New $2.6m Medical Centre in Baghdad
The Minister for Labor and Social Affairs, Mahmoud al-Sheikh Radhi [Mahmoud Mohammed al-Radhi], has opened a new $2.6m [3 billion Iraqi dinars] medical center for occupational illnesses in Baghdad. The center is the first of its kind in Iraq. He told AKnews that "the Ministry is seeking to build occupational medical centers in all the […]
Obama Welcomes Iraq's New Government
Following the re-election of Nouri al-Maliki to the position of Prime Minister, US President Barack Obama welcomed the formation of the new Iraqi government. "This agreement marks another milestone in the history of modern Iraq," he said at the G2o conference in Seoul. "There are still challenges to overcome, but all indications are that the […]
News Flash: Allawi Walks Out of Parliament
Just as Iraq's politicians had finally hammered out a deal to create the next government, Ayad Allawi [Iyad Allawi] joined an estimated 57 Iraqiya MPs in walking out of the chamber. The parliament, meeting in only its second session since the election in March, had just elected as Speaker Osama al-Nejeifi [al-Nujaifi], a Sunni hard-liner […]
Light at the End of the Tunnel
After eight months it seems that finally we are close to an agreement on the formation of the next Iraqi government. When the talks finally reach a conclusion, there's a long list of issues to be addressed by the incoming government, not least of which is Iraq's abysmal ranking in the World Bank's latest Doing […]
$233m New Projects in Najaf
The Najaf Investment Commission has granted three investment licences worth a total of $233m [273 billion Iraqi dinars] to two Iraqi companies and a Turkish company. The head of the board, Wafi Albhash, told AKnews that the Turkish company was granted an investment license for a housing project worth $ 218 million. A licence to […]
International and Local Efforts to Develop Basra's Ports
The business associations and economic organizations in Basra, in collaboration with the International Private Projects Center, have held a conference to review the problems experienced by the private transport sector in the province. Abdul Saleh Saheb, the supervisor of the Conference and Vice-President of Businessmen's Union, told AKnews that the conference aims to review the […]
Dana Gas Updates on Kurdistan Operations
Dana Gas PJSC, the Middle East’s largest regional private sector natural gas company, has announced its financial results for the quarter ended 30th September 2010. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Dana Gas, through its 40% share, produced 1.2 million boe of gas and condensate during the quarter, an increase of approximately 72% over the […]
Basra's Sinbad Island to Become Tourist Attraction
The group of US investors held talks with local officials in Basra about establishing a tourist project on Sindbad Island [Sinbad Island], a source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency on Wednesday. A delegation from the group discussed the project with Basra's Governor, Shaltagh Abboud, and Deputy Chairman of Basra Council, Ahmad al-Sulieti. “The project includes […]
Salford Uni to Set Up Centre of Excellence in Basra
The University of Salford, in the United Kingdom, is to work with the University of Basra, Iraq, to set up a centre for research in the built environment, with the aim of providing skills and knowledge as the country seeks to rebuild. As the UK’s leading research centre for built environment, Salford will help the […]
Work Starts on Sulaimaniyah's New $150m Mall
The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Barham Ahmed Salih [Barham Saleh], laid the cornerstone of the second largest shopping complex in Kurdistan. The ceremony in the city of Sulaimaniyah city underlined the region's growing economic power. The complex will be built by the Kurdish investment group, Hiwa [Hewa], owned by Ahmed Majidi, who […]
Iraqi Gas to Europe 'May Take 10 Years'
Iraqi gas is unlikely to be exported to Europe via the planned Nabucco pipeline before 2020, London-based consultant Jennifer Coolidge said on Tuesday. According to the Calgary Herald, Coolidge told a roundtable at the European Autumn Gas Conference: "It might not be . . . until sometime after 2020 when large exports could be coming […]
Iraq Mega Projects 2010 Delivered its Promise
Iraq Mega Projects 2010 Conference & Exhibition took place in Istanbul, Turkey, on 26-28 October. The event promised to be the gathering for service companies to meet the mega project holders; this did not fail to live up to expectation. Representatives of the contract holders came as delegates to support the gathering, though low profile […]