The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Kurdistan Region of Iraq Investment Task Force and the Iraq Business Initiative
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce established the Kurdistan Region Investment Task Force (ITF) along with the Iraq Business Initiative in June 2008, under the U.S. Chamber’s Middle East Affairs Department.
Since its launch, the Kurdistan Region ITF has been actively facilitating specific business opportunities, providing its members with access to key decision makers and has pursued targeted advocacy on their behalf.
In the past year, the Kurdistan Region ITF hosted a number of business delegations and economic stakeholders, and several distinguished Iraqi officials, including President Massoud Barzani, H.E. Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and now KRI Prime Minister, Dr. Barham Salih, Iraqi Deputy Primie Minister Dr. Rafi Al-Eissawi, H.E. Falah Bakir, Minister and Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the KRG, H.E. Dr. Kareem Waheed Al-Aboudi, Minister of Electricity, Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, and KRG Representative to the United States, Qubad Talabani.
More business delegations and opportunities will take place in 2010. For more information, please contact the U.S. Chamber of Commerce of the Office of the Representative of the Kurdistan Region.
The Iraq Business Initiative
The Iraq Business Initiative (IBI) is a core program of the Middle East Affairs Department. It is also an important part of the organization’s International Division that is focused on helping the U.S. business community compete in the global marketplace. The IBI is made up of a group of very distinguished American businesses. Its mission includes increasing member’s access to Iraqi markets, helping expand investment opportunities, and promoting dialogue and access to decision makers in the U.S., the Government of Iraq (GOI), and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). It also encompasses effective advocacy and business development programs throughout Iraq and the United States.
The IBI is the premier venue for dialogue between American and Iraqi business and governmental decision makers, and over the last three years the U.S. Chamber has led the force in the dialogue about economic development in Iraq. There are a number of challenges that Iraq and the United States face in this crucial time of transition and the Chamber is dedicated to eliminating these challenges. The aim of the Iraq Business Initiative is to generate and execute on new ideas for partnerships and business policy that can influence the thinking of our government, our business leaders, and their counterparts.
