Economy and trade

Rouhani in Baghdad seeks outlets against US sanctions

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani is paying his first visit to Iraq with the hope of expanding economic relations to allow Iran to counter the tightening noose of US sanctions.

Iraq

Turkey's economy sinks into recession

Financial media say the Turkish economy is in recession, and Turkey refuses to renew the press cards of three German journalists.

Turkey

Why Turkey’s export rise is hard to sustain

A heavy reliance on imported inputs to manufacture goods for export casts a shadow on Turkey’s hype about headway in foreign trade.

Turkey

Salih: Iraq can be a 'bridge to the economies of the region'

Iraqi president charts new direction for Iraqi foreign policy based on "interrelated interests" at Sulaimani Forum; Iraq-Jordan trade deal should help address Jordan’s unemployment crisis; Rouhani arrives in Iraq to boost trade; US shifted arms from Iraq to Syria in second half of 2018.

Iraq

Egypt’s first sovereign wealth fund to tap unused assets

Egypt recently announced the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund aimed at managing the state’s unused assets to promote development and investment projects.

Egypt

Egypt to supply Sudan with electricity

Egypt announced the completion of a substation in the south of the country that will export electricity to Sudan in exchange for goods.

Egypt

Saudi investment fund hires US PR firm to create distance from crown prince

New York-based Karv Communications will be paid $120,000 a month to “create a clear distinction” between the $200 billion fund and its embattled chairman.

Saudi Arabia

Why artists are speaking up against ‘dirty money’ in Iranian cinema

The increasing emergence of “dirty money” in Iranian cinema has sparked an outcry among artists, producers and directors, who are urging action to stop the phenomenon from ruining the industry.

Iran

As Iran mulls joining financial watchdog, Israel sees win-win situation

If Iran joins the FATF anti-money laundering organization, the Islamic Republic might find it harder to fund militant organizations in the region, but if Iran does not join, it may lose what few international banking connections it already has.

Israel

Can Saudi Arabia afford a stimulus?

Oil-revenue-dependent Saudi Arabia still has $490 billion in reserve assets, but its massive foreign and domestic commitments and a long-term declining demand curve for oil could spell trouble down the road.

Saudi Arabia

Turks fire back as Trump ends preferential trade status

The United States removed Turkey from its list of countries that enjoy tariff-free access to the US market, a decision criticized by the Turkish government.

Turkey

Exodus by big firms pushes Iran toward smaller Chinese enterprises

To mitigate the impact of harsh US sanctions, Iran is increasingly turning to China by dispatching high-ranking delegations to Beijing to augment trade. But China is also mindful not to cross the red lines drawn by the United States.

United States