Iraq Business News brings you the latest news of investments in Iraq, highlighting the many opportunities that exist.
As widely reported, anticipation is building around the current preparation by the Iraqi Government for the auction of oil and gas exploration in January 2012. The auction will tender 12 exploration blocs covering 31,500 square miles and will be awarded to international companies interested in investing in the region. With Iraq seeking increasing support from […]
The 'Investment in Iraq' Summit recently concluded in Dubai and organized by Range Hospitality highlighted that Iraq has some of the most favorable foreign investment laws in the Middle East, making Iraq one of its most lucrative markets. The summit witnessed keen participation from over 100 decision makers, entrepreneurs and investors representing diverse business backgrounds. […]
US companies are put off from investing in Kurdistan by security fears, even though the Iraqi region is relatively safe and stable. Iranian businesses are more aware of the lower risks in this part of the country and are desperate to invest and take advantage of its heavy investment and rapid growth, despite tax and […]
Tony Blair's former political strategist, John McTernan, has said that, since the UK's troops are leaving, "our businesses should head there." The last 100 UK troops, who were training domestic forces, pull out on Sunday. Writing for The Telegraph, he stated about the Iraq War: "The first thing to be noted is that our intervention […]
May 12 was the last day of trading for Mosul Bank (BMFI) ahead of its proposed merger with Union Bank (BUOI). The stock closed up 7% bringing its year-to-date gain to 29%. BUOI ended the day unchanged and is up only 12% year-to-date. While the deal is being described as a merger, it would in […]
Nineveh signed more reconstruction project contracts with international firms in the past financial year than any other Iraqi province, said the provincial governor on Sunday. Athiel al-Nujaifi told AKnews that a total of 44 companies from around the have undertaken major reconstruction projects in the province in the fields of tourism, industry, public services and […]
By the end of next month, the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) is requiring all private-sector banks to increase capital to IQD 100 bn. The banks were originally supposed to have reached this target by the end of last year but so few could have managed it that the CBI had to give them an […]
ShaMaran Petroleum Corp. has announced on Monday that it intends to apply for a secondary listing of its Common Shares on the First North list of the Nasdaq OMX Stock Exchange in Stockholm, Sweden. E. Ohman J:or Fondkommission AB has been engaged as the Company’s financial advisor in connection with the secondary listing. Trading on […]
On April 24, the ISX website reported that Mosul Bank (BMFI) will hold a general assembly meeting on May 22 to discuss a possible merger with Union Bank (BUOI). A capital increase via a rights and bonus issue is also on the agenda. The evident objective of such a merger would be to satisfy the […]
Iraq Business News' media partners at fDi Intelligence, by the Financial Times, have issued their new "Global Outlook Report 2011". The report finds that foreign direct investment projects into Iraq increased by 175% in 2010, albeit from a very low base. Iraq attracted 7% of FDI into the Middle East region in 2010, up from […]
The National Investment Commission (NIC) is getting ready to adopt the 'COMFAR' computer program to evaluate the feasibility of investment projects submitted to the commission. The commission describes it as a "digital process that is adopted in most of the developed countries". An NIC official source said that this program is prepared by the United […]
As part of the reform program announced by President of Iraqi Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani (pictured), and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), all land allocations to private companies and investors have been suspended for two months, pending a new, more efficient mechanism for land allocations. This decision excludes agricultural and industrial projects, as well as projects […]
