Weekly Security Update for 28th December 2011
Summary Levels of violence rose in Iraq over the past week, with dozens of people killed and injured in a series of attacks in Baghdad on 22 December. Meanwhile, the political crisis between senior politicians also endures, posing a significant risk to overall national stability and raising the possibility of major internal strife over the […]
Iraq Could Slash Deficit Next Year
The high price of oil could prove the latest projection of a USD14.5bn budget deficit in 2012 as being too pessimistic. The Cabinet approved a $100bn budget for 2012 in the first week of December, although it is still waiting for Parliament to give its approval. The budget is based on oil at an average […]
A Home For Every Citizen In Five Years
The plan is that every Iraqi will get a home, but, unfortunately, the vast amounts of money needed might be hard to find. Iraq Directory reports that prime minister Nouri al-Maliki has promised a "home for every citizen" in five years, with those who have no homes getting them at cost price. However, with the […]
$667m New Investments in Basra
Basra Investment Commission (BIC) has granted seven licenses for a variety of projects in the fields of housing, trade, industry and tourism. The Head of the Commission, Khalaf al-Badran, said in a statement, that these projects will provide thousand of work opportunities and will improve social standards in the province. The total value of the […]
Iraq to Allow Jordanian Trucks to Transit to Europe
The Jordanian news agency Petra, citing Jordan’s Transport Ministry, reports that Iraq has agreed to allow Jordanian trucks to transit its territory to Turkey and Europe. Iraqi authorities said they will open a route for Jordanian trucks to Turkey within a month after putting in place customs and security procedures. (Source: Bloomberg)
Iraq buys Freighter for $14m
Iraq has reportedly spent $14 million (16 billion IQD) a 7,000 ton commercial freighter called the Baghdad. Samir al-Karkhi, the director of the Marine Shipping Company, told AKnews the vessel will enter service in February and will address many of the obstacles faced by shipping in Iraq. "The Ministry of Transport is making great efforts […]
Testing the Independence of the Iraqi Judiciary: The Batikh Case
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 Business News. […]
Iraq Stock Market Report
Rabee Securities Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) market report (week ending: 22nd December 2011). Please click here to download a table of listed companies and their associated ticker codes. The RSISX index ended the week at ID1,504 / $1,668, +0.2%. The number of weekly traded shares was 6.4 bn and the weekly trading volume was ID14.1bn […]
Investor Guides Assist Opportunity Seekers
In his joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on December 12, 2011, President Barak Obama noted that “In the coming years, it’s estimated that Iraq’s economy will grow even faster than China’s or India’s.” Foreign and regional investors interested in Iraq’s economic potential, but uncertain about the country’s investment regulations, arbitration laws […]
Basra Agrees $150m Iron and Steel Factory
Basra Investment Commission (BIC) has agreed in principle to build an iron and steel factory worth of $150 million (175 billion IQD). AKnews reports that it is a joint proposal by Erbil Steel Company and a Turkish company. Khalaf Badran, head of the BIC, told AKnews that the Commission has expressed its "full support" for […]
UMW in $30m Deal at Garraf Oilfield
Malaysia's Synergistic Generation Sdn Bhd (SGSB), which is 60 percent owned by UMW Holdings Bhd, has entered into a $30 million contract with Petronas Carigali Iraq Holding BV (PCIHBV). The contract is for the procurement of materials and equipment and installation and commissioning of all equipment and facilities by SGSB for the setting up of […]
Maliki Planning a New Majority Govt?
Supporters say the Iraqi PM is simply shoring up support and abiding by the law. Critics say he’s more interested in ditching the difficult three party system and starting a new government of his own. Will al-Maliki become Iraq's new dictator? Or will he struggle on with the democratic process, asks this article from Niqash. […]