The latest news from Kurdistan – security updates, reconstruction and more – brought to you by Iraq Business News.
Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received Mr Frank Baker OBE on Tuesday, an old friend of the Kurds and the UK's new ambassador to Iraq. Mr Baker visited Kurdistan at the beginning of his appointment as ambassador. He expressed his pleasure to be back in Erbil and to see Prime Minister Barzani. He said that he […]
Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani today received Mr Tan Banglin, envoy from China's Foreign Ministry appointed to be the first Chinese consul general in the Kurdistan Region. Mr Banglin said that he was very pleased to visit the Kurdistan Region, stating that he has arrived in the Region during this difficult time to express China’s solidarity […]
The Foreign Minister of Belarus, Mr Vladimir Makei, arrived in the Kurdistan Region yesterday to strengthen bilateral relations and sign a memorandum of understanding. Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, and senior KRG officials received the Foreign Minister and his delegation. In the meeting, both sides exchanged views on bolstering relations and […]
By John Lee. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has exported more than 14 million barrels of oil from its independent oil pipelines to Turkey in the last nine months, according to a report from BasNews. A spokesman for the KRG's Natural Resources Committee told the news agency that the exports have brought in over 1 […]
By John Lee. In its interim results on Wednesday, Petroceltic gave an update on its operations in Iraqi Kurdistan. The company, along with Hess (as operator) has been active in the Kurdistan Region since 2011 when the Shakrok and Dinarta blocks were awarded with Petroceltic holding a 16% interest in each. Activity for the first […]
Mr Miroslav Dosek, Head of Middle East and North Africa section of the World Economic Forum (WEF), visited the KRG Department of Foreign Relations to discuss economic developments in Kurdistan as well as the current security and humanitarian situation. Mr Dosek said, “The achievements and the success of the Kurdistan Region are very much lauded […]
By Patrick M Schmidt. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has welcomed forty German military advisors who will begin training Peshmerga security forces on weapons newly received from Germany. The advisors have previous experience training foreign militaries. The German military assistance package is valued at $92 million and is aimed to assist in their fight against […]
By John Lee. BasNews reports that the unemployment rate in Kurdistan has risen from 7 percent at the end of 2013 to 10 percent currently. The number unemployed is nearly 100,ooo, of which 52 percent are men. The increase has been blamed on the general economic situation in Iraqi Kurdistan, and on the sanctions that Baghdad […]
By John Lee. At the request of the government of Iraq to provide urgent military support, the UK will supply heavy machine guns and nearly half-a-million rounds of ammunition. China's Xinhua news agency values the assistance at $2.6 million (3 billion Iraqi dinars). According to the statement from the British Ministry for Defence, this will […]
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Kurdish officials have said that they will support the Iraqi central government and Prime Minister Haider al-Abaddi's cabinet for a three month trial period. But the union remains on shaky ground, with the […]
By John Lee. Iraq has taken legal action against Greece’s Marine Management Services (MMS) over its role in the export of crude oil from Iraqi Kurdistan, which Baghdad regards as illegal. The tanker concerned, the Marshall Islands-flagged United Kalavrvta (pictured), is still said to be fully laden off the coast of Texas, carrying $100m worth […]
By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has reportedly resume the export of oil by truck to Iran. Iran closed its border crossings with the KRG for Kurdish crude oil exportation early last month. (Source: BASNEWS)
