U.S. Chamber Hosts Trade Officials to Underscore Investment Confidence in Iraq

Officials Discuss Iraqi Banking and Finance and Draw Attention to Available Resources

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Iraq Business Initiative today hosted U.S. and Iraqi trade officials to educate the American business community on how to navigate matters surrounding Iraqi banking and finance. Government and trade experts sought to bring clarity and confidence to the burgeoning Iraqi market and to highlight the public and private sector resources available to U.S. companies as they look to do business in the region.

“The American business community has good reason to feel optimistic about Iraq’s future,” said Myron Brilliant, senior vice president of International Affairs at the U.S. Chamber. “Iraq provides significant opportunity for U.S. business interests in the long-term. More and more public and private sector resources have become available but much of the business community remains unaware.”

As part of the event, the Anbar PRT, Ellicott Dredge Enterprises, and Ariston Global Solutions, took part in an expert panel to discuss business operations on the ground and the unique hurdles still facing businesses in the Iraqi market. Company representatives highlighted how the wealth and infrastructure needs of the country make it a lucrative emerging market for business investment.

“Navigating Iraq can be complex for American businesses,” said Brilliant. “What we learned today is that American companies can take advantage of the vast opportunities in the region when they’re provided the right information and resources.”

In the past three years, the Chamber’s Iraq Business Initiative has been the leading force behind the dialogue about economic development in Iraq. The Chamber, within the last year, has led a trade delegation and made two additional trips to Iraq. The Initiative’s upcoming November 7 - 17 trade delegation to Iraq will be its first to Baghdad, Basrah, as well as Erbil.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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