France Telecom Targets Iraq's Korek
According to the Financial Times, the European telecom giant France Telecom is engaged in talks to buy a minority stake in the Iraqi mobile phone operator Korek, as part of a bid to expand its operations in the Middle East. Although no deal has yet been struck, financial observers say that a potential agreement could […]
Iraq Issues Tender for 100,000 Tonnes of Wheat
The Grain Board of Iraq has issued a tender for the supply of 100,000 tonnes of wheat. Offers must be received by 10:00 am (Baghdad local time) on 5th of December, and remain valid until 12th December. (Source: Grain Board of Iraq)
Direct Flights from Doha to Sulaimaniya
AKnews reports that the first direct flight between Sulaimaniya and the Qatari capital, Doha, commenced on Wednesday. Dana Mohammed, media secretary for Sulaimaniya International Airport, told AKnews on Thursday that the route is being operated by FlyDubai, the UAE-based budget carrier, in conjunction with the local Zozg and Azmar airlines, and will offer two flight […]
Oil and the Question of Federalism in Iraq
According to a report from Chatham House, the 'oil question' in Iraq has traditionally been viewed almost exclusively through the prism of ethno-sectarianism. Disputes over the management and licensing of the hydrocarbon sector and over revenue distribution have been seen as a battle for power between Iraq's ethnic and sectarian communities, as if these were […]
Al-Maliki (Finally) Offered New Term as Prime Minister
We have just received news that Iraq's newly-appointed President, Jalal Talabani, has formally asked Nouri al-Maliki to accept the position of Prime Minister and form the next government. Following his appointment today (Thursday), al-Maliki will have 30 days in which to choose a cabinet. Maliki has reportedly asked Iraqi's to “turn over a new page, […]
Which Sectors are Most Targeted in Iraq?
AKE has analysed all of the attacks reported in Iraq over the past three months. Commercial sectors such as retail and banking were actually targeted in only a small proportion of cases. Findings The overwhelming majority of victims were civilians targeted on an indiscriminate basis. The police were the second most targeted group while the […]
Weekly Security Update for 25th Nov 2010
Overview Last week was one of the quietest reported in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. Many people were observing the festival of ‘Eid ul-Adha and in all likelihood, militants and terrorists were also participating. As mentioned in last week’s update, religious events such as this are generally less inflammatory in Iraq, mainly because they are […]
Good News For Foreign Investors in Iraq
Iraq's newly-appointed President, Jalal Talabani (pictured), is apparently using his full allowance of 15 days to formally appoint a new Prime Minister, thus allowing the haggling over the details to continue. And while Nouri al-Maliki remains the 'agreed' candidate, we should never under-estimate the Iraqi parliament's ability to throw us a last-minute surprise. If al-Maliki […]
New Iraqi Court to Protect Foreign Investors
Iraq inaugurated a new court on Wednesday to resolve disputes between foreign investors and Iraqi companies, according to a report from Khaleej Times. In a ceremony attended by senior judges, prosecutors and judicial officials, Iraq’s most senior judge pronounced the new court open, and announced plans to establish similar courts in Mosul and Basra. The […]
Time for a new securities law?
The formation of a new Iraqi government will undoubtedly be good for stock market sentiment, as such events generally are. And indeed the market has pretty obviously turned around already, with volumes increasing and the Rabee Securities index up about 6% since bottoming in early October. But skeptics may still argue that investors have no […]
Halliburton Signs $150m Contract for Iraq's Majnoon Oilfield
Halliburton signed the one-year contract with Shell on Tuesday to develop the Majnoon oilfield, according to a media source from Shell. Hanadi al-Salman told Aswat al-Iraq news agency that, “according to the new deal, Halliburton will set up operation centers to dig 15 new wells,” he added. When the contract win was originally announced in […]
22 Power Plant Tenders to be Issued Next Week
Iraq will soon ask for bids on projects to install and run 22 gas turbines that could boost its power generating capacity by 30 percent in the next few years, an official from the Ministry of Electricity said on Tuesday. Reuters reports that the ministry plans to ask companies to build plants in four provinces, […]