Iraq’s Arab League Presidency: Wasted Opportunity?
By Mustafa al-Kadhimi for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. A few days ago, Iraq handed over the Arab League presidency to Qatar a year after taking the reins, thus marking its return to the Arab political sphere and confirming its […]
Rocket Casing Discovered Near the US Consulate
The U.S. Department of State reminds U.S. citizens in Iraq of the continued threat of roadside improvised explosive devices (IEDs). On Tuesday, April 2 an empty 107mm rocket casing was discovered partially concealed on the side of the road near the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil. Local authorities were contacted and the device was cleared […]
Video: Jihadis in Iraq and Syria Joining Forces
From Jewish News One. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi intelligence officials have said a cross-border alliance is growing between the Islamic extremist groups al-Qaeda in Iraq, and the al-Nusra Front in Syria. (Source: Jewish News One)
IBBC Opens New Office in Erbil
The Iraq Britain Business Council has boosted its operations in Iraq by opening a new office in Erbil. The IBBC’s new office is inside UB Holding at UB Plaza in Erbil’s Gulan Street. In the coming weeks an office manager will be hired. VIP guests included KRG Trade and Industry Minister Sinan Çelebi, British Consul […]
Siemens, Toyota Tsusho Collaborate on Iraqi Electricity
Siemens Turkey and Japan’s Toyota Tsusho are to build 24 electricity distribution centres in Iraq, in a deal worth $81 million. Hurriyet Daily News reported that the two companies signed a deal to join forces in the transformer station project, which have a total capacity of 31.5 megawatts. Siemens will manufacture the products in both […]
Update on Bina Bawi Oilfield
By John Lee. Austria's OMV, the operator of the Bina Bawi field in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, has today issued the following press release: An extended well test ("EWT") commenced production from the Bina Bawi-3 well on March 20, 2013. Furthermore the contractor group has submitted a Declaration of Commerciality for the field to […]
Video: Iraqi Christian Leaders Trying to Restore Hope
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. During ten years of violence in Iraq, millions of people have fled the country, many of them are Christians. Now, the new leader of Iraq's largest Christian group is trying to stem the […]
"Plans for ‘Kurdish Empire’ Advance"
By Qassim Khidhir Hamad. This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. In an interview with NIQASH, the representative of the Syrian Kurdish party running Kurdish parts of Syria talks about their contingency plan, for after the […]
Time to Blow our Own Trumpet
By John Lee. Iraq Business News is growing. Less than three months ago, the list of subscribers to our free weekly newsletter hit 13,000 -- last week we topped 15,000! To put it another way, every working day forty new readers join the ranks of the best-informed business minds in Iraq. Many of these join on […]
Weekly Security Update 26 March - 01 April
By Tom Walker, Director, Assaye Risk COUNTRY OVERVIEW After the hiatus of last week Iraq has once again seen increased levels of violence, especially in Baghdad province and along the Tigris River valley, with the ISF and provincial politicians from both sides of the sectarian divide bearing the brunt of the violence. In line with […]
Indonesia Buys June-Dec Basra Light Crude
By John Lee. Indonesia has signed a deal with Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) to buy Basra light crude in the second half of 2013. According to reports from Reuters and Jakarta Globe, Iraq is winning more customers in Asia as it is selling its crude cheaper than comparable grades, undercutting rival Saudi Arabia […]
Iraq Set to Expand Free Trade Zones
By Omar al-Shaher for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq, with its privileged geographical location, plans to improve the performance of its three free-trade zones. It also intends to establish new free-trade zones as part of efforts to diversify its […]