Iraqi Insurance Premiums grew 75% in Q3
By John Lee. Iraqi insurance companies recorded written premiums of more than IQD 207.3 billion (approximately USD 159 million) during the third quarter of 2025, reflecting annual growth of over 75 percent, according to a report from the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), citing official data. It showed Iraqi Insurance Company leading the sector with […]
No Change to Iraq's Subsidized Electricity Prices
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity has denied reports of any increase in electricity tariffs, describing circulating claims as false and misleading. The ministry said the current tariff remains fully subsidised and unchanged, with the residential rate set at IQD 10 per kilowatt-hour (approximately USD 0.008). It added that the state continues to […]
Iraq and Italy explore Increased Economic Cooperation
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Trade has held talks with the Iraq-Italy Business Council (IIBC) on expanding economic cooperation and encouraging greater Italian investment in the Iraqi market. Discussions focused on opportunities in industry, services and technology, as well as measures to improve the business environment and support small and medium-sized enterprises. The ministry […]
Iraq National Human Development Report 2025
From the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Following the publication of two National Human Development Reports for Iraq in 2008 and 2014, it was anticipated that subsequent reports would be issued on a regular basis. This […]
Korean Pharma to offer Obesity Treatment in Iraq
By John Lee. Caregen, a pharmaceutical company from South Korea, has announced the expansion of its oral GLP-1 product Korglutide into Iraq through a new partnership with Filagen, a medical and aesthetic products distributor in the country. The move follows recent market entries across the region, including Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Iran, reflecting […]
Development Road Review Meeting
By John Lee. A high-level review meeting has been held to assess progress on Iraq's strategic Development Road project, covering design, costs and operational planning. The meeting examined timelines proposed by the appointed auditing firm for completing reviews of rail and road designs, alongside discussions on design costs for both the railway line and the […]
CBI Training on Detection of Counterfeit Dinars
By John Lee. The Banking Studies Centre at the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has organised a specialised training course on methods for detecting counterfeit local and foreign currency and comparing it with genuine notes. The course brought together staff from state-owned and private banks, as well as other financial institutions. It combines practical and […]
Iraq cuts EU-Middle East Transit Times via TIR
By John Lee. A cross-border transport operation has highlighted Iraq's growing role as a key land bridge between the European Union and the Middle East, significantly reducing journey times using the TIR system. A TIR shipment carrying film and photography equipment travelled from Hungary to Jordan via Iraq in around six days, compared with approximately […]
IBBC Forum: AI as an Engine for Transformation in Iraq
The Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) hosted a very informative Tech Forum as part of its conference in Basra last week. Titled "AI as an Engine for National Transformation in Iraq," and moderated by IBBC's Ashley Goodall, it featured contributions from: Phil McCauley, Saibre Capital: AI-aligned capital investment and large-scale urban and infrastructure programmes Dr. […]
Spain Eases Iraq Travel Advisory, Citing Improved Security
By John Lee. Spain has revised and eased its travel advisory for Iraq, aligning its position with other European countries and recognising the improvement in security conditions and stability across Iraqi cities and provinces. In updated guidance issued by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Madrid reiterated general non-binding travel precautions applicable worldwide, including health, […]
Oil from Northern Iraq Arrives in US After Pipeline Reopens
By Noam Raydan and James Jeffrey, for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Oil from Northern Iraq Arrives in the United States After Pipeline Reopens s In addition to providing discounted crude of a quality […]
Iraq National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2025-2029
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has published its National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2025-2029. The document was officially launched in May. Click here to download the full report [Arabic]. To browse our comprehensive library of reports on Iraq, click here. (Source: CBI)