Microfinance Conference Focuses on Economic & Social Advancement
From October 23 - 24, 2012, the U.S. Mission in Iraq, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and in cooperation with the Iraqi Microfinance Network, will host the Inclusive Financial Services Stakeholders’ Conference at the Rotana Hotel in Erbil. The conference theme is “Iraqi Microfinance – The Path to Economic and Social Advancement”. […]
UK Delegation to Erbil Trade Fair
The Trade Development Director of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), Crispin Simon, led a large British delegation to the Erbil Trade Fair last week. Sixty-one British delegates, representing 39 companies from several key sectors, including education, participated in the Fair. The UK pavilion was the second largest of all the countries represented at the event. […]
Iraq Amnesty Could Set Killers Loose
By Laith Hammoudi. This article was originally published by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, iwpr.net, and it is reproduced by Iraq Business News with permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq’s parliament has postponed discussions on a controversial amnesty […]
Kurdistan to be Self-Sufficient in Oil Products
By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government's Minister for Natural Resources, Ashti Hawrami (pictured), has announced that the Kurdish region will be self-sufficient in oil products next year. He expects an increase in Kurdistan refinery's production from 40,000 to 100,000 barrels per day, resulting in a surplus of oil products. Hawrami also disclosed that there […]
Work to Start Soon on Kirkuk-Baiji Gas Pipeline
By John Lee. Iraqi Oil Ministry spokesman Asim Jihad has told Aswat al-Iraq that Korea’s state-run Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) will soon begin work on the first stage of a new pipeline linking Kirkuk to Beiji [Bayji, Baiji]. According to the report, the $128-million project will bring dry and liquid gas from Kirkuk to Beiji, and […]
Iraq Hires Indian Nurses to Plug Shortfall
By John Lee. The Times of India reports that dozens of Indian nurses have travelled to Iraq in recent days to plug a shortfall in its hospitals and healthcare facilities. Baghdad's Medical City hospital welcomed 35 Indian nurses, while another 31 arrived to work in Diwaniya. Information on hirings in other provinces was not available. […]
2013 Provincial Elections Planned for April – Or Are They?
By Mustafa Habib. 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. Finally it looks like things are moving on for Iraq's provincial elections. A new management body has been elected and dates set. But there are still […]
Sterling Energy Rises on Interim Management Statement
By John Lee. Shares in Sterling Energy were up more than 1% in early trading on Monday, following the publication of the company's interim management statement. Sterling made the following statement on operations in Iraqi Kurdistan: "The Company completed the acquisition of 117 km of 2D seismic data in the Sangaw North block in south […]
Bad Weather Halts Iraq's Southern Oil Exports
By John Lee. Reuters reports that bad weather has halted oil exports from Iraq's southern oilfields, with rough seas preventing tankers reaching port. The stoppage may continue through Tuesday, Iraqi oil port sources said on Sunday. "Because of bad weather oil exports have been completely stopped... Tankers cannot reach port because of rough seas and […]
Baghdad PC to Build 4 Housing Complexes in 2013
By John Lee. Baghdad Provincial Council and the National Investment Commission (NIC) plan to build four new housing complexes in Baghdad by 2013. Intended for people on low income, the houses will be built in the districts of Rashid, Dihna, Basmaya and Mahmudiya. Bushra Abdul Amir, Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Committee at Baghdad PC, […]
MPs Fail to Comply with Financial Disclosure Requirements
By John Lee. Iraq's Commission on Integrity reports that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and two of his three deputy prime ministers have presented their financial disclosure statements to the Commission. The commission reports that Rowsh N Shaways and Hussain al-Sharistani are the two deputy PMs who have submitted their documents, implying that Salih al-Mutlaq has […]
Iraq Signs $3bn Deal for F-16 Fighter Jets
By John Lee. Iraq's acting defense minister, Sadoun al-Dulaimi, has said that the government has inked a new $3-billion contract with the US to buy another 18 F-16 fighter, according to MENA. The minister said that the new purchase is part of an agreement to buy a total of 36 fighters from the US. He […]