HAROUN GROUP AT DBX3

The Group’s representatives considered that DBX3 had taken large strides forward towards organization and management, and they promised for a forthcoming participation
2007-11-25 More Details

World Windows Group is the best investment

World Windows Group was established in 2007. The Headquarters of the Group is in Erbil with branches in Amman, Dubai and Masqat. It undertakes general trade, contracting, industry and tourism.
2007-11-25 More Details

REWAFID-IL-ARAB FOR GENERAL TRADING AND CONTRACTING

The launching of the successful DBX3 at Sulemaniyah for the period 11-14/11/2007 was an economic accomplishment. The participation of Rewafid-il-Arab for General Trading
2007-11-25 More Details

ALRAGAD COMPANY FOR CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING

The ALRAGAD company for central air conditioning Mr.Thaer Yousef has appreciated the efforts of the IACCI which successfully held the DBX in Al-Sulaimaniya dated from 11- 14.11.2007.
2007-11-25 More Details
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DBX Story

The "DBX Story" is an account of the challenges that IACCI has encountered over the last months in the production of this landmark event.
 

 

The DBX Story 

The Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IACCI) was officially launched here in Iraq two years ago in June. Since that time, the organization's goals have been centered on developing Iraqi and western-world business relations. As one might expect, at this time in Iraq's history, despite the great opportunity, businesses are hesitant to come in and put down roots to begin transactions here in Iraq.

The idea for the original DBX Expo was conceived by IACCI's CEO, Raad Ommar, back in October of 2003 as a remedy for this situation. IACCI had been active at that time, as it is now, in leading delegations to neighboring countries for Iraqis to begin partnerships with people interested in entering Iraq. However, if it was possible for us (IACCI, as a representation of now approximately 5000 Iraqi businesses and hundreds of foreign Arab and western businesses) to provide a forum for interaction between Iraqi and western businessmen IN IRAQ that was safe and secure, we could officially declare to the world that "Iraq is open for business.” Then the opportunities for Iraqi business to flourish would open up. Iraqi companies are meeting success in business. Moreover, it means eventual drop in unemployment and a greater hope for the security situation to settle down.

Not used to the idea of free-enterprise and private sector initiative, the Iraqi Ministry of Trade was nonetheless willing to listen to the idea. In December of 2003, an agreement between IACCI and the Iraqi Ministry of Trade was officially signed giving the permission to IACCI to begin operations to repair the damage to the main exhibition halls at the Baghdad International Fairgrounds (owned by the ministry), and use them at a reduced fee for the purposes of holding the expo.
An Iraqi contracting company, Muhandis Inbehar Group (MIG), was quick to step up to the plate to begin repair work on the exhibition halls. An independent Iraqi company, MIG's desire to see business opportunities develop led its owner, Wathiq Abdul-Jabbar, to donate a large portion (in exchange for sponsorship) of the company's revenues to begin work on the restoration of the war-damaged exhibition halls.

Throughout the next two months, under IACCI supervision, halls 8, 9, 7 and later 3 were restored to full functionality at significant cost. JumpStart, an international organization that provides jobs to unemployed Iraqis, contributed a great deal of time and resources to cleaning up the fairgrounds. Local fair companies, Al-Jazeera and Al-Ani, who had not worked for over two years, were employed to set up the booth partitions in the halls. Through the efforts of all involved, the halls were prepared, completely furnished with new lighting, carpet and partitions, with tables and chairs on the way before the end of March.

A number of other companies caught the vision. General Electric (GE), in a pledge of their support for the idea of the event, undertook the provision of the latest state-of-the-art security equipment to ensure that all attending the event would be able to feel they were in a truly safe environment. Local agents for the Japanese electronics company Canon, the "I Group," already large supporters of IACCI, pledged the provision of all the computers needed for the business center to ensure the exhibitors and attendees alike would be afforded all means of communication and services needed to transact business. Tigris-Net, a US-based, Iraqi operated satellite Internet Service Provider, offered to provide the internet connection. Microsoft, in addition, encouraged by the initiative of the show, volunteered to provide software support for IACCI.

