By John Lee. Construction is under way on the Bawanur Dam project in the Garmian District of the Kurdistan Region. The project is designed to strengthen water security, support agriculture and environmental protection, and generate electricity. Overseen by the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, the dam is an embankment structure […]
By John Lee. SalamAir is to begin flights between Muscat and Copenhagen via Baghdad, from 14th November. The Omani low-cost carrier says passengers in Iraq can book flights directly between Baghdad and the Danish capital. (Source: SalamAir)
By John Lee. Five One Labs (51 Labs) has published its annual report for 2025, its final full year of operations in Iraq. The report outlines a final year of pilot programmes before the closure, with initiatives spanning Kurdish-language incubation, climate resilience, digital skills and social entrepreneurship. In 2025, the organisation identified several trends shaping […]
By John Lee. Iraqi customs revenues are expected to reach 4 trillion dinars ($3.05 billion) by the end of 2025, up from around 800 billion dinars ($610 million) before the introduction of the ASYCUDA (Automated System for Customs Data) system in 2022. The director-general of the General Customs Authority, Thamer Qasim (pictured), attributed the rise […]
By John Lee. A permanent tripartite Social Dialogue Forum has been established in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, bringing together the Kurdistan Regional Government, workers' organisations and employers' organisations to jointly address labour market challenges and shape policies affecting employment and workers' rights. The Forum was officially launched in Erbil on 1 September, with the […]
By John Lee. DNO ASA confirmed on Friday morning it does not intend to make an offer to acquire Genel Energy plc, following the Genel board's refusal to engage with its proposal. Genel shares fell more than 10% on the news. DNO had proposed 69 pence per share in cash, with a cash-and-share alternative. The […]
By John Lee. Plans to expand Iraq's customs automation system and introduce pre-payment of customs duties are under active review. Finance Minister Faleh Sari chaired a meeting on Wednesday with officials from the General Customs Authority and experts from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to discuss next steps. According to the […]
By John Lee. Iraq has set a target of raising oil production to around 10 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2030, under a strategic plan covering the period 2027-2030. According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi chaired a meeting at the Ministry of Oil attended by the ministers of finance […]
By John Lee. SalamAir is to begin direct flights between Muscat and Erbil from 25th October. The Omani low-cost carrier says the route will offer affordable direct connections between the two cities. (Source: SalamAir)
By Professor Oday Talal Mahmood, for JURIST. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq Cannot Say Where $76 Billion Went, and No Law Compels It To Fourteen governorates share 2.8 percent of Iraq's national budget. Ministries in Baghdad direct 87 percent. Nothing […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Trade has begun updating its Initial Goods Offer file as part of the technical requirements for the country's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The work is being carried out by the Goods Trade Committee, a technical sub-committee of the national committee overseeing WTO accession, in coordination with […]
By John Lee. An Iraqi delegation has reportedly held talks with Iran on the smooth passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, with expectations of reaching an understanding within the coming days. Minister of Oil Basim Muhammad Khudhair al-Abadi told the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the government's approach is based on […]
