Iraq Development Program welcomes senior Iraqis to Amman for global business summit

The summit takes place at the Grand Hyatt and Zara Expo on 28-30 June.

The summit will welcome a strong delegation from the new Iraqi government, which will include key Iraqi ministers, deputy ministers, director generals and ministerial advisors. Among the ministerial representatives present will be His Excellency Dr Latif J. Rashid, Iraqi Minister of Water Resources; His Excellency Ali Al Bahadili, Iraqi Minister of Agriculture; His Excellency Abdel Falah Hassan, Minister of Education and Her Excellency Juwan Fouad Masum, Minister of Telecommunications.

Differing from the standard conference-based format, the summit will focus on the importance of face-to-face meetings and personalised dialogue. Meetings will take place between the key individuals involved in Iraq's development process, including Iraqi ministerial officials, Iraqi companies, prime contractors and trade organisations, as well as senior level executives from over 500 of the world's leading companies. An international exhibition will also take place, allowing exhibiting companies to showcase the goods and services that will prove crucial in aiding Iraq's development.

The Iraq Development Program summit will also play host to over 100 Iraqi businesses, as well as representatives from the leading Iraqi business families and Iraqi state owned enterprises. Country directors and procurement managers from prime contractors such as Kellogg, Brown & Root, FluorAMEC, Black & Veatch and Washington International will also be in attendance. The summit has the full support of the Iraqi Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce.

Over the course of the three days a series of seminars will take place, with expert insight provided by organisations such as the Project & Contracting Office (PCO) and the World Bank Group. There will also be a special seminar held exclusively for the benefit of attending Iraqi businesses, hosted by the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) on Monday 27 June, in preparation for the summit.

The opening ceremony on Day One will feature addresses from H.E. Sharif Ali Zu'bi, Jordanian Minister of Industry & Trade, as well as speeches from several of the Iraqi ministers in attendance. A charity fundraising dinner will take place on the evening of Wednesday 29 June, which will look to raise money for Iraqi charities.

"We are deeply honoured to be hosting the largest delegation of Iraqi government officials and commercial companies to travel outside of Iraq," said John Glassey, Director of the Iraq Development Program. "We would like to offer special thanks to the Iraqi government and the many Iraqi ministries, whose support has played a key role in the organisation of what promises to be a hugely successful event."

A summit press conference will take place in the Zara Expo Auditorium at 11am on Monday 27 June. Those wishing to gain passes for entry to the press conference will be able to register from 10am at the Zara Expo. Any queries should be directed to Nida Ramahi, Press Liaison. No one will be allowed entry into the press conference once it has started.