One small step for Rabee Securities
On May 30 Rabee Securities’ new office in Erbil successfully connected to the ISX network and began trading. This was an important step forward for the stock exchange. For the first time, a brokerage branch outside Baghdad is now online. In a country like Iraq, the expansion of brokers’ branch networks to other cities is […]
Iraq to Provide Islamic Banking Services
Iraq's Ministry of Finance and Central Bank announced on Tuesday that Iraq will provide Islamic banking services in major banks owned by the state, under a plan worth $42 million which will be implemented this month. The Finance Ministry said on its website that Islamic transactions will be facilitated in the Rafidain and Al-Rasheed banks […]
Agricultural Production: Iraq’s Best Chance for Restoring Food Security
By Layth Mahdi, Agricultural Advisor. The opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Agricultural development plays a key role in achieving human well-being, maintains food security, reduces poverty and mitigates violence. In addition, it contributes to the protection of natural resources, environmental stability and […]
US Company Supplies Irrigation Systems to Iraq
Iraq's Ministry of Agriculture has reportedly contracted with a US company to supply modern irrigation technology and greenhouses. IPA reports that the company involved is Valmont Industries, which is based in Omaha, Nebraska. The general manager of the company, David Forshaw said, "The introduction of this technology is considered a real revolution. It will address […]
The Future of Gas in the Middle East and North Africa
On Wednesday 29th June, the Middle East Association will be holding a Breakfast Briefing on ‘The Future of Gas in the Middle East and North Africa’, the second event of our energy series. The global energy markets are transforming and this is no more the case than in the Middle East and North Africa. Accounting […]
Healthcare: Succeeding in the MENA Market
The Middle East Association, in partnership with Ameera Health, cordially invite you to Business Briefing and Networking Reception examining the Healthcare Sector in the MENA Region at Bury House on Tuesday 5th July. British companies are at the forefront of developments in the healthcare industry in the Middle East and North Africa. The UK medical […]
100 Days: Maliki’s Frustrations and Unrealistic Dreams
The following article was published on Tuesday 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. The opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq […]
Major Project to Improve Education in Iraq
On 6 June, the European Union and Government of Iraq launched a major programme to improve the future of young Iraqis. The programme will be implemented though the British Council, the United Kingdom’s international cultural and educational agency. It will: Improve education standards in 1,700 schools through improved teacher training. This will benefit 800,000 pupils […]
Iraq Oil Revenues 34% Ahead of Budget
Iraq’s oil production has risen to 2.63 million barrels a day, up by 15 percent from the same period last year, according to Bloomberg. Crude exports averaged 2.18 million barrels a day in the first five months of 2011 and are expected to increase in the second half of the year, Hussain al-Shahristani, deputy prime […]
Maliki Backs Off 100-Day Threat
Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki has backed down from a threat to fire poorly-performing cabinet ministers, a move which potentially opens the door to renewed popular protests in the country this summer, according to Al Jazeera. On February 27, Maliki gave his cabinet a 100-day deadline to improve basic services after a string of anti-government […]
Iraq Oil Projections Adjusted Down
Iraq will cut its 'overambitious' oil targets, the oil minister, Abdul-Kareem Luaibi [Elaibi] said on Tuesday. AKnews reports that the country had planned to up output to 12 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2017, but now aims for 8 million bpd within 13 or 14 years. Independent experts had challenged the ability of Iraq’s […]
Maliki Appoints New Boss to Trade Bank of Iraq
Iraq's Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki, has appointed Hamida al-Jaf as head of the state-owned Trade Bank of Iraq, replacing Hussein al-Uzri amid investigations into alleged corruption, the bank’s deputy director general said. “The Trade Bank of Iraq is operating normally and people have confidence in the bank,” Deputy Director General Abdel Hadi Sadeq Abdel Mahdi […]