Archive | Iraq Industry & Trade News

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

IBBC appoints new Baghdad Office Manager

From the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC): IBBC appoints Ali Mashkour as its new Baghdad Office Manager. Ali Mashkour joins IBBC from member company MHD International. He is Iraqi British and has been based in Baghdad for the past ten years, working in projects across infrastructure, security, transport and government sectors, managing multi-disciplinary teams and engaging senior stakeholders […]

Iraq Investment Forum Postponed

By John Lee. Iraq's National Investment Commission (NIC) has announced the postponement of the Iraq Investment Forum, which had been scheduled to take place on 14-15 June 2025. The announcement attributed the delay to "unforeseen organisational and technical reasons," but it is generally understood to be due to the rapid escalation of tensions in the […]

Iraq Approves Measures to Boost Domestic Industrial Oil Production

By John Lee. The Iraqi Cabinet has approved the recommendations of the committee tasked with reviewing and addressing issues related to locally produced and imported industrial oils, as part of broader efforts to strengthen the domestic manufacturing sector. Key decisions include: Formation of a committee chaired by the Deputy Minister of Oil, with members from […]

World Bank Cuts Iraq Growth Forecast

By John Lee. Real GDP in Iraq is expected to increase by 1.2 percent this year, according to the World Bank's latest Global Economic Prospects report. This represents a significant reduction on the previous forecast of 3.5 percent growth, issued in January. The report says: "In non-GCC oil exporters, current account balances are expected to deteriorate, mainly […]

Iraq Imposes Additional Tariffs on Imported Beverage Cans

By John Lee. As part of efforts to protect domestic industry, the Iraqi Cabinet has approved the imposition of an additional 20% customs duty on imported aluminium cans used for carbonated beverages, juices, and energy drinks. This brings the total tariff to 50% per unit of measurement, applicable to imports from all countries and origins. […]

Iraq sets New Guidelines for Awarding Investment Licences

By John Lee. Ahead of the upcoming Iraq Investment Forum scheduled for Saturday, the Iraqi Cabinet has approved a set of legal and procedural mechanisms governing the presentation and awarding of investment opportunities. The Council of Ministers issued the following decisions: Adoption of competitive evaluation criteria in cases where multiple companies apply for the same […]

Iraq Advances Legal Framework for Development Road Project

By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired a meeting on Wednesday to review the legal framework governing the Development Road Project and its associated initiatives. The Prime Minister received a detailed briefing from the project team on legal and technical requirements, including construction standards and operational procedures. He emphasised the need to urgently […]

Iraqi Private Sector Faces Four Key Challenges, Says Professor

By John Lee. The Iraqi private sector confronts significant obstacles that must be addressed to unlock the country's economic potential, according to Professor Frank Gunter of Lehigh University, speaking at the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) Spring Conference in London recently. Professor Gunter identified four critical challenges hampering private enterprise development in Iraq: Finance: Iraqi […]

Iran Proposes Joint AI Centre with Iraq on Gulf Island

By John Lee. Hussein Afshin, Assistant to the Iranian President for Scientific and Technical Affairs and the Knowledge Economy, has reportedly proposed establishing a joint Iran-Iraq artificial intelligence (AI) centre on one of Iran's islands. Speaking during a meeting in Tehran with Ali Razzouqi, Deputy Head of the Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Afshin […]