All of these companies believed in the idea behind DBX and offered hundreds of thousands of dollars-worth of support for the event without any form of monetary compensation. The initial agreed-upon date for the show was to be the 1st through the 4th of April, 2004.
Security measures were implemented to ensure that the event would be incident-free. A security company was hired and a large 3-meter high cement barrier called a "T-Wall" was erected around the site of the fair. The cost for the T-Wall was somewhere in the neighborhood of $400,000. The security company that IACCI hired for the job (at double the price of competing firms) was a British company that came highly recommended by the CPA for their ability to provide the leadership, Iraqi personnel, and connections with CPA security forces (CJTF-7) that were necessary to ensure the success of such an ambitious undertaking.
It was during the end of the month of March and beginning of April, that unfortunate incidents leading up to the escalation of violence began, forcing DBX to delay. Prior to this, other incidents had occurred to give more weight to these that were following. One of the DBX key sponsors lost some of their contractors and news of some kidnappings of foreigners began to disseminate.

With the occurrence of these events, the highly recommended security provider backed out. Throughout the previous month, the security company had been changing project leaders every week and a half. It was later clear that the company was extremely unorganized and neglectful in their preparations. Approximately one week before the show was to begin, the ill-prepared security providers hedged their bets and threatened to withdraw.  The company did in fact withdraw. Only after CPA's heavy urging did the company agree to remain on the job, however after precious days were lost, leaving only a few days before the event and readiness below minimum standards.

Due to the increasing violence and lack of confidence in security provision, it was determined, jointly, by IACCI and CPA security advisors, that postponing the event would be favorable. Meanwhile, the US State Department, under the supervision of Counsel Beth Payne, issued a travel warning specifically targeting DBX attendees to discourage them from coming, erroneously stating that CPA was not supporting the event, when in fact CPA support for DBX had been officially and publicly declared on Jan. 11th

It was decided at that time to postpone the event a couple of weeks and move it inside the CPA secured "green zone." The next couple of days proved that no location could be found within the green zone, for CPA's fear of taking on responsibility for an event that could turn disastrous should there occur an incident related to security.

Becoming clear that it would not be possible to host the event inside the green zone, it was decided that DBX would be postponed to the 30th of the month of April, and would remain at its original location in the Baghdad International Fairgrounds. By that time, things would calm down, it was hoped, and CPA would return its blessing to the event it had sanctioned.

A few days later, once more, it was made clear to IACCI by representatives of the CPA that they would not sanction the event at the end of the month. The only option to continue to hold the event on or around the postponed date was to take DBX on the road and move it out of volatile Baghdad. IACCI representatives traveled north to Sulaymania and met extremely enthusiastic support from the Government of Sulaymania. Support was so enthusiastic, in fact, that a protocol of cooperation was immediately signed by IACCI and senior government officials, along with the CEO of the Sulaymaniya Chamber of Commerce.
A pledge was made by the city government to open up the airport and all accommodations in the city, drawing on the organized forces of the army to secure the expo's location that was determined to be within the walls of the new Football Stadium of Sulaymaniya. Full security support would be given by military forces to ensure the safety of all attending. Efforts to prepare the site began immediately.
An announcement was made and the IACCI staff geared up to tackle the logistic task of moving exhibitors and over 2,500 attendees up to Sulaymania, preparing to host them and pay full expenses for the duration of the expo.

Within a couple of days, the government authorities whom had been so welcoming slammed the door on all efforts to bring DBX to Sulaymania. As far as they were concerned, the signed protocol of agreement was null and void. Reasons were given that the security situation was too unstable, and authorities were unwilling to take responsibility to guarantee security for the venue.

In spite of this discouragement, the spirit of DBX carried on. April 19th, IACCI organized a special event with the US PMO prime contracting companies for the benefit of exhibiting companies and attendees of DBX. The event was a tremendous success, with approximately 1000 attendees present. Iraqi companies were able to interact in a transparent fashion with the PMO companies, becoming candidates for sub-contracts under the primes as true Iraqi recipients of the US aid money targeted for Iraq and its people.

