Iraqi Economists Network

Iraq: Corruption deteriorates economy and leads Iraqis to unknown fate

Corruption in Iraq is unlike other countries as it has developed into an integrated system that has led the country into a tragic social and economic situation. The Iraqi people, living on a wealthy land and floating on a sea of oil, has become one of the world’s poorest. For years, Iraqis have struggled to eradicate corruption. However, their demands have not been met by the decision-makers. Thus, Iraqis were left with no options but to revolt against the authorities to end an era that exhausted the country’s economy and dragged them into the unknown

What to Know About the Massive Protests Roiling Iraq. By Caroline Alexander ,

Iraqis were enjoying an unusually peaceful period. Baghdad appeared vibrant and safe in mid-September, with violence at its lowest since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, having plummeted following a victory over Islamic State two years ago. Then something cracked. Massive anti-government protests erupted and drew an unexpectedly harsh response from authorities. The oil-rich country is now mired in the kind of unrest it had hoped was in the past, with officially at least 100 people killed and thousands wounded. So what went wrong? What are Iraqis protesting about?

Iraq Acts to End Deadly Response to Protests

BAGHDAD—Iraqi leaders moved Monday to stop the use of deadly force against protesters and promised new social aid in a bid to calm demonstrations that have threatened a new cycle of violence. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi on Monday acknowledged for the first time that Iraq’s military had used excessive force to quell protests that have left more than 100 people dead and over 6,000 injured. He pulled the military out of Baghdad’s Sadr City neighborhood, where 15 people were killed Sunday night during protests, and ordered prosecutions of any soldiers and officers found to have improperly used force.

Iraq urges Indian companies to participate in energy and infra projects: Envoy

Being one of the largest oil and LNG importer, India is looking at other countries to fulfill its demands. Being one of the largest oil and LNG importer, India is looking at other countries to fulfill its demands. Soon, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan will be visiting Iraq to explore possibilities for increasing imports from that country. Fear of political unrest and lack of direct sea route, Indian businesses have kept away from Iraq since 2002. With the country limping back to normalcy, the bilateral trade between the two countries touching $ 19bn between 2017-18, Indian companies could play a major role in Iraq’s economy by joining various projects in infrastructure and commodities.