The Impact of Bilateral Investment Treaties on Foreign Direct Investment in Iraq; Facilitation of Internal Reforms

Volume 21 , Issue 2 , November 2025 , Pages 561-571

Authors

Arez Mohammed Sediq Othman 1 ; Ahmed Aziz Hassan 2

1 1 College of Law- University of Sulaimani, Komar University of Science and Technology

2 2 College of Law- University of Sulaimani, Tishk International University-Sulaimani

DOI logo 10.17656/jzsb.11033

Keywords

Abstract

After the collapse of Saddam regime, the country has been opened toward foreign investors to
invest their capitals in Iraq. However, the legal barriers were still stand before investors, as the legal
system required major amendments to be conducted to attract foreign investors. In terms of
international agreements, Iraq needed a radical reform to rejoin international community and cope
with the rapid changes. Bilateral investment treaties were necessary to prepare a proper ground for
foreign investors before they really dig in into the investment environment in Iraq. In the recent years,
both Federal Government and Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq had made legal attempts to
adopt investment laws aiming to facilitate investment for the foreign investors. In general, both
legislations (Kurdistan Regional Government and Federal Government) include provisions encourage
foreign investment. This paper discusses that having proper legislations is not the only impetus for
foreign investment in the country, but rather having international treaties to back the activities of the 
investors alongside providing more protection to the foreign investors. Further, the paper will also
investigate the role of internal reform to attract foreign investors.

References

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  • First online25 November 2025
  • Published at25 November 2025

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