Seminar to Discuss Feasibility of Huge 'Grand Faw' Port
The head of the Arab Gulf Studies Center in Basra University said on Monday that the center will hold a seminar to discuss the economic feasibility of the planned Faw port to be built in the Ras al-Bayshah area of Basra province. The center's director, Jassim Ghali Roumi, told AKnews that the seminar commissioned by […]
New Erbil Rotana Hotel Opens
Hotel management company Rotana has announced the opening of its first property in Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq -- the landmark 5-star Erbil Rotana. Erbil Rotana's strategic location in close proximity to the Ministries district and the Erbil International Exhibition Fair Ground, along with its luxurious accommodation, wide variety of restaurants and meeting facilities makes the hotel […]
$21m for Erbil Tunnel Project
A local company has embarked on a $21 million [25 billion Iraqi dinar] tunnel project in eastern Erbil city, said city's Governor, Nawzad Hadi, said on Saturday. “The 77 Group for General Contracting started works to build an underpass at the Rizkari hospital intersection in the direction of the Kuwaysanjaq district road in eastern Arbil. […]
Iraqi Stock Exchange Sees Increase in Foreign Investors in 2011
Reuters reports that Iraq is expected to attract more overseas investment this year after foreigners were net buyers on its stock exchange in 2010, snapping up $53 million worth of shares, the market’s head said on Sunday. Taha A. Abdulsalam, chief executive of the Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX), said foreign investors were showing interest across […]
Iran, Iraq Reach Deal on Joint Oilfields
Iranian and Iraqi oil officials have reportedly reached an agreement to develop their joint oilfields in border areas, Press TV reported. "The two neighbouring states have signed an agreement for the development of joint oilfields," Mehr news agency reported on Sunday. The deal was inked during the first meeting of the two countries' joint executive […]
Northern Ireland Trade Mission to Iraqi Kurdistan
A 22-strong delegation representing 17 Northern Irish companies arrived in Erbil on Sunday on the first Invest Northern Ireland organised trade mission to Kurdistan. The companies, drawn from a broad range of local industries, will be meeting potential customers and community leaders in Kurdistan’s key business centre of Erbil during the week-long mission. The trade […]
Viking Hellas to Boost Iraqi Air Services
Greek charter carrier Viking Hellas has teamed up with a consortium of German and Iraqi investors to launch a new joint venture in Iraq called Viking Middle East. Viking Hellas already operates a number of services between its Athens base and destinations in Iraq, and according to the report from Flight Global is planning to […]
Iraq Allocates $100m to Buy 9 Ships
Iraq has allocated $100m [117 billion Iraqi dinars] for the purchase of nine ships, said a source at the state-run Maritime Transport Company. According to Azzaman, the source said the ships will be mainly used for the import of foodstuffs to the country. The ships will have a capacity of 15,000 to 20,000 tons each, […]
Cleric’s Return Signals Uncertainty for Iraq
By Ranj Alaaldin, a Middle East political and security risk analyst based at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He visits the Middle East regularly and as part of his recent work on Iraq has visited the country on a number of fact-finding missions. Foreign Policy magazine recently listed him among its 100 […]
Iraq to Spend $13bn on US Arms
The deputy Iraqi defense minister said Iraq will purchase $13bn (15 trillion Iraqi dinars) of arms from the US between now and 2013. Speaking to AKnews on Friday, Mohammed Askari said the armaments include warplanes, tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters, naval ships and ammunition. The official said the contract is currently underway, with some deliveries already […]
Fugro to Enter Iraqi Oil & Gas Industry
Bloomberg reports that Fugro, the world’s largest surveyor of deepwater oil fields, is about to enter the Iraqi oil and gas business as the oil majors are stepping up their exploration and production in the country. “The security situation is improving,” Chief Executive Officer Klaas Wester said in an interview in Amsterdam on Friday. “We’re […]
200,000 Police to be Recruited in Baghdad
The deputy Iraqi interior minister said the Iraqi Council of Ministers has agreed to recruit 200,000 policemen and interior ministry staff to increase security in Baghdad province. Hussein Kamal told AKnews that the new force will be deployed in Baghdad upon the ratification of the Iraqi general budget. The force will approximately double the number […]