Erbil International Airport Wins Int'l Award
An international jury at the Emerging Markets Airport Show in Dubai has voted Erbil International Airport the best airport amongst emerging market airports with less than five million passengers per annum, across Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Citing the exceptional growth, 53% in 2012, in passenger numbers to 947,400, and 54% in cargo tonnage, […]
Progress on Visas
It's always good to see progress. The United Kingdom has finally opened its visa application centre in Baghdad, making it much easier for Iraqis to enter the UK for tourism, to meet friends and family, or to do business. At Iraq Business News we have expressed our concerns about the problem of visas in the […]
Exxon Must Choose: Southern Iraq or Kurdistan
By John Lee. Iraq has again told Exxon Mobil that it must choose between working in its southern oilfields or in Kurdistan. Reuters reports that Oil Minister Abdul Kareem Luaibi [Elaibi] expects the company to make a final decision within a few days, adding: "We made it clear to Exxon in the last meeting that the […]
Asiacell IPO "Fully Booked"
By John Lee. Asiacell’s share sale has been fully subscribed before its closing date, according to the IPO’s organizer. Shwan Ibrahim Taha, chairman of Rabee Securities, confirmed to Bloomberg News: "The offering is now comfortably covered with a good mix of retail and institutional demand from within Iraq as well as institutional and high net […]
UK Opens New Visa Centre in Baghdad
The British Minister for Trade and Investment, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, officially opened the new Visa Application Centre in Baghdad along with the Foreign Minister of Iraq, His Excellency Hoshyar Zebari. For the first time, members of the Iraqi public are now able to apply for UK visas from Baghdad. In comments made at the […]
New Background Paper on Iraqi Budget
By John Lee. The United Nations' Joint Analysis Policy Unit (JAPU) has issued a background paper on Iraq's budget for 2013. The Government expenditure for 2013 totals IQD 138.4 Trillion ($ 118.3 Billion), with an increase of 18% over 2012 and exceeding 70% of GDP. The budget has three main headings: Energy, Security / Defense […]
GE Opens New Facility to Help Boost Oil Production
By John Lee. Underlining its commitment to help strengthen Iraq's energy infrastructure, GE Oil & Gas has established a new technology and service center near Basra City. The facility, which was opened earlier this month, brings the latest GE technology and expertise to local customers to help boost production in the Rumaila oil field. In […]
Missan Emerges as Major Oil Producer
By John Lee. The Province of Missan has emerged as a major oil producer in Iraq as more of its oil fields come on stream. Ali Muaarij, the head of Missan Oil Company, said foreign firms are developing these fields and currently the province produces 230,000 bpd. He said he expected the Missan fields to […]
FM Zebari Meets EU Head of Mission
By John Lee. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hoshyar Zebari has met with Jana Hybáškova, Head of the European Union Mission in Iraq. During the meeting, the two sides discussed relations between Iraq and the European Union and ways to develop them under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed between the two sides and was approved […]
Iraq Opens 2nd Floating Pier
By John Lee. Iraq has now opened its second floating pier to export crude oil via the Gulf. Oil Minister Abdul Kareem Luaibi [Elaibi] said: "Today vessels have started to load crude from the two Single Point Moorings at the same time, and that should remarkably expand our export capacity." The first floating pier was […]
Weekly Security Update
By Gary Sandiford, Olive Group’s Dubai based assessments manager. Olive Group is a leading provider of security and technology solutions and has operated continuously in Iraq since 2003. Overview Olive Groups Iraq statistics are drawn from multiple sources, including media reporting and direct liaison with in country assets. Included within the statistics are a […]
Chevron Awarded Stake in Qara Dagh
By John Lee. Iraqi Kurdistan's energy minister, Ashti Hawrami, is reported as saying that the KRG has awarded Chevron a stake in the Qara Dagh oil block (pictured). Jay Pryor, Chevron's Vice President for business development, met with Kurdistan President Mr Masoud Barzani at the World Economic Forum in Davos, reports Steel Guru. During the […]