Jordan Times
Monday, November 22, 2004
Iraq-Procurement 2004 offers
direct relations to businesses
An exhibition will be held on the sidelines of the conference
By Sahar Aloul
AMMAN — A three-day conference on rebuilding Iraq will take-off today seeking to
connect Iraqi businesses with global companies looking for prospects in the oil
rich, but war-ridden country.
Iraq-Procurement 2004 will host a large number of international companies and
Iraqi companies as well as official delegations, organisors said at a press
conference on Sunday.
“The aim of Iraq Procurement is to enable businesses and traders to benefit from
direct relations between Iraq and the world,” Iraq Procurement Managing Director
Raminder Singh-Barmi said.
The event is the second of its kind to take place.The first was held last April
in London.
Attending companies will have the opportunity to increase their chance of
successfully conducting business in Iraq by forming partnerships with local
Iraqi firms and bypassing third-party agencies, organisors said.
Since the end of the war, local and international private companies organised
several conferences and seminars in Jordan on rebuilding Iraq.
Iraq-Procurement 2004, however, will focus on the role of Iraqi companies in the
rebuilding process, according to Mostafa Al Bazergan, chairman of the
Iraqi-British Business Council.
“Our aim is to promote the role of Iraqi companies, not foreign entities, in the
reconstruction work,” Bazergan indicated.
An exhibition will be held on the sidelines of the conference offering
participating companies a platform to showcase their goods and services.
Meetings with Iraqi ministers and senior government officials will be available
to participants over the course of the event.
In addition, expert speakers will address industry specific questions pertaining
to conducting business and investment in Iraq.
Iraqi businesswomen will also get the opportunity to take part in the event,
according to Bazergan.
“A meeting for Iraqi businesswomen will be held on the sidelines of the
conference to give women an active role in the rebuilding process,” he said.