By John Lee. KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has said that, while the KRG's financial reforms project is still in its preliminary stages, its ultimate goal is to digitise the public sector's payroll, benefiting 1.2 million civil servants. Additionally, the project aims to involve the private sector to ensure accessibility and convenience for everyone in […]
By John Lee. Fitch Ratings has assigned Erbil's Region Trade Bank for Investment and Finance Private Shareholding (RTB) a Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of 'CCC+', and Viability Rating (VR) at 'ccc+'. It says the rating reflects the bank's, "limited franchise, unstable business model, volatile and concentrated customer deposit base and weak albeit improving profitability." […]
By John Lee. Saudi Arabi'a Arab National Bank (ANB) has announced an investment of $38.2 million to create Arab Bank Iraq. ANB will have a 20-percent stake in the new bank. The full statement from ANB is as follows: Arab National Bank announces the approval of the Board of Directors on 14/5/2023 after obtaining the […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Cabinet has agreed to draft a a law to regulate electronic payments in Iraq. The Legal Department of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers will work together with the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, and the Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister […]
By Hayder Al-Shakeri for Chatham House. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Are new US financial restrictions on Iraq missing their target? The latest restrictions are a symptom of increased US-Iran tensions. But as Iraq's elite find ways around them, ordinary Iraqis […]
By Lara Dihmis, for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq Central Bank Sues Executives of Private Bank Investigated by OCCRP The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has filed several lawsuits against the chairman […]
From Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW). Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq to Contain the Kurdish Opposition and Pay Its Debts to Iran in Emirati Dirhams Iraq will begin paying for its debts and imports from Iran in Emirati […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mr. Mohammed S. Al-Sudani received a delegation from the international electronic payment company Visa Inc., led by the company's Regional President for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Andrew Torre. During the meeting, His Excellency expressed the government's determination to implement reform and move forward with plans for […]
By Winthrop Rodgers, for Rest of World. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Why cash is still king in Iraq After decades of war, displacement, and sanctions, Iraq remains cut off from the global financial system. Click here to read the […]
By John Lee. ZainCash Iraq has announced a partnership with Western Union to enable international money transfers through the ZainCash mobile application. According to a press release, this allows customers in Iraq to easily and reliably send and receive money to more than 200 countries and territories. The app can be used by individuals, small […]
By John Lee. Fitch Ratings has affirmed Iraq's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'B-' with a Stable Outlook. More details here. (Source: Fitch Ratings)
By John Lee. Fitch Ratings has assigned the Gulf Commercial Bank (GCB) a Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of 'CCC+', and Viability Rating (VR) at 'ccc+'. It says the rating reflects the bank's, "weak franchise and unstable business model, operations in the highly volatile operating environment of Iraq, a high impaired loans ratio (which is […]
