Italy Provides Additional Funding for Stabilization Activities in Liberated Areas The Italian Republic is contributing an additional US$4.91 million (€4.5 million) to UNDP’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilization (FFIS), which finances fast-track initiatives in areas liberated from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). This follows a contribution of $2.72 million (€2.5 million) […]
By Simon Kent. Apparently concerned about the lethal pathogenic H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, which has previously been reported in Iraq, the country has extended a ban on poultry imports. Previously French poultry product imports were banned in December, but in January the ban was extended to over 20 countries. Monday's ban on […]
Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani met with Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti and her accompanying delegation. In a meeting, attended by senior civilian and military officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Minister Pinotti commended Kurdish military forces and Kurdistan Regional Government for their advances in the fight against terror. Minister Pinotti also […]
Italy's Eni SpA has said it is delaying planned investments in Iraq in an effort to preserve cash, as it deals with the effects of lower oil prices. Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi (pictured) told The Wall Street Journal that the company wants to concentrate on more profitable oil and gas projects, but declined to say […]
By John Lee. Iraq approved plans to transform the air base in Kirkuk into a modern civic airport. To do so it is seeking an investor to carry out the project an Iraqi MP told Rudaw, citing that several domestic and foreign companies have requested tender to start working on it. Iraqi MP Arshad Salehi […]
By John Lee. A new report by the U.S. Army Corps of Eengineers (USACE) says that the probability of Mosul Dam collapsing is even greater than was previously believed. According to Associated Press, the problem is that the dam was shoddily built on unstable ground: The earth underneath it is constantly being eroded by water. […]
From AFP. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq announced on Tuesday that it has awarded Italian firm Trevi a contract to repair and maintain the country's largest dam, which is in danger of catastrophic collapse.
By John Lee. U.S. Army Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland has said the US military was working with the Iraqi government on a plan to protect civilians in the event of a collapse of Mosul Dam. Reuters quotes him as telling journalists in Baghdad: "The likelihood of the dam collapsing is something we are trying to […]
Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday received Mr. Marco Carnelos, Italy's ambassador to Iraq, accompanied by a diplomatic and military delegation. Mr. Marco Carnelos reiterated his country’s commitment to continue providing military and humanitarian aid to the Kurdistan Region. He commended the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Region for their role in defending all the citizens […]
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - In a ceremony held yesterday, Italy's Consulate opened in Erbil, which was attended by the President of Italian Senate, Mr. Pietro Grasso and his accompanying delegation, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, Deputy Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament and a number of Kurdistan Regional Government ministers and officials. In his speech, Prime […]
By John Lee. Oil Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi [Adil Abd Al-Mahdi] has met the deputy head of the Italian company Eni, Mr. Labo Pasteli, and discussed cooperation in the oil industry. He said that Iraq is keen to strengthen the relations with companies such as Eni. Mr. Pasteli said that his company aims to increase […]
By John Lee. Occidental Petroleum intends to sell its stake in the Zubair oilfield to Iraq's state-run South Oil Company (SOC), according to a report from Reuters. The news agency quotes ministry spokesman Asim Jihad as saying on Wednesday: "Occidental asked the ministry for permission to sell its stake in Zubair field and the ministry […]
