Case Studies

How a routine procurement turned into a three-week delay because the supplier didn’t understand Iraq’s documentation process. Background A private-sector purchaser in Iraq ordered specialised machinery from a European supplier. The contract was straightforward: agreed price agreed shipment date agreed delivery deadline agreed incoterms Both sides assumed the paperwork was “standard.” The supplier shipped the goods with: Commercial Invoice Packing List Bill of Lading But one c

How a misstructured payment clause and incompatible banking procedures nearly killed a procurement deal between a UK supplier and an Iraqi buyer. Background A UK equipment supplier agreed to provide specialised industrial machinery to an Iraqi private-sector client. The contract required payment via Letter of Credit (LC) — a standard request from Iraqi buyers who want security. Simple on paper. Disastrous in practice. The parties signed the contract without: checking LC issu

How a supplier–contractor dispute over inspection rights nearly collapsed a cross-border project — and how structuring the contract properly saved it. Background A European supplier secured a contract to deliver specialised industrial equipment for an energy project in Iraq. Both sides agreed verbally on quality standards, inspection procedures and delivery milestones — but these details were not properly reflected in the written contract. The contract was a generic template

Overview The Basra–Najaf corridor — a 500-km transport and infrastructure route connecting Iraq’s southern oil hub to its religious and economic centre — was intended to be a model of post-war reconstruction. However, repeated execution delays, contract disputes, and funding gaps turned it into a symbol of the challenges foreign and local contractors face delivering large-scale projects inside Iraq’s evolving infrastructure framework. Background The highway was launched in 2

Overview Iraq’s first utility-scale solar projects are shaping the country’s renewable future — but they also expose the persistent challenges of execution on the ground . In 2025, a 300 MW solar plant in the Karbala desert highlighted the same issues many foreign EPC firms face: regulatory complexity, local capacity gaps, and last-mile delivery friction. Background With demand for electricity growing faster than supply, Iraq has sought to diversify away from gas-fired genera

Overview Despite Iraq’s growing portfolio of infrastructure and energy contracts, many international firms still face major barriers turning signed deals into operational projects. The challenge isn’t ambition — it’s execution: bridging the gap between contract award and real delivery . Background A European EPC contractor won a $45 million utilities project in southern Iraq, tasked with designing and supplying power-distribution systems. Within six months, design work was co