Senior delegation from Iraqi Kurdistan visits DCCI

Abdul Rahman S. Al-Ghurair, DCCI First Deputy Chairman of Board of Directors received the delegation in the presence of Abdul Rahman G. Al-Mutaiwee, DCCI Director General, Sultan Lootah, Director of Business Promotion Department, Mohamed Al-Khateeb, Business Sector and Advocacy Manager.

For the Iraqi side were, Abdullah Ahmed Abdul Raheem, Finance Acting-Minister, Nawzad Hadi, Governor of Erbil City, Tamar Ramadhan, Governor of Dohuk City, Dr. Farhang Jalal, Prime Miniter Advisor for Economic Affaires, Dr. Mohamed Ameen Papan, Prime Miniter Advisor for Economic Affaires, Esmat Ageed, Iraqi Consul General to Dubai and Emad J. Mazouri, Kurdistan General Representative in the UAE.

During the interview, the bilateral relations between Iraq in general and Kurdistan in particular, with Dubai were discussed. This visit came within Kurdistan Regional Government's efforts that aim at attracting investments from the UAE in general and Dubai in particular, to Kurdistan in different sectors like, infrastructures, agriculture, industry, electricity, oil and tourism.

"Dubai enjoys solid relations with the world based on the joint efforts to achieve the economic aims and we, in the DCCI, are ready to provide all types of supports for Iraqi Kurdistan to develop its economy, infrastructure and encourage investors in Dubai to engage joint projects with their Iraqi counterparts. At the same time Kurdistan's government should motivate the economic circles there to widen and activate its participation in the international exhibitions organized annually in Dubai to further promote the investment opportunities there," said Al-Ghurair.

Kareem Sinjary, Minister of State for Internal Affaires of Kurdistan Regional Government said, "Although, the hardships and difficulties Iraq has always been undergoing, we, in Kurdistan, succeeded in surpassing those difficulties and have worked on developing the region economically, commercially, industrially and on the tourism level and we are in need of Dubai's leading experience on all fronts."

Dubai's non-oil trade with Iraq marked around AED8 billion in 2004 (including Dubai's free zones activities), Dubai's re-exports to Iraq were AED4.1 billion, Dubai's exports to Iraq were AED322.3 million, while Dubai's imports from Iraq were AED35.5 million in the same year.

On the other hand, Abdul Rahman G. Al-Mutaiwee, DCCI Director General received a trade delegation from Tunisia headed by Younis Freshio, President and CEO, La Ceramica Company in the presence of Mohamed Al-Hassani, Manager, Tunisia's Trade Representation in Dubai and a number of Tunisian businessmen and businesswomen.

Dubai's non-oil trade with Tunisia marked AED206 million in 2004 (including Dubai's free zone activities), while the number of Tunisian companies rose 50% up to 2005.