital city of Iraqi Kurdistan, under a management agreement with New York based real estate developer The Claremont Group. Comprising of 200 serviced apartments, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Erbil is expected to open at the end of 2013. The new hotel will […]

Oil, Power and Ports: Iraq and Kuwait Bicker Over Border Areas

According to lawmakers, the border area between Kuwait and Iraq should no longer be disputed territory. However Iraqi locals see it differently and accuse Kuwait of blocking their waterways, stealing their oil and teaching their children untruths about the area, according to this report from Niqash. As dusk falls along the southern borders that Iraq […]

Iraqi F-16 Deal Making "Significant Progress"

Washington and Baghdad have made significant progress on a deal for Iraq to buy Lockheed Martin F-16 warplanes but do not have a signed contract, according to Bloomberg. In February the Iraqi government delayed its planned purchase of F-16s and diverted $900 million set aside for an initial payment on the aircraft into its national […]

Basra Blocks $500m Hyundai Deal Because of Kuwaiti Port

Officials in Basra have reportedly blocked a $500m power generation deal with Korea's Hyundai, because of the company's involvement with the controversial Mubarak Port in Kuwait. The project was due to be launched on Thursday. Ayad al-Amara, an official spokesman for Basra Governorate told AKnews that the Governorate has decided to stop work with all […]

$30-$60 Billion Wasted in Iraq, Afghan Contracts

The final report of the congressionally chartered US Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan says at least $31 billion has been lost to contract waste and fraud, and that major reforms are required. Commission reform objectives include improving federal planning for use of contracts, strengthening contract management and oversight, expanding competition, improving interagency […]

KBR Wins 3-Year UK Govt Deal in Iraq

KBR (NYSE: KBR) has announced that it has been selected by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to provide life support, vehicle maintenance and healthcare services across Baghdad, Basra and Erbil in Iraq, and Kabul and Lashkar Gah in Afghanistan. This builds on KBR’s existing relationship with FCO delivering services in challenging environments. The […]