Meanwhile, efforts to locate an alternative location settled on the city of Diyarbakir, Turkey, which is situated in the southern part of the country of Turkey, to satisfy the needs of exhibitors and those interested in attending DBX at a time which was near the original intended date. The chamber did in fact organize and carry out the difficult process of transporting more than 1500 Iraqi businessmen, most of which were coming from Baghdad, and 120 companies from all over the world to the small city in Southern Turkey. This event was not without its challenges and shortcomings, however the end result proved to all that the grass-roots operation of IACCI, as an example to the Iraqi business community, could achieve anything it set its mind to, especially when one is willing to risk failure and keep going even when things get tough.

Of course, the original goal behind DBX is that it would be hosted in Iraq. More than 50% of the original exhibiting companies are waiting for this event to be held in Baghdad. To this end, IACCI has been actively seeking to make adjustments in the plan for holding the event in Baghdad along the lines of security and accommodation arrangements so as to allow the event to be held, given the present circumstances. TO this end, in place of the Baghdad International Fairgrounds as the location for the Expo, IACCI has secured one of two giant airplane hangers belonging to Iraqi Airways located on the Baghdad International Airport property.

The perimeter of the airport extends to over 5 kilometers distance from the site of the hanger and is tightly secured. The challenge in Baghdad remains the provision of accommodations, as there are none within the airport perimeter, along with the continuous attacks of terrorists in Baghdad that prolong the hesitancy of international companies to come there.

The time for getting involved and investing in Iraq's future is now. These challenges that prevent DBX from being held in Baghdad for the present time need not any longer deprive Iraq of the opportunities that an international exhibition of the scope of DBX will present to its private and public sectors.

It has been said that Kurdistan is the “Gateway to Iraq.” Foreign businesspersons are beginning to seriously consider the viability of launching their activities in Iraq through the channels that are provided by locating in Kurdistan. The Kurdistan Regional Government is to be applauded for its ability to maintain order through the chaos and turmoil that the rest of the country has been facing. Not only this, its efforts to attract foreign investors and international business to the region are marked by the presence of more than 4 world-class international 5-star hotels, a full range of park and transportation facilities serving the community, high-rise modern offices under construction that one might see in Chicago, and self-financing high-class housing developments, to name a few.

These factors have led IACCI to the conclusion that holding DBX in Kurdistan, particularly Erbil, would be an excellent way to finally bring the international-scale events that promote trade in Iraq home to Iraq. Following an initial survey of exhibiting companies and other foreign trade delegations attending rebuilding Iraq shows elsewhere, there is incredible enthusiasm for participating in DBX held in Kurdistan.

IACCI is therefore extremely optimistic that working with the Kurdistan Regional Government to organize and produce Kurdistan DBX Expo will prove fruitful for Iraq, and for the region of Kurdistan to fulfill its gateway role. International companies coming to Erbil for the expo will be amazed and pleasantly surprised at the progress of the region. This will encourage them to locate their operations in Erbil and begin their efforts to market their products and services to the region and to the rest of Iraq through the gateway of Kurdistan.

Some of the registered exhibitors for DBX have already participated in the Diyarbakir expo. Others are waiting to participate in the Baghdad DBX expo. Due to the unfortunate circumstances that led to the postponement of the original DBX, IACCI has decided to offer the original exhibiting companies exhibition space at the Kurdistan DBX Expo FREE of CHARGE. In doing this, IACCI is confident it will secure the participation of most of these companies eager to bolster their operations in Iraq. Those companies that are still waiting for Baghdad DBX will eventually have their expo there when the situation allows for it, having already paid for their participation.

Meanwhile, Kurdistan DBX Expo will move us all forward, enabling Iraq and the international business community to stand firmly and declare to the world that “Iraq is open for business,” overcoming negative perception that says otherwise, the Kurdistan Regional Government assuming its role as leader in this effort.
The Idea of DBX Kurdistan Trade Show
 
DBX trade show is the first exposition for rebuilding Iraq which is going to be held in Erbil from 15 through 18 of September 2005. This Fair is considered as a new launch in the way of Iraq reconstruction on all levels with the participation of Iraqi Ministries in addition to Kurdistan Regional Government.
The Fair is located in Erbil Park which is regarded as the most beautiful touristy area. Nearly 250 companies including Foreign, Arab and Iraqi will take part in the activities of this fair.