Iraq, Kuwait Sign Strategic Partnership to Build Telecom Corridor to Europe

Iraq and Kuwait signed a strategic partnership contract to establish a telecommunications corridor. (Iraqi News Agency)
Iraq and Kuwait signed a strategic partnership contract to establish a telecommunications corridor. (Iraqi News Agency)
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Iraq, Kuwait Sign Strategic Partnership to Build Telecom Corridor to Europe

Iraq and Kuwait signed a strategic partnership contract to establish a telecommunications corridor. (Iraqi News Agency)
Iraq and Kuwait signed a strategic partnership contract to establish a telecommunications corridor. (Iraqi News Agency)

Iraq and Kuwait signed a strategic partnership contract to establish a telecommunications corridor that links the Gulf to Europe.

The new partnership aims to strengthen Iraq’s strategic position in the region, the Iraqi Ministry of Communications said, noting that the ministry’s General Company for Communications and Informatics signed a strategic contract for the establishment of an international telecommunications corridor to Europe via Iraq passing through Turkiye, through temporary transit with the Kuwaiti Al-Zajil Telecom.

Iraqi Minister of Communications Hiyam Al-Yasiri said that the agreement “comes to strengthen Iraq’s strategic position in the region, and to maximize financial revenues, in implementation of the government program and the general federal budget law.”

She added that the agreement was the first of a number of contracts and projects for submarine and transit cables, aimed at establishing communication movement from the Gulf countries to South and West Asia up to the European continent, via Iraqi sea and land ports, passing through Turkiye.

Al-Yasiri continued: “This plan and other similar projects that are currently underway will make Iraq a safe land corridor that competes with the only international sea route in the region that passes through the Suez Canal.”

She also indicated that the ministry will sign other similar contracts, including an agreement with Saudi Arabia to set up a third submarine cable to Iraq in the Al-Faw region (located in the south of the country), pointing to initial approvals to connect the UAE to Al-Faw, as well as other agreements with Oman and Bahrain



Saudi Arabia Continues Campaign against Violations of Car Dealers, Showrooms

Vehicle prices in Saudi Arabia have witnessed a significant increase. Asharq Al-Awsat
Vehicle prices in Saudi Arabia have witnessed a significant increase. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Continues Campaign against Violations of Car Dealers, Showrooms

Vehicle prices in Saudi Arabia have witnessed a significant increase. Asharq Al-Awsat
Vehicle prices in Saudi Arabia have witnessed a significant increase. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi General Authority for Competition (GAC) continues its campaign to crack down on violations committed by car dealers and showrooms.

On Tuesday, GAC issued decisions to initiate criminal lawsuits against 107 institutions and to study settlement requests submitted by 17 others.

This came after vehicle prices in Saudi Arabia witnessed a significant increase, prompting the concerned government agencies to verify and stop market manipulation.

According to information made available to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Authority investigated last year 155 establishments operating in the automobile sector, and found that 124 institutions have violated the provisions of the Competition Law and its executive regulations.

Violations included agreements between firms on fixing vehicle prices and dividing markets on the basis of geographical areas.

The Authority noted that these violations led to reducing competition and affecting consumer well-being, forcing the Board of Directors to initiate criminal lawsuits against 107 establishments, and to study settlement requests submitted by 17 others.

In January, the Authority approved filing charges against 79 firms, including agents, distributors, and car showrooms, for violating the law and its executive regulations.

The GAC Board held its 85th meeting on Tuesday and decided to initiate a criminal case against a number of establishments, due to allegations of price-fixing, market division, and other anticompetitive practices.

Moreover, the Board reviewed the results of an investigation in the education and industry sectors, and approved taking the necessary measures against six institutions.

It also decided to approve settlement requests submitted by two firms serving cold and hot beverages and pastries, after reviewing the results of the relevant study and investigation.