Thread: Archive - Latest News Think Tank - 15/01/09 - 04/05/09

Maliki described the parliamentary visits to European countries a positive step

Described member of the Foreign Relations Committee in the House of Representatives, Tania Talat, the visit of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of the European countries as "positive step."

Talat said in a press release Wednesday that such tours can be combined to form a support for the restoration of Iraq's relations internationally and regionally, expressing optimism that the Iraqi officials contributed visits to European countries in achieving the full support of Iraq.

The Maliki began Wednesday a European tour including a visit in London during which he will attend the international conference to encourage investment in Iraq, will also visit the French capital Paris.

He has earlier visited Moscow and Rome as part of a tour designed to support Iraq and to encourage European companies to invest in various fields.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...xnOsNBH9Xxw-hQ

President of the Bank of Iraq: trade flows and investment opportunities are increasing at the London Conference and the expectations of the establishment of private investment fund worth 250 million dollars
Meet senior Iraqi officials and international business in London on Thursday to explore possible investment deals with the country's slow exit from the conflict continued for six years.

Joined by representatives from nearly 250 companies, including Shell, Rolls Royce, Barclays Capital to Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, talks in a few days

Head of the Commercial Bank of Iraq Hussein Al-Ethary that trade flows and investment opportunities are increasing. The bank, which was established by the U.S. authorities in July 2003 to finance reconstruction projects in trade and the rise of net profit in 2008 by 41 percent to 359 million dollars of operating income amounted to 447 million dollars. During the same period, total assets grew by more than 60 percent to ten billion dollars from 2.8 billion dollars in 2006.

The Bank is assisting projects ranging from energy to the cement factories and agricultural enterprises and the production of fertilizer to the financing of deals, the private sector, which is building slowly, the Iraqi economy. It is expected to be related to the oil deals with Iraq currently produces about two million barrels per day and includes the third-largest proven oil reserves in the world, once the largest transaction to finalize the contract.

Al-Ethary and said, who received his education in the United States and returned to Iraq after the ouster of former President Saddam Hussein announced the results of the Bank on Wednesday that the last six years were not easy for Iraq, but now everything is returning to normal.

Al-Ethary speak (46 years) in the investment in Iraq, sponsored by the Department for International Development in Britain.

At present, most private investment in Iraq comes from the Gulf region, Turkey, Iran or Iraqi expatriates living in Jordan, Lebanon and Dubai are looking to gain a foothold in the business in their homeland. Al-Ethary but he said there was also a steady growth in interest on the part of Britain, France, Germany and the United States, where there are special funds will also search for Li investment opportunities.

Fairfax County plans to fund the London-based investment up to 200 million dollars in Iraq this year, according to the Financial Times. The Commercial Bank of Iraq is looking forward to the establishment of a fund by private investment worth 250 million dollars. There was no fund Fairfax contacts to make a comment on Wednesday.

It is expected that the Al-Ethary exceed private-sector investment, "tens of billions of dollars" annually during the next three to five years to be power projects, energy and infrastructure, the main point of attraction

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...WDhlJIHkKhtCkw

The Commission on oil and gas, open the files of oil smuggling in the country

It is expected that the Commission on oil and gas in the House of Representatives during the coming period to open the files of oil smuggling in the country, through a host of former ministers concerned.

The decision of the Commission on oil and gas in the House of Representatives, Deputy Jaber Khalifa Jaber told a news briefing on Thursday that the activation of the oversight role of the House of Representatives will help to open all files that have not been disclosed or discussed because of this role in the activation of the Presidency.

Jaber said that the mass of virtue to which he belongs, will open the issue of oil smuggling, and requests to host all the former oil minister to discuss the issue of oil smuggling, and his statement to the citizens.

He expressed the hope that the President promised the House of Representatives, Iyad al-Samarrai of the political blocs to activate the oversight role of the Council an indication of the start of a new phase in its work.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...i612UflWUB5nMg

Independent Arab bloc: the delayed legislation of oil and gas because of the presence of defects in the Constitution

MP attributed the mass independent Arab Abdul Mutlaq Jubouri House delayed the enactment of a law of oil and gas to political differences and the presence of defects in the Constitution.

Jubouri said in a press release Thursday that the Constitution was not clear on the issue of wealth management, whether it is the central authority, however, is that the provinces can benefit from the wealth, even if the Constitution is clear in this matter as there were political differences.

Jubouri expressed the hope that the House of Representatives will be able to correct all the mistakes that have emerged from the present Council, calling to focus on the important laws concerning the future of the Iraqi people, including the oil and gas law, as he put it.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...MPhft2Y6ZOhGdA

Abdel Latif describes the foreign investor currency scarce at the moment

The independent MP in Parliament, and Wael Abdul Latif, the international conference to attract investment to Iraq, which is scheduled for Thursday in London by-step of La Paz.

