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By John Lee. Iraq's state-owned Rafidain Bank has announced that it has "completed" 87 percent of its foreign debt obligations through high-level legal and financial negotiations, significantly reducing the country's external liabilities. As part of Iraq's adherence to the Paris Club Agreement and with direct Cabinet approval, the bank concluded major settlements with Dutch and […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Health has held high-level discussions with a delegation from French pharmaceutical company Sanofi, aimed at strengthening collaboration on biopharmaceutical development, healthcare capacity-building, and policy modernisation. The meeting was chaired by Health Minister Dr. Saleh Mahdi Al-Hasnawi, who welcomed Sanofi's delegation led by Dr. Rami Nassar. The minister emphasised […]
By John Lee. France's Vallourec has secured two contracts to supply Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) to support the drilling operations of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and PetroChina in Iraq. According to a statement from the company, these contracts carry potential revenue of over $130 million [IQD 170 billion]. The contracts cover the […]
By John Lee. As part of government efforts to diversify Iraq's energy mix and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, the National Investment Commission (NIC) has awarded four major investment licences in the renewable energy sector during 2025. NIC Chairman Dr. Haider Mohammed Makkia [Makiyya] re-announced the licences on Wednesday, noting their alignment with Iraq's National […]
By John Lee. China Petroleum Engineering Corporation (CPEC) has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering has received a letter of award from France's TotalEnergies for a major gas infrastructure project in Iraq. The Artawi [Ratawi] GMP EPSCC Project, commissioned by TotalEnergies, involves the construction of midstream gas pipeline facilities linking the […]
By Nicholas Oakes, for the International Policy Digest. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. From Pipeline to Policy: Iraq's Quiet Return to Global Energy Relevance Recent deals with China, India, and France point to a strategic effort to diversify trade partnerships, hedging […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Army Aviation Command has begun equipping newly-delivered French-made Caracal helicopters at Martyr Brigadier General Mohammed Alaa Air Base. According to a statement from the Ministry of Defense, this initiative is part of a broader plan to strengthen the operational capabilities of Iraq's Army Aviation. The Caracal helicopters are equipped for […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi, who also heads the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC), has announced that three sites within the Tuwaitha complex southeast of Baghdad are now confirmed to be free of radioactive contamination. Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Al-Aboudi said the cleared sites […]
By John Lee. In a strong show of support for Iraq's transformation, France hosted a high-level France-Iraq Business Forum in Paris, bringing together over 300 business leaders and decision-makers. Organised by Business France, the event aimed to reinforce bilateral economic ties and unlock long-term investment opportunities. Following the forum, key Iraqi institutions and French companies […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Trade, Dr. Atheer Daoud Al-Ghurairi, met on Tuesday with French Ambassador to Baghdad, Patrick Durel, to explore ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic and investment sectors. Al-Ghurairi emphasised Iraq's commitment to creating an attractive investment environment and highlighted the country's promising opportunities across various sectors. He […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Finance signed two new credit agreements on Tuesday with the French development agency, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), to finance critical infrastructure projects in the sanitation sector. The first agreement includes a €30-million supplementary loan for the sewage project in Khalidiya district, Anbar, raising total funding for the project to […]
By John Lee. French firm Airbus has delivered the first two Caracal military helicopters to Iraq under a defence contract signed between the two countries. The Iraqi Ministry of Defence confirmed receipt of the aircraft on Wednesday, 30 April 2025. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Defence Minister Thabet Muhammad Saeed Al-Abbasi highlighted the strength of […]
