DBX Kurdistan activities

With the participation of 300 international companies from 27 countries, DBX Kurdistan activities were launched on 15 through 18 of September 2005. In addition to King Abdullah 11 centre for design and development, 40 companies from Jordan took place in that historic event.

Through opening ceremonies, Iraqi ministers emphasized the importance of encouraging private businesses and attracting more investments from foreign countries to help rebuild Iraq. Those ministers indicated the role of expo and conference in showing economic opportunities available in Iraq.

The idea of the expo, as they elaborated, relies on encouraging investors to visit Iraq instead of holding economic demonstrations abroad.

Mr. Raad Ommar, IACCI CEO, explained that DBX Kurdistan encouraged business owners to attend, discuss means of cooperation with different companies from other countries as to invest their money in Iraq. The accompanying conference was a place where ideas, information and experiences can be exchanged and dealt with in order to establish a sound base for the national economic policies.

A documentary film on investment and Kurdistan business sectors was presented in the conference. The organizers of the conference sought for identifying the local market, the economic and investment opportunities in various sectors like infrastructure, technology, industry, encouraging investors to work in Iraq.

In the meantime, the participants discussed many issues relevant to rebuilding Iraq, projects and opportunities of investment in industry, trade, tourism, service, technology and construction.  Added to these issues, policies and programs of the ministries, covering the position of Iraqi industries, developing their competition, privatization, attracting direct investments, the position of tourism, problems encountered, postponed projects, and plans of Iraqi ministries to rebuild Iraq, were discussed during the four days event.

DBX Kurdistan attendees made face to face meetings to sign agreements and partnerships with their counterparts from other countries to contribute to rebuilding Iraq.

Moreover, Mr. Ali Al-Waheed, the chairman of Iraqi Association for Foodstuff Trading, said that imported foodstuffs represent an economic issue. He added that Iraq owns strong capabilities in foodstuffs production but the current situation is characterized by a large deficit in such kind of production. In his point of view, agriculture and investment opportunities was highly touched on in DBX Kurdistan.  

The Association has 350 trading members including 94 institutions and 31 companies that work in the field of foodstuff trading.

He added that participating in DBX was a good opportunity because we received investment offers in food production, investing agricultural lands and establishing farms to be used in agricultural production. In his opinion, Iraqis are in need of such trade shows and conferences since they encourage investors to enter the market and know more about its circumstances beside the fact that such trade shows are great chances for companies and businessmen to meet and explain their needs and recognize the market needs.

Deputy Minister of Industry Mr. Mohammed Abdullah urged businessmen to consolidate their business in Iraq and get to know Iraqi market from now because many companies are looking forward to start investing in this country as soon as the security situation becomes stabilized.  

He praised the role played by the Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce and Industry to organize for the DBX and give this chance for businessmen to meet each other.      

Mr. Mohammed Abdullah added that Ministry of Industry tends to be private through dividing it into two parts; the first includes 56 companies and the second works within the frame of private industry.

"The relations with Jordan are good" he described. "The majority of imports come from Jordan, especially Aqaba port" he continued.

The deputy minister kept on explaining the important role Jordan plays in industrial activity as Amman connects many business men whoever they are.

Jordan, as he thinks, adopts many ways for training the personnel of Ministry of Industry, providing information concerning privatization and taking the Jordanian experience as model to benefit from.

Mr. Ali Ozbalt, the Director of Beam, described the participation as successful. He took part in the event as to find investment opportunities and find international and local partners to work with.

He praised the role of IACCI in stimulating businesses to come to Iraq and enter the local market. The Iraqi market won't stay longer without great competitors.  He also referred to the importance of having continuous relations with companies from all over the world through holding expos and conferences of such type.       

Participation of King Abdullah 11 Center

The Center of king Abdullah 11 for designing and development has participated in the activities of DBX which started in Erbil for four days through a special pavilion prepared by the center.

The pavilion was intended for showing a number of machines and military equipments used in the different tasks and planes for training for the purpose of identifying the level of Jordanian military industries conducted by the center.

Al-Yamame, a training plane, being hung at 6 meters height, has drawn the attention of the attendees and visitors, in addition to the troop carrier, military helmets, defensive suit and other military equipments and clothes used in the military and security activities and tasks.

On the other hand, three manufacturing companies have exhibited their materials. It has been mentioned that these exhibits are manufactured by experienced Jordanian companies and as follows:

The Jordanian company for manufacturing specialized machines Jordan N B Aerospace Company and Jordan Aviation Company.

The pavilion also contained some brochures and directories showing the tasks and efficiency of exhibited equipments in addition to the specifications related to manufacturer and performance of these equipments and images for machines and equipment that have been developed in Jordan like towers of tanks and protection armors and others.

The show has been visited by a number of ministers and Iraqi officials who showed their admiration of the Jordanian military industries.

Moreover, a number of visitors also showed their desire in buying planes that reached to thirty training planes in addition to the military helmets.

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