AKnews reports that Sweden is planning to open trade offices in Erbil, as well as an institute to help Iraqis address unemployment, in an attempt to broaden trade relations with both the region and Iraq. The announcement came in a press conference for the Swedish Trade Minister Eva Björling who is in Erbil on a visit. […]
Inaugural speech by KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, at the swearing in of the seventh KRG cabinet, Kurdistan Parliament, Erbil, 5 April 2012. Your Excellency the Speaker of the Kurdistan parliament, your Excellency Vice President of the Kurdistan Region, Excellencies Members of the Kurdistan Parliament, dear audience, We are glad that we are present today […]
Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, during a three day visit to Budapest this week, met Hungary's President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Economic Minister on an official visit to promote bilateral relations and cooperation. President Barzani and the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban discussed ways to develop cooperation and investment opportunities in a number of […]
Last week we reported that Ian Hannam, a top advisor at JPMorgan Chase, has stepped down to appeal a £450,000 ($720,000) fine from the UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) for disclosing inside information about a potential offer for Heritage Oil, as well as news of an oil find. Reuters' sources claim that the email recipient […]
The Kurdistan Parliament approved the new Kurdistan Regional Government cabinet on Thursday. Incoming Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani (pictured) and his ministers were sworn in to begin their two-year term. While many of the ministers remain in their previous positions, nine new ministers were sworn into the 7th cabinet. Announcing the agenda of the new cabinet, […]
The President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Masoud Barzani was officially received by President Obama and Vice President Biden at the White House on Thursday. During their talks, both sides emphasized the necessity of a prolonged and deepened relationship between the United States and the Kurdistan Region within the framework of a democratic, pluralistic […]
Further to the rumours that Exxon Mobil plans to abandon it's contract at West Qurna-1 in favour of pursuing exploration deals in Iraqi Kurdistan, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has issued the following statement: "In a meeting with President Masoud Barzani in Washington DC this week, the CEO of Exxon Mobil, Rex Tillerson [pictured] stated […]
The ongoing dispute between Iraq's central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) reached new heights on Monday as Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister for Energy, Hussain al-Shahristani (pictured), accused the northern region of smuggling rather than meeting its export obligations. According to Reuters, Shahristani told reporters: "Most of the crude produced in the […]
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has issued the follow statement on the reported granting of a contract to BP for the development of oilfields in Kirkuk: Neither Iraq’s federal oil ministry nor state-owned oil companies have the right to unilaterally award contracts to develop currently producing fields in Kirkuk province or in other adjacent areas, […]
Reuters reported at the weekend that Iraq's government has received a letter from Exxon Mobil saying the it had frozen its deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), but other reports say this has not happened. "We received a letter from Exxon on March 5 saying they are freezing the contract with the Kurds," oil […]
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has said Baghdad must investigate a difference of about 35,000 bpd of crude oil exports from the region that is failing to appear in the national total, and demands payment of over $1 billion owed. The full text of the KRG statement follows: Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region in […]
Kurdistan Region's President Masoud Barzani on Wednesday, 7 March, confirmed Nechirvan Idris Barzani as the new Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government and tasked him to form the 7th Cabinet. This follows the decision on February 17 by the Kurdistan Parliament to nominate Nechirvan Barzani for the post of prime minister and Imad Ahmed […]
