In accordance with the global response against COVID-19 and the cautious lifting of restrictions, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Health has updated official guidelines for travel to the Kurdistan Region. Taking into consideration the public interest and the government’s ongoing efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19, travelers entering the Kurdistan Region by land… Read More
Tag: Iraq Transportation News
China to Rehabilitate the Nassiriyah International Airport
By John Lee. Iraq and China have signed a contract for the rehabilitation of Nassiriyah International Airport. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi attended the signing on Tuesday. According to Shafaq, the contract was signed by the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) and the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC). (Sources: Govt of Iraq, Shafaq)
Iraqi Tankers Re-Registered in Umm Qasr
By John Lee. Two oil tankers owned by the State Company for Maritime Transport (SCMT) have been transferred from Jordanian registration to registration in the Iraqi port of Basra, following the lifting of sanctions. Iraqi Transport Minister, Captain Nasser Hussain Bandar Al-Shibli [Captain Nasser Hussein Bandar Al-Shibli], raised the Iraqi flags on the vessels, the… Read More
Passenger Numbers Down more than 80% on Iraqi Rail
By John Lee. Iraq’s Central Statistics Organization (CSO) has announced a fall of more than 80 percent in passenger numbers on Iraq’s railways in 2020. The number of passengers carried fell from 435,000 in 2019 to 77,000 in 2020, probably due, at least in part, to the coronavirus pandemic. More here (Arabic). (Source: CSO) (Picture:… Read More
Al-Maqal Port “to become Tourist Landmark”
By John Lee. Sharjah 24 reports that Iraq’s General Company for Ports is accepting offers from private companies to turn the disused Al-Maqal Port on the Shatt al-Arab into a tourist destination. It adds that an Italian company has already completed designs. Since the Iraq war, the port has reportedly declined for transport purposes, following… Read More
Iraqi Cabinet Approves Basra-Shalamcheh Rail Link
By John Lee. The Iraqi Cabinet has approved the construction of the new railway between Basra and Shalamcheh [Shalamijah, Shalamjah], on the Iranian border. The line forms the Iraqi leg of the rail link between Basra and the Iranian city of Khoramshahr. According to previous information from the Iranian Tasnim news agency, the $150-million project… Read More
COVID-19: Iraq Suspends Flights with India
By John Lee. The Iraq Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) has reportedly suspended all direct flights from and to India, due to concerns over COVID-19 (coronavirus). Shafaq reports that the Indian variant of the disease has been found in Dhi Qar province. (Sources: Bas News, Shafaq)
Flights resume between Iraq and Belarus
By John Lee. Flights are reportedly resuming between Iraq and Belarus, following a suspension due to COVID-19. According to Shafaq, Iraqi Airways will operate one flight per week between Baghdad and Minsk. Meanwhile, Belta reports that Fly Baghdad will serve the same route on Mondays and Thursdays. (Sources: Belta, Shafaq)
PM lays Foundation Stone for next phase of Grand Faw Port
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi has laid the foundation stone for the next phase of the giant Grand Faw Port project. This phase consists of: The construction of five berths for container ships; Creating the container storage and handling yard, and digging the inland shipping channel; Building the external navigation channel; Building a… Read More
COVID-19: Iraqi Kurdistan reinstates Travel Ban
By Al-Monitor staff. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi Kurdistan reinstates travel ban Daily coronavirus cases are approaching historical highs in the autonomous part of northern Iraq as vaccination efforts proceed at a crawl. The Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq restricted… Read More