A delegation of 50 people from Iraq’s construction industry will be visiting the Conexpo-Con/Agg exhibition in Las Vegas this month to find suppliers and partners.
According to the Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce & Industry, which is organised the visit, it is the first ever private sector trade delegation from Iraq to visit the USA.
Raad Ommar, CEO of Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: ‘It has been our dream to organise a trade delegation to the United States and introduce the Iraqi private sector to their counterparts in the US and we feel encouraged by the enthusiasm our members have shown to participate in this event.
‘The Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been here in Iraq for the last 18 months with its 4,900 Iraqi member companies which comprise the best Iraq has to offer in entrepreneurial spirit and forward looking perspective toward the rebuilding of their country in over three decades.’
The US Commercial Service described the visit as an milestone in the building of private sector commercial relations between the two countries. ‘If you simply stop and ask yourself where is the biggest single opportunity in the construction business in the Middle East you will most likely say Iraq, where by World Bank estimates some $30bn are required in the next 18 months for the rebuilding effort. Donor nations have pledged over $30bn dollars to this grand undertaking,’ said Greg Wong, US Commercial Counsellor at the US embassy in Baghdad.
After Conexpo, the delegation will spend a week in Los Angeles where they will host a conference with the cooperation of the US Commercial Office and the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce to network companies in the greater LA area with the Iraqi delegation.
