KRG President Barzani Begins Visit to Russia
President Masoud Barzani departed from Erbil International Airport on Tuesday with a high-level delegation to make his first official visit to the Russian Federation. During the visit, President Barzani is expected to meet senior Russian officials to discuss a number of important matters, including relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Russian Federation, political developments […]
Swiss Ambassador Presents Credentials
By John Lee. The Swiss Non-Resident Ambassador in Iraq, Michael Winzb, has presented his credentials to Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. During the ceremony, the two sides discussed the development relations between the countries, and plans to gain full diplomatic representation. Minister Zebari stressed the Ministry's readiness to provide support and assistance for the success of […]
GKP Rises on Litigation Update
By John Lee. Shares in Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) were up 3% on Monday morning on the London Stock Exchange following an update from the company on the progress of a litigation case: On 15 February 2013, the English Commercial Court [pictured] in London ordered Excalibur Ventures LLC ("Excalibur") to make a payment of £4,700,000 […]
Bomb Disrupts Baiji Pipeline
By John Lee. Oil ministry spokesman Asim Jihad has said that a bomb attack caused an explosion in the 16-inch pipeline transporting fuel oil from Beiji [Bayji, Baiji] refinery (pictured) to Nineveh province on Saturday. He said the ministry expected repairs from the blast, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, to take several days. […]
Wheat Harvest Exceeds 3m Tons
By John Lee. Azzaman reports that wheat production in 2012 rose to 3.26 million tons, despite a lack of rain.The harvest had fallen to an average 1.5 million tons in the years follow the US-led invasion in 2003, with the country becoming a net importer of wheat and other cereals. Deputy Agriculture Minister Mahdi al-Qaisi […]
Is Barzani Assuming Talabani's Role As Mediator in Iraq?
By Abdel Hamid Zebari for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Following Barzani's return from his European tour at the end of last week, a series of meetings has been held in the region between Kurdish factions under Barzani’s supervision and […]
Video: UK Minister on Iraq Visit
Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt MP, visits Baghdad and talks with Ahmed Shames from the British Embassy Baghdad about issues raised by people on www.facebook.com/ukiniraq and Twitter @UKinIraq. (Source: UK FCO)
Iraqi Kurdistan Shifts Investment Approach
By Abdel Hamid Zebari for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is preparing to change its investment approach to focus on new areas of foreign and local investment — including tourism, agriculture and industry — after […]
IIER Budget Seminar
FEDRERAL BUDGET 2013 - DETAILS AND CHALLENGES The Iraqi Institute for Economic Reform (IIER) has the pleasure of inviting you to attend the above seminar to discuss the details of the Federal Budget and the challenges facing its implementation. In attendance there will be Members of Parliament, government officials, Iraqi economic experts, academics as well […]
KRG Allocates Land for Permanent UK Consulate
Alistair Burt, the UK’s Foreign Office Minister responsible for the Middle East, on Thursday met President Masoud Barzani in Erbil. During his visit, an agreement was made to extend the British National School of Government’s training programme in Kurdistan, and the Kurdistan Regional Government allocated land for the British Consulate’s permanent residences. Minister Burt on […]
Red Double-Decker Buses Back on Baghdad Streets
From Jewish News One. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Double-decker red buses are making a comeback in Baghdad -- a sign that Iraq is moving back towards normality following years of war: (Source: Jewish News One)
Political Dynamics Behind the Downfall Court Chief
By Reidar Visser. The following article was published by Reidar Visser, an historian of Iraq educated at the University of Oxford and currently based at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. It is reproduced here with the author’s permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq […]