The latest news from Kurdistan – security updates, reconstruction and more – brought to you by Iraq Business News.
The average weekly number of attacks has risen in Iraq over the last two months. Conditions gradually worsened in the first five months of the year, and while the increase in attacks has not been dramatic, it is nonetheless still a concern, particularly as the US prepares to withdraw its military by the end of […]
Just days after WesternZagros struck oil at Sarqala, Austria's OMV announces that it too has struck oil at its Bina Bawi block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. OMV is currently drilling an exploration well (Bina Bawi 3) and encountered hydrocarbons in one of the primary reservoir targets. The well is still being drilled and […]
Following the Kurdistan Parliament’s approval of the regional budget for 2011, Prime Minister Salih's cabinet met on Tuesday 31 May to discuss distributing the budget efficiently and quickly in order to best serve the people of the Kurdistan Region. The meeting was co-chaired by Prime Minister Salih and Acting Deputy Prime Minister, Karim Sinjari. The […]
Overview Readers of the weekly update will recall that the last entry detailed one of the most hostile seven days since AKE began contributing to Iraq Business News. Fortunately conditions improved over the course of last week. There was a fall (by half) in the number of bombings reported, while shootings declined as well. Kidnap […]
Former British Prime Minister Sir John Major concluded a historic three-day visit to the Kurdistan Region in which he received a warm welcome from officials and the public and praise for the bold decision he took in 1991 that laid the foundations for the progress and achievements in Kurdistan today. During his visit, the former […]
Best Western International, a leading international hotel chain, has announced its plans to open its first hotel in Erbil. A signing ceremony was held recently with Glenn de Souza, Best Western International’s vice president international operations for Asia & the Middle East, and Halgord Azzo, CEO of Golden Mountains Company, owner of Best Western Premier […]
The UK's former prime minister, the Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH, addressed the Kurdistan National Assembly on Sunday 29th May. The full text of his address is provided below: I am immensely grateful to President Barzani for his kind invitation for me to visit Kurdistan. His invitation was issued a long time ago […]
Overview Levels of violence rose considerably in Iraq last week, making it the worst week so far this year. A spate of bombings in Baghdad, Mosul and Kirkuk left dozens of people dead and injured. The police and military suffered the majority of attacks, but Iraqi oil workers, US soldiers and even three European civilian […]
By Tariq Abdell, Iraq’s political risk analyst, Founder & CEO of Mesopotamia Insight. The opinions expressed here are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The recent upsurge in violence across Iraq ( sticky bombs, car bombs, roadside bombs, targeted assassinations, suicide bombers, prison breaks, etc...) underscores, irrefutably, […]
Sterling Energy released an update on Tuesday revealing that important test results are imminent. Here is the statement from the Middle East and Africa oil and gas exploration and production company: Kurdistan Operations Update Sterling (AIM: SEY), the independent oil and gas exploration and production company with interests in the Middle East and Africa, provides […]
Gulf Keystone, the oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, announced on Monday that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has asked it to start exporting 5,000 barrels of oil per day. This happens just days after the Iraq central government released the first payment to the KRG after […]
US companies are put off from investing in Kurdistan by security fears, even though the Iraqi region is relatively safe and stable. Iranian businesses are more aware of the lower risks in this part of the country and are desperate to invest and take advantage of its heavy investment and rapid growth, despite tax and […]
