The latest news from Kurdistan – security updates, reconstruction and more – brought to you by Iraq Business News.
This week the Palestinian Authority became the 22nd country to establish a diplomatic representation in the Kurdistan Region. The Consulate General will be headed by Ambassador Nazmi Hazouri, and will join the other countries that have already established a strong presence in the region with Consulate Generals. Ambassador Hazouri, who arrived in the region in […]
Representatives of Poland’s Malopolska Region on Monday in Erbil signed a Declaration of Cooperation with the Kurdistan Region. The agreement marks a significant step in relations between Poland and Kurdistan. The declaration was signed by Mr Marek Sowa, the Marshal of Poland’s Malopolska Region, and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister of Trade and Industry […]
Barham Salih [Saleh], the Prime Minister of Kurdistan's Regional Government, said he expects 12 per cent growth in the region’s economy next year. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Sulaimaniyah Trades Fair, Salih (pictured) praised the economic boom in the Kurdistan Region. “This city [Sulaimaniyah] used to be like a military camp, a war […]
By Tavish Scott, Member of the Scottish Parliament. This article was originally published by The Scotsman, and is re-published here with the author’s permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. A familiar face walked across the hotel lobby. Former BP boss Tony […]
Iraq's oil minister said on Sunday that Iraq will send ExxonMobil a further letter demanding an explanation of its contract with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) after receiving no response so far from the U.S. oil group, according to a report from Reuters. "So far we have sent Exxon three letters and tomorrow we will […]
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is embarking on a water supply and sewerage programme worth $910 million USD (1 billion IQD), according to AKnews. Samir Abdullah [Samir Abdullah Mustafa, Samir Akrawi], Minister of Municipalities and Tourism (pictured), told a press conference that the Goptapa-Chamchamal water project will supply drinking water for 300,000 people in central […]
CNN's Arwa Damon brings this report from Kurdistan on the continuing struggle between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad's Ministry for Oil over the right to grant oil contracts in the Kurdish region. (Source: CNN)
According to Dow Jones, the Iraqi oil ministry could ask Shell to develop Iraq's supergiant West Qurna Phase 1 oil field in southern Iraq, if the government decides to terminate ExxonMobil's contract after it signed a deal to explore for oil in Iraqi Kurdistan. "We have many options," said Abdul Mahdy al-Ameedi, head of the […]
To encourage investment in Iraqi Kurdistan, state authorities are able to gift land to important projects. However the process is plagued by corruption and injustice and has resulted in empty plots, unfinished projects and some undeservedly wealthy locals, according to this article from Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author and interviewee, and […]
The fourth agro-food trade fair will open in Erbil next week with 350 companies from 21 countries coming to put their products on show. Aziz Ibrahim, director of trade in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s Ministry of Trade and Industry, told a news conference in Erbil on Thursday that there were new companies among the […]
In the continuing row over ExxonMobil's contract with the Kurdistan Regional Government, Baghdad has called the deal a violation of the law. Reuters reports that Iraq's government said it would move to end a major contract with ExxonMobil, apparently referring to the company's multi-billion dollar contract with Iraq's oil ministry to develop the 8.7 billion […]
Last week saw a notable decline in attacks in Iraq, but incidents have worsened once again over the past three days. Activity was concentrated in the central provinces, although Baghdad itself remained unusually quiet until Sunday. Conditions now appear to be returning to an unfortunate level of normality. Roadside bombings are currently the most commonly […]
