US Medical Firm Wins Balad Contract
By John Lee. CHS Middle East, a subsidiary of Comprehensive Health Services Inc, will be providing a range of medical support from life saving surgery to dental treatment for US contractors deployed to Iraq under the Foreign Military Sales program. The contractors will be providing training and technical support to the Iraqi airforce on the […]
KRG, Iran Sign Oil Refining Deal
By John Lee. Abullah Akrayi, the Kurdish representative for Iran affairs has announced plans for two pipelines to Iran, intended to exchange refined oil and natural gas from Iran for crude oil from the KRG, Anadolu Agency reports. Iranian trade envoy to Iraq Rostem Qasimi apparently signed the deal in Erbil with KRG natural resources minister Ashti […]
Armed Forces, Diaspora Go To Polls
By John Lee Iraqis living abroad in 19 countries have cast their votes early ahead of the general election on the 30th of April, news agencies have reported. Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission has said that approximately 785,000 Iraqis were eligible to vote outside the country. Meanwhile attacks on polling stations, security forces and a […]
Lebanese Banks Eye Iraq
By John Lee. Lebanese banks intend to expand their operations in Iraq, the president of the Association of Banks in Lebanon said on Friday. Addressing a Lebanese-Iraqi banking conference in Beirut, Francois Bassil said: “The size of the Lebanese banks in Iraq may be too small compared to the huge Iraqi market. "Iraq’s seven state-owned […]
Police Struggle to Protect Oil Pipelines
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Attacks on oil pipelines are expected to be an important issue in Iraq's upcoming parliamentary elections. The country loses millions in lost revenue and damages due to frequent attempts by armed groups, including […]
Another $990m Compensation Paid to Kuwait
By John Lee. The United Nations Compensation Commission has paid $990 million to Kuwait resulting from Iraq's 1990 invasion of the country. The payment brings the total paid so far to $45.5 billion, leaving approximately $6.9 billion remaining to be paid. (Source: United Nations Compensation Commission) (Dollars image via Shutterstock)
LUKoil, Zarubezhneft consider Iraq Oil JV
By John Lee. Russia's Lukoil is considering joining a joint venture with Russian state-owned exploration and production company Zarubezhneft to develop the Nassiriya oil field and help build an associated refinery. The next round of talks on the project with the Iraqi government is expected this summer, LUKoil CEO Vagit Alekperov (pictured) stated earlier, according […]
Drilling Continues at Taza-2 Well
By John Lee. Oil Search Limited has reported that the Taza 2 well in Kurdistan was drilled to a depth of 10,679 feet (3,255 meters), and the company was preparing to drill ahead in an 8.5 inch hole. During the week, the well penetrated the Jeribe Formation, encountering hydrocarbon shows in line with prognosis, and […]
Syrian Refugees Cling to Stability in Iraq
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. While the United Nations is warning that Lebanon could buckle under the pressure of hosting more than a million Syrian refugees, the situation in northern Iraq is a different story. Here, refugees forced […]
Work Starts on New Tigris Suspension Bridge
By John Lee. The Minister of Construction and Housing, Mohamed Sahib al-Daraji [Mohammed Al-Deraji], has laid the foundation stone for the new AlGriat (Jawadain) suspension bridge project in Baghdad. The bridge will connect the holy city of Kadhimiya with AlGriat across the Tigris River. The Minister said that the project also includes setting up entertainment areas […]
New Report on MENA Women in Private Sector
In partnership with the Swedish Institute in Alexandria and Casa Árabe in Cordoba, Wilton Park held a conference entited Women in the private sector in the Middle East and North Africa recently in Spain. The conference identified the opportunities and constraints in women’s economic involvement and economic empowerment in the private sector in the MENA […]
Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad would like to remind U.S. citizens of upcoming Iraqi National Elections on April 30, 2014. The U.S. government fully supports these elections and encourages all Iraqis to participate in the democratic process by casting their votes. In order to secure the elections, the Government of Iraq may take steps that […]