Abdul Latif said in a press release that it was better that preceded the announcement of the details of investment maps of Baghdad and other governorates, and the identification of the areas concerned and discuss the obstacles and problems.

Abdul Latif said the Investment Authority, a move that was not the form required after the investment maps, where a large number of Arab and foreign companies expressed their lack of understanding of the conditions and the complexities of the view, calling for action to speed up the amendments to the paragraphs of the investment law and overcome the conditions of work.

The Abdul Latif said that the foreign investor if it wants to work, it is a victory for Iraq, describing the rare investor's currency at the present time.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...6Pm-WuWZtQF_NA

Fire devours department of “Contracts and Licenses” in Ministry of Oil

A well-informed source told PUKmedia website that a fire devoured the department of “Contracts and Licenses” in the headquarters of the Iraqi Ministry of Oil today April 30th, 2009.

“The reasons behind the fire are still unknown. The fire damages and casualties are still unknown as well”, the source added.

Details to be posted as soon as available.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...10738&Itemid=1

“Invest Iraq” Conference starts its works in London

Senior Iraqi officials and international business leaders will gather in London today (April 30) to explore possible investment deals. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will speak at the conference in London on Thursday to encourage businesses to invest in Iraq.

Representatives from around 250 companies, from Shell to Rolls Royce and Barclays Capital, will join Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Deputy PM Barham Salih and Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani, for two days of talks.

The Iraqi delegation had previously said it would offer a map of 500 investment opportunities in 11 sectors, including petroleum, infrastructure, finance and banking services and tourism.

Later today, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is set to meet with his British counterpart Gordon Brown. They are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding for further cooperation between Baghdad and London. PM al-Maliki is expected to meet with Queen Elizabeth II.

PM al-Maliki will also travel to Paris on Monday, which is the first visit of an Iraqi prime minister to France, to meet with French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...10737&Itemid=1

Shahristani asserts the need for Iraq to 50 billion dollars for the rehabilitation of the oil sector

The Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said Iraq would need 50 billion dollars to at least the next five years to revive the oil sector of the injured war, sanctions and the lack of liquidity.

He said al-Shahristani told a news briefing on the sidelines of the investment, which opened for business in London on Thursday that the money would help to increase crude oil production in Iraq 2.4 million barrels per day currently to 6 million barrels a day.

He said al-Shahristani said his ministry will soon launch a tender rounds third and fourth decades, involving the development of oil and gas fields in Diyarbakir.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...G3iTyTDMFQevIg

Prime Minister announces signing of the London agreement of cooperation with Britain

Britain and Iraq signed a bilateral cooperation agreement includes the areas of security, economic, investment, culture and education.

This came to the meeting of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the British counterpart Gordon Brown on the sidelines of the conference on investment in Iraq. Maliki said at a news conference with Brown, "The country is witnessing a significant improvement in security, and it was time to start investing at the level of the private sector and joint sector," stressing that "British companies will find land suitable for investment in Iraq, particularly in the areas of agriculture, industry, housing, electricity and oil".

For his part, praised the British prime minister (Gordon Brown) on the progress in Iraq, stressing that "bilateral cooperation agreement will provide full opportunity for the British investor in Iraq," and expressed the readiness of British companies to work there, especially in the development of oil fields. Between the president and the British "military operations in Iraq had ended, and the London-oriented support in the areas of the country's economy and construction services," adding that "the fight against unemployment and the development of the first building blocks to build the Iraqi economy and infrastructure are the main challenges facing Iraq." He said that "Britain and the post is to support the Iraqi people and work with the Iraqi government, side by side."

The work of the Conference, the private investment in Iraq was launched this morning in London with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and British Prime Minister (Gordon Brown), and about a hundred different British company. And put ministries in the conference sponsored by the Iraqi government, a number of investment projects in the context of the reconstruction of Iraq. Among the ministries concerned by the open door of investment in the cement plants owned by the Ministry of Industry and Minerals.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister, who will participate in the conference of the world, and investment companies to come to Iraq and participate in the reconstruction campaigns. In his speech at the opening of the conference that "Iraq has begun preparing a map to get to work better with the international community." "The government is seeking to open the gates of the economy and the businessmen."

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...BlErLZOYxKTFjw

Drop in dollar sales on Thursday

Demand for the dollar dropped in the Central Bank of Iraq’s (CBI) auction on Thursday, reaching $76.888 million compared to $102.181 million in the previous session.

“There was no demand for cash during today’s session, while foreign transfers outside the country registered $76.888 million, covered by the bank at an exchange rate of 1,173 Iraqi dinars per dollar,” according to a CBI news bulletin received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

None of the 12 banks that participated in today’s session offered to sell dollars.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=112391