Iraq's First Satellite Ground Station Opens in Baghdad
By John Lee. Iraq has launched its first satellite ground station in Baghdad, dedicated to communications with satellites in geostationary orbit. The facility, known as the Teleport-IGWS (International Gateway Stations) project, is described by the Ministry of Communications as a step towards Iraqi digital sovereignty. Minister of Communications Mustafa Jabbar Sanad has called on all […]
Consultations Under Way on Iraq Companies Law Reform
By John Lee. Proposed amendments to Iraq's Companies Law No. 21 of 1997 have been discussed at a meeting convened by the Ministry of Trade, with participation from representatives of economic federations and organisations, the Private Sector Development Council, the Iraq Securities Commission (ISC), and the Company Registration Directorate. According to the Ministry of Trade, […]
Iraqi Truck Makes First Round Trip to Turkey Under TIR Agreement
By John Lee. An Iraqi-registered truck has completed a round trip to Mardin in Turkey under the TIR international road transport convention, loading goods there before returning through Iraq to Amman, Jordan. According to the Ministry of Transport, this is the first time an Iraqi truck has made such a journey under the agreement. The […]
BP Takes Over Kirkuk Oil and Gas Operations
By John Lee. Operations at four Kirkuk oil and gas fields have been transferred from North Oil Company (NOC) and North Gas Company (NGC) to a joint operating authority established to manage the fields. The transfer covers the Kirkuk oil field, Bai Hassan oil field, and the Khabbaz and Jambur fields. The ceremony was held […]
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq's Catch-22
By Ahmed Tabaqchali, for the London School of Economics (LSE) Middle East Centre. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Kurdistan region of Iraq's Catch-22: structural contradictions of independent revenues and federal budget allocations The Kurdistan Regional Government's relationship with the federal […]
Iraq's Central Bank Launches Currency Replacement Service
By John Lee. A new electronic system for replacing damaged banknotes has been introduced by the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), allowing citizens to submit replacement requests online through the Ur portal According to the CBI, users can enter the required data and submit their applications via the platform at currency.app.cbi.iq, after which the bank's […]
Iraqi Bank Sanctioned for Alleged Iran Sanctions Evasion
By John Lee. The US Department of the Treasury has sanctioned Iraq-based International Development Bank for Investment and Finance (IDB) as part of an operation targeting Iran's international financial networks. According to the Treasury, IDB was designated under Executive Order 13902 for operating in the financial sector of the Iranian economy. The Treasury alleges that […]
Kurdistan Hosts US-Syria and US-Kurdistan Business Delegations
By John Lee. A joint delegation from the US-Kurdistan Business Council (USKBC) and US-Syria Business Council (USSYBC), representing more than 30 US companies active in sectors including defence and security, energy, logistics, transportation and industry, has visited the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. According to the Kurdistan Regional Government, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani received the delegation […]
Dinar/Dollar Forex: New Rules from Sunday
By John Lee. New restrictions on dollar travel allowances for Iraqi travellers take effect on Sunday (18th October). According to the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), travellers will be permitted to purchase up to $2,000 every two months, with a maximum of six times per year. The bank said the measure is intended to regulate […]
Baghdad River Taxi Project Nears Investment Stage
By John Lee. A river taxi service along the Tigris in Baghdad is being prepared for launch to investors, according to the National Investment Commission (NIC). A coordination meeting chaired by NIC head Adel Dakhil Muhammad al-Yasiri reviewed the technical and planning requirements for the project, which is being developed under Diwan Order No. 251513. […]
Iraq "Seeks to Boost Oil Revenue by Cutting Buyers' Discounts"
By Nadim Kawach, for Arabian Gulf Business Insight (AGBI). Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq Seeks to Boost Oil Revenue by Cutting Buyers' Discounts Iraq is seeking to reduce the discounts on crude oil it offers international buyers in an […]
Why US Pressure Cannot Disarm Iraq's Militias
By Nick Davis, for Chatham House. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Why US pressure cannot disarm Iraq's militias The Trump administration's push to disarm Iraq's Iran-backed militias by 30 September has not been realized, not for lack of pressure, but because […]