Archive | Investment

Iraq Business News brings you the latest news of investments in Iraq, highlighting the many opportunities that exist.

Waterford Increases Stake in Gulfsands

Waterford Finance & Investment Limited disclosed after the close of Monday's business on the London Stock Exchange it has increased its holding in Gulfsands Petroleum to 12.7%. This follows an increase to 6.39% on Wednesday, and to 9.27% on Friday. Waterford is an investment vehicle controlled by Russian investor Michael Kroupeev. Shares in Gulfsands Petroleum […]

Iraq Stock Market Report

Rabee Securities Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) market report (week ending: 10th November 2011). Please click here to download a table of listed companies and their associated ticker codes. The RSISX index ended the week at ID1,321 / $1,465, -0.4%. The number of weekly traded shares was 6.9bn and the weekly trading volume was ID8bn ($6.9mn). […]

Kurdistan Investment Board to Devolve Powers to Provinces

The Chairman of Kurdistan's Investment Board said that the board will adopt a more strategic approach and devolve investment licensing powers to its three provincial directorates. Minister Herish Muharam, speaking at the 'Iraq: Untapped Opportunities' conference in London, said, "To increase the efficiency of our Investment Board, we are delegating more of our operations to […]

British Companies Urged to Act Now at Middle East Association Iraq Conference

British companies need to move fast if they are to gain a foothold in Iraq and avoid losing out to their competitors. This was the clear message given at the Middle East Association’s ‘Iraq: Untapped Opportunities’ conference held on 22nd November at the Dorchester Hotel, London. Supported by the National Investment Commission of Iraq, UK […]

What Iraq can do to Encourage Business

At the 'Iraq: Untapped Opportunities' conference in London, Charles Hollis (pictured), Director General of the Middle East Association asked a panel of leading businessmen to make one suggestion each as to how Iraq can improve its development efforts. Hans Nijkamp, VP and Country Chairman for Iraq at Shell, said the authorities need to make a […]

Major New Guide to Business in Iraq

This morning saw the launch of a major new guide to business in Iraq: Entitled "The New Iraq: 2012 Discovering Business", it was launched simultaneously in Dubai and at the "Iraq: Untapped Opportunities" conference in London. Published by Allurentis, in association with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the guide containes a wealth of  case studies, […]

United Arab Shipping Co Considers Debut Bond

Reuters reports that the United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), which is jointly owned by a group of Gulf Arab states and Iraq, has picked banks for investor meetings in advance of a possible bond issue. Deutsche Bank, Mitsubishi UFJ and UBS will arrange meetings for the company. Roadshows will begin in Singapore on Thursday, and […]

KRG "Giving Out Land to Phantom Investors"

To encourage investment in Iraqi Kurdistan, state authorities are able to gift land to important projects. However the process is plagued by corruption and injustice and has resulted in empty plots, unfinished projects and some undeservedly wealthy locals, according to this article from Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author and interviewee, and […]

Time to Keep your Head Down in Iraq

By Gavin Jones, Director of Iraq Business News, and Partner at consultancy firm Upper Quartile. This article was originally published on the Emerging Economics blog. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Last week hundreds of people were arrested all over Iraq in […]

Iraq Stock Market Report

Rabee Securities Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) market report (week ending: 3rd November 2011). Please click here to download a table of listed companies and their associated ticker codes. The RSISX index ended the week at ID1,326 / $1,471, -6.7%. The number of weekly traded shares was 2.7bn and the weekly trading volume was ID161.0bn ($137.6mn). […]

"SME and Microfinance in Iraq not well developed"

By T. Keyzom Ngodup, co-founder and Executive Director at Ideas sYnergy www.ideas-sYnergy.net, a local multiple bottom line advisory enterprise, driving innovation for social impact. According to the recently released World Bank Report The Republic of Iraq: Financial Sector Review, “SME and microfinance is not well developed in Iraq”. Over 85% of lending to Iraq SMEs […]

An ISX Year-end Jinx?

Since 2007, the Rabee Securities RSISX index has ended on a down note every year except 2010. (See chart.) In 2007, 2008, and 2009, the index peaked in July, August, and November, respectively, subsequently falling 27%, 7%, and 9% from those peaks to the respective year-end closes. 2010 was exceptional because the new government was […]