Tag Archives | featured

Iraq Launches First Electronic Visa Service Abroad

By John Lee. The Embassy of Iraq in Ankara has begun issuing electronic visas, marking the first deployment of the system outside the country. The launch was overseen by Ambassador Majid Al-Lajmawi and Nashat Ibrahim Al-Khafaji, Director General of the Directorate of Civil Status, Passports and Residence. The initiative is part of a joint programme […]

GKP Operational & Corporate Update

By John Lee. Shares in Gulf Keystone Petroleum (LSE: GKP) closed down 2.7 percent on Wednesday after the company provided an operational and corporate update. It said it received its first payment in November at around $30/barrel (below international prices under interim agreements), has returned $50 million to shareholders in 2025, and is on track to […]

Iraq-Azerbaijan Joint Committee meets in Baku

By John Lee. The fourth session of the Iraqi-Azerbaijani Joint Committee has been held in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, with senior-level participation from both countries. The Iraqi side said the meeting represents an important step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation and reflects a shared commitment to developing relations across key sectors. The discussions also focused on […]

Iraq and Qatar move to Deepen Investment Ties

By John Lee. Iraq and Qatar have discussed steps to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, including advancing an investment protection and promotion agreement and expanding joint projects. The talks covered opportunities to diversify Iraq's import sources through Gulf states, improve logistics routes, and reduce transport costs by making greater use of advanced Qatari port services. […]

Chevron discusses Oil Investment in Iraq

By John Lee. Iraq has held talks with US oil company Chevron on potential cooperation in developing the Nasiriyah oil field and possible engagement at the West Qurna-2 field. The discussions focused on advancing investment negotiations between the Ministry of Oil and the US energy company, within the framework of Iraq's strategy to work with […]

$300m Road Projects Launched in Karbala and Najaf

By John Lee. Two major road infrastructure projects have been launched to improve connectivity and ease congestion in the central Euphrates region. The first project involves construction of a 34-kilometre road linking Karbala province to the highway network, including 14 bridges, one of them spanning the Euphrates River. The project has a total cost of […]

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 […]

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 […]