Tag Archives | featured

New Telecom Route from Kuwait to Europe via Iraq

By John Lee. The General Company for Communications and Informatics, a division of Iraq's Ministry of Communications, has signed a contract with Kuwaiti company Al-Zajil to transit international communications to Europe through Iraq via Turkey. Al-Zajil is a subsidiary of Kalaam Group. Minister of Communications, Dr. Hayam Al-Yasiri, emphasized that the signing of the contract […]

Cabinet Approves Debt Guarantees for Al-Khairat Power Station

By John Lee. The Iraqi Cabinet approved the recommendations of the Sovereign Guarantees Committee regarding the Al-Khairat Power Station. The new facility is being built by Harlow International, which describes it as, "the largest thermal power plant project in Iraq ... which will provide more than 10% of Iraq's power demand when fully operational." According […]

Iraq Stock Market Report

Advertising Feature Rabee Securities Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) market report (trading week ending: 9th April 2024). Note: ISX will be closed starting from Apr. 9, 2024 (Tuesday) to Apr. 11, 2024 (Thursday) due to the religious holiday of Eid Al-Fitr. The next trading session will be held on Apr. 14, 2024 (Sunday). Please click here […]

Businessmen Jailed in Iraq reach 3-year Milestone

By John Lee. Australian engineer Robert Pether and his Egyptian colleague Khalid Radwan have now spent more than three years in prison in Iraq. The pair were detained in April 2021 by authorities in Baghdad in relation to a dispute over the construction of the new Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) headquarters in Baghdad. They […]

Qatari Firm to Manage 492-Bed Hospital in Nasiriyah

By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Health has signed a contract with Qatar's Elegancia Healthcare, a subsidiary of Estithmar Holding, to manage, operate, and maintain a 492-bed hospital in Nasiriyah, in Dhi Qar province. The signing ceremony was attended by the Qatari Ambassador to Iraq, Sultan bin Mubarak Al-Kubaisi, the Director-General of Health in Thi […]

Iraq to issue New Bonds

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has said it will issue a new series of bonds on behalf of the Ministry of Finance. The "Injaz/Enjaz" ["achievement"] bonds will be offered in two denominations: A 500,000 Iraqi Dinar (IQD) bond with an annual interest rate of 6.5 percent for a period of two […]

Iraq sees Improvement in Non-Performing Loans

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced a decrease in the ratio of non-performing loans to total credit. It said the ratio of non-performing loans to total cash credit decreased to 6.3 percent in 2023, compared to 7.2 percent in 2022, 8.8 percent in 2021, and 8.9 percent in 2020. Additionally, […]

Fitch Rates Iraq's Cihan Bank at 'CCC+'

By John Lee. Fitch Ratings has assigned Cihan Bank for Islamic Investment and Finance P.S.C (Cihan) a Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of 'CCC+', and Viability Rating (VR) at 'ccc+'. It says the rating, "reflects the weak operating environment, the bank's weak franchise, volatile business model, high risk appetite, including a high share of financial […]

World Bank Supports Iraq's Financial Reform Program

By John Lee. Finance Minister Satif Sami has met with Jean-Christophe Carre, the Regional Director for the Middle East at the World Bank, along with the bank's Special Representative in Iraq, Richard Abdulnour, and a number of experts and specialists. The meeting discussed development project priorities and ways in which the World Bank can support […]