Iraq to Recruit Doctors from Bangladesh
By John Lee. The Bangladeshi Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, has told Dhaka Tribune that the Iraqi Ministry of Health said it wants to recruit 100 anaesthetists. Recruitment will be done under an arrangement with private recruiting agencies, which the minister said would not charge high fees to the candidates […]
Maliki Appeals to Dutch Companies
By John Lee. Premier Nouri al-Maliki received the Dutch foreign minister Frans Timmerman this week and called for Dutch companies to enter the Iraqi markets, pointing that Iraq has an agreement with the European Union. Minister Timmerman said his country is looking for opportunities either in work or investments, and said his country wants to […]
US-Kurdistan Business Council Meets KRG Delegation
The United States Kurdistan Business Council (USKBC) this week heard about the latest political and economic developments in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq from a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) ministerial-level delegation. Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, and Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the KRG’s High Representative to the United […]
LUKOIL Implements Social Projects in Basra
LUKOIL Mid-East Ltd (operating company of LUKOIL for development of the West Qurna-2 field) has completed another social project in Basra Province. The company supplied modern medical equipment for the central hospital of Madeina municipality adjacent to the field area. The supplied medical equipment includes a blood analyzer, diagnostic equipment for ultrasonograph and cardiograph and […]
Oil and Gas Companies Pledge Humanitarian Aid
At a meeting in Erbil today, the oil and gas companies operating in the Kurdistan Region and leading figures from the oil services sector pledged to provide emergency relief to the large number of displaced people who have flooded into the Region in recent weeks. Dr Ashti Hawrami, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Minister of […]
Another New Cement Factory Planned
By John Lee. Following the news last week that Muthanna Cement is to be rehabilitated, it has now been announced that a new cement plant is to be built in Karbala. The state-owned plant will require an investment of US$300 million and will be constructed by a Iraqi-Canadian joint venture. World Cement reports that the […]
Young Grads to get Loans to Start Businesses
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organized today 9 September 2013, an official ceremony to honour the young graduates that will be granted business loans by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in order for them to start their new businesses after successfully undergoing an […]
Malaysian Firms Urged to Tap Iraq Market
By John Lee. Malaysian companies have been urged to look into the vast opportunities in Iraq especially in construction, transportation, infrastructure and energy, according to a report from Bernama. The Iraqi Minister of Transport, Hadi Farhan Al-Amiri [Hadi al-Amari] (pictured), told the news agency that Iraq is seeking to tap Malaysian expertise as it looks […]
Basra Steel Plans "on Hold"
By John Lee. the Basra Iron & Steel Company (BISCO) has reportedly put its new rebar mill investment on hold due to regional political issues. A decision on further progress is expected to be taken after talks with the Basra Investment Commission (BIC) later in September. ArabSteel reports that BISCO, an investment by Isa Unal, […]
Iraqis Less Happy than Neighbours
The World Happiness Report 2013, published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN), reports that Iraqis are the 105th happiest nation worldwide, out of 156 countries surveyed. The country scored lower than neighbouring Kuwait (32nd), Saudi Arabia (33rd), Jordan (74th), Turkey (77th) and Iraq (115th). Denmark headed the table, with Togo in last place. […]
Weekly Security Update 04 - 11 September 2013
By Tom Walker, Director, Assaye Risk COUNTRY OVERVIEW Levels of violence remained constant this week as Sunni insurgents continue to pressurize and attack the Shia majority. Unsurprisingly, the violence predominated in and around Baghdad but was also seen in the smaller satellite towns to the south and north of the capital. Late in the week […]
Iraq Business News goes from Strength to Strength
By John Lee. Iraq Business News is growing. Less than six months ago, the list of subscribers to our free weekly newsletter hit 15,000 — last week we topped 18,000! To put it another way, every working day twenty-five new readers join the ranks of the best-informed business minds in Iraq. Many of these join on […]