The oil-sales pact agreed in December is crumbling, undermining the fight against Islamic State BAGHDAD—An oil-sales deal between Iraq and the semiautonomous Kurdistan Regional Government is close to collapse about six months after it was signed, undermining the country’s unity as it struggles to fight Islamic State and contain an escalating financial crisis. Months of acrimo
Read MoreA Note on Global Oil Prices and Exports from Iraq *. By Dr. Falah Alamri ** Ladies and Gentleman, I would like first to thank the organizers of this conference for giving me the opportunity to speak in such an important gathering. I will focus in my brief speech mainly on two points. First, factors behind the declining and volatility of oil prices, and second, the potential inc
Read More“In an increasingly interdependent world, energy security cannot be a wholly domestic issue. Only with strong and stable energy partners across the world can we achieve secure access to energy, a well functioning energy market and stability to plan for the future. Recent events in Russia and Ukraine have made this clearer than ever.” Iraq’s energy potential “The IEA estimates
Read MoreThis report examines the energy outlook for Iraq, the way in which energy can contribute to the country’s much-needed social and economic development over the coming decades and the way in which Iraq’s energy can affect global oil and gas markets. Chapter 1 sets the scene with an analysis of Iraq’s energy sector today and the role that it plays in the national economy, supporte
Read MoreGeneral introduction: A 2011 World Bank study on Iraq’s financial sector indicates that bank credit in Iraq amounts to only 10% of GDP and would need to rise by an additional $38 billion to catch up to the MENA average of 55%. In a Market Assessment in 2010, over 700 Iraqi MSMEs were interviewed on their major business constraints and opportunities. Results revealed that acce
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