The latest news from Kurdistan – security updates, reconstruction and more – brought to you by Iraq Business News.
By Kakalaw Abdulla and Dler Abdulla, for Middle East Eye. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi Kurdistan faces water 'catastrophe' as Iran cuts off rivers Iraqi Kurdistan has suffered its fair share of water crises over the decades, but experts […]
KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday chaired a cabinet meeting on safely reopening schools and universities. The Cabinet voted for online learning for the first semester, except for twelfth-graders who will study on campus. The Ministries of Education and Higher Education have been tasked to prepare health and safety guidelines for in-person learning, and […]
By John Lee. Shares in Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) were trading largely unchanged at lunchtime on Thursday, after the company announced a loss for the half year ended 30 June 2020. Company statement: Jón Ferrier, Gulf Keystone's Chief Executive Officer, said: "We moved decisively to protect the business and preserve liquidity in response to COVID-19 […]
ILO and Kurdistan Region of Iraq pledge to support formal employment for forcibly displaced persons and host communities The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) signed an implementation agreement aimed at boosting formal employment amongst internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and […]
By John Lee. Germany's new Consul General in Erbil, Klemens Semtner (pictured), has arrived in Erbil to take up his post. According to a statement from the German Consulate in Erbil: "Awaiting final agreement from the Iraqi government, he is ready to start working to strengthen relations with KRI." (Source: German Consulate in Erbil)
By Ali Mamouri for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. US backs Iraqi progress on budget deal with Kurdistan Region The Trump administration says it supports Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's progress so far in working out a budget agreement with […]
Iraqi Kurdish authorities should cease harassing broadcaster NRT, release journalist Ahmed Zakhoy without charge, and allow the outlet to report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has said. Yesterday, agents of the Asayish intelligence agency, affiliated with the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party, raided NRT's office in the western city of Duhok, according to a […]
By Joe Snell for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Outraged after months of not receiving salaries, regular electricity outages and a failure to provide local business bailouts, protests erupted last week in northern Iraq against the Kurdistan Regional […]
By John Lee. Iran is reportedly ready to start technical negotiations with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over the opening of two important free trade zones. Mehdi Shushtari, Iran's Consul-General in Sulaimani, told Rudaw the preliminary work at Parvizkhan and Bashmakh border crossings has already been completed. Click here to read the full story. (Source: […]
By John Lee. KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani recently laid the foundation stone of a food industry zone in Duhok. In a statement, PM Barzani said: "Our promise is to develop other sectors of the economy and end our dependence on a single source of revenue. "Better infrastructure will benefit the whole of Kurdistan. Our […]
By John Lee. A new 300-megawatt steam power plant has been recently opened in Khabat, on the outskirts of Erbil. The plant, built in partnership with South Korean companies POSCO and the Korean National Oil Company (KNOC), adds 10 percent to the region's electricity capacity. Speaking at the opening ceremony, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani […]
By John Lee. KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani recently laid the foundation stone for a new 100-metre wide highway in Slemani (Sulaymaniyah). The 146-kilometre road will be built in three phases through a cost-sharing arrangement between the KRG and the Qaiwan Group. The first stage, valued at IQD 400 billion ($336 million), is planned to […]
