(New York Times/Reuters, New York, 19 August 2020) General Electric Co said it had signed two new agreements valued at over $1.2 billion with the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, to undertake maintenance programs across key power plants in the country and bolster its transmission network. The U.S. conglomerate was also working with multiple export credit agencies to facilitate financing of more than $1 billion for the projects, it said in a statement on Wednesday. Oil company Chevron Corp, Honeywell International Inc and Stellar Energy are also expected to unveil progress shortly on agreements with Iraq to develop one of the country’s large oil fields.
Iraq
EXIM signs MoU with Iraq
(MENAFN, Amman, 19 October 2019) The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Finance of the government of Iraq aimed at rebuilding Iraq and enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. The MOU replaces the previous agreement signed in Kuwait in February 2018 and increases the total amount of EXIM financing potentially available under the MOU from $3 billion up to a total of $5 billion.
Riyadh aims to counter Tehran’s influence with Iraq ECA credits
(Financial Times, Riyadh, 4 April 2019) Saudi Arabia is intensifying diplomatic efforts to boost ties with Iraq, as the kingdom aims to strengthen its influence on regional rival Iran’s doorstep. The kingdom’s harsh treatment of Shia clerics sparked demonstrations in Iraq, and many Iraqis blamed Saudi Arabia for fuelling hardline Sunni Islamist ideology that gave rise to the Isis extremist group. However, since 2016, Riyadh has taken a more nuanced view of Iraqi politics that aims at chipping away at Iranian influence by denying Tehran the sectarian card. Saudi officials arrived in the Iraqi capital this week, wielding a $1bn grant for a sports stadium. Last year the Saudis pledged a $1bn loan for reconstruction in Iraq, plus $500m in export credit.
Kuwait Conference pledges billions for Iraqi reconstruction
(Daily Sabah, Istanbul, 4 February 2019) Turkey, the top contributor for Iraq’s reconstruction with a $5 billion loan, has launched a coordination process to allocate the funds pledged for rebuilding Iraq. During the Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq, the host country pledged $1 billion in loans and $1 billion in direct investments. Saudi Arabia said it would allocate $1 billion for investment projects in Iraq and $500 million to support Iraqi exports. Qatar said it would allocate $1 billion in loans and investments, while the United Arab Emirates pledged $500 million in investment. The European Union and Australia each promised $450 million and $100 million, respectively. While the U.S. – who invaded Iraq in 2003 – said it could provide more than $3 billion to help American firms invest in the war-torn country. Britain had said it would grant Iraq export credit of up to $1 billion per year for a decade. Iraqi government published a list of 157 projects, for which it sought private investments during the conference last year.
