US Sanctions Iraqi Bank; $6bn Fraudulently Transferred
By John Lee. The US Treasury Department has sanctioned Iraq's Al-Huda Bank, and its owner and Chairman, Hamad al-Moussawi. On Monday, the Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) said the bank, "serves as a conduit for terrorist financing, as a foreign financial institution of primary money laundering concern." Along with its finding, FinCEN proposed imposing […]
Iraq Finalises December Oil Sales
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Oil has announced finalised oil export figures for December: Total exports of crude oil: 108,056,590 barrels. Revenues from crude oil exports: $8.311 billion. Oil fields in central and southern Iraq accounted for 107,592,532 barrels of crude oil exports. Exports from Kirkuk through the port of Ceyhan have been suspended. […]
New Initiative to Help Iraqi Entrepreneurs
By John Lee. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), Iraq Venture Partners (IVP), and Innovest Middle East have created a new initiative that aims to address the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Iraq. A statement from IFC said the new program, "Scale Iraq (#ScaleIraq)", will support 20 startups, addressing their specific needs and gaps, esigning and […]
President urges Spanish Businessmen to Invest in Iraq
By John Lee. The Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, met with a delegation led by Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares at Baghdad Palace on Thursday. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein also attended the meeting. President Rashid emphasized the importance of working together to strengthen relations between […]
Iraq, Jordan sign Anti-Corruption MoU
By John Lee. Judge Haider Hanoun, head of the Federal Integrity Commission in Iraq, called on all countries, especially those parties to the United Nations and Arab anti-corruption agreements, to unite, cooperate, and combine efforts to mitigate the danger of corruption. He emphasized that corruption has become a phenomenon crossing national borders, and modern methods […]
US President announces New Ambassador to Iraq
By John Lee. US President Joe Biden has announced his intent to nominate Tracey Ann Jacobson (pictured) as Ambassador to Iraq. If approved by the Senate, Ms Jacobson will take over the role from Alina L. Romanowski, who has served in the post since June 2022. In a statement from The White House, Tracey Jacobson […]
IOM, Germany supporting SMEs in Iraq
By John Lee. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Government of Germany, through the KfW Development Bank, have launched the sixth phase of their ongoing partnership, aiming to create 1,100 new jobs in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Iraq, via its Enterprise Development Fund (EDF) component. The program provides financial capital to […]
PM Reviews Designs for Mosul's Riverside Development
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani has this week reviewed the designs and plans for the riverside development in Mosul, presented by Nineveh Governorate. The presentation included the study, designs, and implementation details for the project. (Source: Media Office of the Prime Minister)
GM of Iraqi Cement Company Arrested on Bribery Charges
By John Lee. Iraq's Commission of Integrity has arrested the General Manager of the Iraqi Cement Company and the director of a private company on charges of bribery. The arrests followed a tip-off from an investor who claimed to be a victim of extortion, having been asked for a sum of $500,000 in exchange for […]
IFC Invests in Iraqi Cement Company
By John Lee. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, is investing in Al-Douh Iraqi Company for Cement Industries ("Al Douh"), a leading cement manufacturer and part of Al-Riyadh Investment Companies Group (RICG). According to a statement from the IFC, the decision was made to help boost economic diversification and spur […]
Call to Boycott Iranian Products following Missile Attack
By John Lee. Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry has reportedly issued a statement urging traders in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to "suspend" the purchase of Iranian products in protest of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) missile strikes on a private residence in Erbil. The attacks killed at least four civilians, including two […]
UN supports Iraq to End Corruption, Boost Foreign Investment
UNDP continues to support the Government of Iraq in ending corruption and boosting foreign investment The UN Development Programme (UNDP)'s Anti-Corruption and Arbitration initiatives (ACAI) is achieving significant milestones midway through its five-year implementation. Funded by the European Union (EU), the project recently conducted its second steering committee on Sunday, January 21, at the State […]