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From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.
Pollution in southern Iraq is being blamed for killing thousands of fish.
Locals say the government has allowed sewage to poison the livelihoods of fishermen.
Al Jazeera’s Simona Foltyn reports from Karbala province:
The post Video: Pollution blamed for Killing Fish in Iraq first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By Luay al-Khatteeb, for Foreign Policy. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.
Iraq’s Future Isn’t Oil, It’s Sustainable Electricity
As the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of the Islamic State insurgency, revolutionizing the country’s energy sector could be the key to long-term security.
Click here to read the full story (subscription required).
The post Iraq’s Future Isn’t Oil, It’s Sustainable Electricity first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By Muhammed Magdy for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.
Iraq, Jordan, Egypt economic partnership gains momentum
The tripartite meeting between the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, and the ensuing agreements to boost cooperation raises questions about a nascent alliance that could confront Iran’s growing influence in the region.
Click here to read the full article.
The post Iraq, Jordan, Egypt Economic Partnership gains Momentum first appeared on Iraq Business News.
Breaking Out of Fragility: A Country Economic Memorandum for Diversification and Growth in Iraq
Iraq is at a crossroads. Almost two decades after the 2003 war, the country remains caught in a fragility trap, facing increasing political instability, growing social unrest, and a deepening state-citizen divide.
Amid a multitude of crises (including an oil price shock, the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent protests) as well as a culmination of poor economic policies, a lack of reforms, and an inability to tackle corruption, Iraq is having its worst annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth performance in 2020 since the fall of the Saddam regime.
Instability, a lack of jobs, corruption, and poor service delivery remain among the most important risks to the country’s long-term growth.
With every crisis comes an opportunity to reform. However, Iraq’s path to reform will be challenging and uncertain. Given current oil prices and the persistent drop in global demand for oil because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country will have a tough time addressing the needs of its people in the short term.
It can, however, embark on a long but much-needed path toward structural transformation and reform, one that could leave its economy less dependent on oil and more driven by private sector activity.
The widespread protests since October 2019, which have called into the question the country’s current political economy, illustrate that such path for reform can no longer be avoided. Nevertheless, as this report shows, this path will demand persistence, and Iraq will face much uncertainty as it tries to address its long-lasting challenges and change the status quo.
This report highlights what Iraq can do to sustain future growth, but it also shows why the country has not yet managed to achieve high levels of diversified growth alongside peace, stability, and a better standard of living for its people.
The report also suggests strategic pathways by which Iraq can break free from this fragility trap, in which peace and stability can create the conditions for people to fulfill their aspirations, find private sector jobs, and thrive.
In this context, the report’s four chapters provide:
Breaking Out of Fragility: A Country Economic Memorandum for Diversification and Growth in Iraq (Full Report in a PDF Format)
(Source: World Bank)
The post Breaking Out of Fragility: Diversification and Growth in Iraq first appeared on Iraq Business News.
The Iraqi Cabinet held an extraordinary meeting in the city Nasiriyah in Dhi Qar province on Monday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi.
At the start of the meeting, the Prime Minister said that the people of Dhi Qar had sacrificed much for Iraq, but they have suffered from the consequences of past marginalisation. He affirmed that this government is determined to address the challenges facing the province.
Following discussions, the Cabinet approved several measures to improve services and boost investment in Dhi Qar, including:
The Cabinet also approved several technical and administrative measures related to Dhi Qar aimed at delivering tangible and rapid improvement across a number of key public services.
(Source: Govt of Iraq)
The post Cabinet commits resources to Dhi Qar province first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By John Lee.
The United States has reportedly granted Iraq a 60-day extension to a sanctions waiver allowing it to import Iranian gas.
According to the report from AFP, Iraq relies on gas and electricity imports Iran to supply about a third of its electricity sector.
(Source: AFP)
The post US Grants Iraq New 60-day Waiver to Import Iranian Gas first appeared on Iraq Business News.
Addressing Iraq’s fragility crucial to recovery from COVID-19 pandemic
Failure to address Iraq’s multi-faceted fragility could lead to an increase in extreme poverty across the country, according to a new report released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq.
Impact of the Oil Crisis and Covid-19 on Iraq’s Fragility explores the major dimensions of fragility – economic, environmental, political, societal, and security – and their impact on Iraq in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic and resulting oil crisis.
The paper is the first in a series of policy papers that UNDP will issue on the impact of COVID-19 on Iraq. It provides key recommendations to support the Government of Iraq, local development actors and the international community develop strategies that enable Iraq to recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic.
“In fragile countries, social safety nets are weak and insufficiently address the basics needs of the most vulnerable groups in society. This ultimately results in deeper social inequalities,” says Resident Representative of UNDP Iraq, Zena Ali Ahmad.
“For Iraq, decades of conflict have hampered the country’s stability and stunted its prosperity. The onset of COVID-19 and the oil crisis exacerbated existing fragilities in the country.
“The different dimensions of fragility explored in this report emphasise that Iraq’s fragility is not a result of one single event; it involves a number of intricate factors that have collectively impacted every aspect of the country’s development, and these must be closely considered when charting the path to Iraq’s recover from the pandemic.
“Tackling Iraq’s fragility by addressing these main drivers is critical to achieving Agenda 2030 and getting Iraq back on a prosperous and tangible development trajectory. We hope this policy paper is a useful tool for partners to shape effective policies for post-COVID-19 recovery in the country,” she adds.
The policy paper, which applies a multidimensional concept of fragility based on the methodology developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), was developed in consultation with UN agencies in Iraq, notably the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Labor Organization (ILO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
UNDP’s upcoming policy papers will cover the themes of: social protection, macro-economic stability, social cohesion, and household vulnerability.
Impact of the Oil Crisis and Covid-19 on Iraq’s Fragility is available on the UNDP Iraq website
(Source: UNDP)
By John Lee.
The Iraqi Government has said that it will extends the partial, nationwide curfew until 15th August, with a total curfew on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The move is an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
(Source: Govt of Iraq)
By John Lee.
On Wednesday evening, the Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab received an Iraqi delegation headed by Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar, representing Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, and which included Deputy Health Minister Hani Al-Aqabi, Chargé D’affaires, Amin Al-Nasrawi, Political Advisor Ahmad Jamal and Oil Minister’s Office Head Haidar Obaid, in the presence of Energy and Water Minister Raymond Ghajar and PM’s Advisor, Khodor Taleb.
The delegation briefed the Prime minister on the Iraqi medical provisions that arrived in Beirut and the petroleum products that departed Baghdad.
After the meeting, Minister Abdul-Jabbar said:
“In response to the directive of the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, we came from the Ministry of Oil along with the Deputy Health Minister and a number of general and specialized surgeons, carrying aid amounting to 20 tons of medical and health materials, as an expression of Iraq’s solidarity with the suffering of brotherly Lebanon due to the recent incident that took place.
“An atmosphere of desolation and expectation prevailed in Iraq, in the face of the major event that afflicted Beirut. May Lebanon return to normalcy and live safe. The Iraqi government is committed to engage with Lebanon in the face of this ordeal. The fuel convoys have left Baghdad en route to Beirut via the Syrian border.
“Premier Al-Kadhimi promised the Lebanese government to provide Lebanon with fuel; Iraq will be of invaluable assistance and support for the Lebanese government. The medical staff will remain in Beirut until the Lebanese authorities consent to their return, and medical assistance will remain available. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and missing persons, and we wish recovery for the wounded people.“
(Source: Lebanese PM Press Office)
Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi on Sunday chaired a meeting of the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety.
At the start of the meeting, the Prime Minister thanked Iraqi health workers and paid tribute to their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic, and for treating and looking after those affected by Covid-19.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister underscored the role of citizens in combatting Covid-19 and the importance of following preventive health guidance, social distancing and other rules.
Following discussions, the Higher Committee decided to:
(Source: Govt of Iraq)