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Iraqi Kurdistan PM welcomes 300 companies to
Kurdistan’s largest international trade fair
29.10.2007
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October
29, 2007
Erbil-Hewler, Kurdistan region 'Iraq',--
Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani today opened the
3rd International Trade Fair in Erbil, capital of
the Kurdistan Region. This year’s fair was the
largest in Kurdistan since 1991, attracting 300
companies from 22 countries looking for private
sector economic cooperation.
Emphasising that the private sector was the engine
of sustainable growth, the Prime Minister said, “We
place great importance on partnership and
cooperation between government and the private
sector to encourage economic and social
development.”
Mr Barzani said, “Economic and business ties are
helpful in building good international relations”.
He stressed that the Kurdistan Region desired good
relations with all its neighbours, especially
Turkey.
Regarding the current tensions, the Prime Minister
said, “We believe that there now exists a good
opportunity for dialogue and a peaceful solution.
This is an open door for negotiation and
understanding. We are for peace, and peace is in the
interest of all concerned”. |
Nechirvan Barzani, Prime
Minister of
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) |
The Erbil International Fair has become a fixture in
the economic calendar of the Region. Each year it
attracts many international companies interested in
taking advantage of the favourable economic climate
fostered by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Companies from the construction, communications,
banking, electricity and automobile sectors are
taking part in this year’s fair.
Iraqi Kurdistan PM's speech at 3rd Erbil
International Trade Fair
Erbil Exhibition Centre, 29 October 2007. Speech by
KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani
Distinguished guests, good morning. I am pleased and
honoured to welcome you here and privileged to
participate with you in the 3rd International Trade
Fair in the capital city of Erbil.
I would like to thank the organisers of this
outstanding commercial event, especially the Erbil
International Fair and the IFP Group. I commend your
serious effort and congratulate you on the opening
of this fair.
We are please to see the participation of 300
companies from 22 countries from Europe, the Far
East and neighbouring countries. These companies
cover a wide variety of sectors, especially
construction, communications, banking electricity,
automobile and trade. Since 1991, this is the
largest gathering of international companies at a
trade fair in our Region. I’d like to thank you for
coming to Erbil, the capital. We are pleased and
privileged to have you here. Thank you all for
coming.
The KRG views your important participation with
respect. When you come here, you see for yourself
the situation in the Region. You assess the security
situation and the investment environment, the
domestic markets and economic opportunities.
We believe that your participation here will give
you an opportunity to learn of the economic efforts
being made by the KRG.
We in the KRG are trying to formulate sound economic
policies and provide broad business opportunities.
Our goal is that together, through public-private
partnership, we can reconstruct the Region. Here I
reiterate our vision that we see the private sector
as the engine of our Region’s, and Iraq’s, economy.
We place a great deal of importance on partnership
and cooperation between government and the private
sector to encourage economic and social development.
We believe that economic ties provide a strong basis
for consolidating bilateral relations. This fair
plays an outstanding role in paving the way to
achieve this objective and secure economic growth.
We say with confidence, that the Kurdistan Region is
open for business and as a gateway to all of Iraq.
The Kurdistan Region provides a novel opportunity
for foreign investment. We have benefited from our
past experience and believe we can benefit yet more
from the successful experiences of countries around
the world.
Since the Iraq liberation and the reconstruction of
the Iraqi state, the Kurdistan Region, as a
legitimate entity, has tried seriously to implement
a broad reconstruction programme.
We are working closely with the federal government
in Baghdad to benefit from the principles of a
federal system. We want to take serious steps and
achieve progress so that our efforts benefit not
only the people of the Kurdistan Region but those of
all Iraq as well.
There is a great opportunity to make Iraq a
democratic, federal, pluralistic country where
people live in peace and prosperity.
We have stated our commitment to this federal system
and are a key factor to achieving progress in Iraq.
We are an effective and serious partner in the
political process in Baghdad.
We in the KRG feel responsible towards our people
and those of the whole country. We are proud that we
have been able to take steps to put aside our
political differences and work on a unified program
for a bright future for all of Iraq.
KRG policies fully support both the local and
international private sector, we encourage and
promote foreign investment for the mutual benefit of
all. Apart from providing us with specialist skills
and capabilities, we gain an understanding of
standard management techniques and business
practices around the world.
It is the KRG’s duty to provide a safe and secure
environment so commercial activity can flourish. We
are determined to continue to provide this.
In addition to the establishment of the Investment
Board and the passage of the Investment Law, the KRG
is ready to provide full assistance for all serious
investors interested in the Kurdistan Region.
We know that the business community places high
importance on legal guarantees for the protection of
their capital and projects.
Understanding this, the KRG has worked seriously on
our legal and judicial system. We have secured an
independent judicial system that works in accordance
with the rule of law and without outside
interference.
Apart from this effort, we have passed an Oil and
Gas Law in the Kurdistan Region which conforms to
the Iraq constitution and serves the interests of
the Kurdistan Region and all Iraq. This was a sound
decision for the economy throughout the country.
I’ve sighted these steps to assure you of the
seriousness of the KRG to secure an environment that
encourages genuine economic growth. We have tried to
encourage Iraqi businessmen outside and inside the
country, as well as other investors from surrounding
countries, to come and invest in the Kurdistan
Region.
We have a clear policy to live in peace with
ourselves and with our neighbours. We want good
relations with all our neighbours. We have always
believed that economic and business ties are a
helpful factor in building good international
relations. We have made a serious effort in this
regard.
As you are aware, there is currently a great deal of
tension on the border between Iraq and Turkey
because of Turkey’s struggle with the PKK. There is
a fear that this dispute will spill over into the
Kurdistan Region.
We want good neighbourly relations and it is right
that these countries expect from us that our land is
not used against them.
Therefore, we reiterate that we want good relations
with our neighbouring countries, especially Turkey,
and will prevent the territories of the Iraqi
Kurdistan Region from being used against Turkey.
We believe that peaceful solutions and mutual
understanding are the way to solve problems.
I regard the recent high level of violence inside
Turkey as unusual. Therefore we demand that the PKK
considers the situation.
We respect our neighbourly relations. We do not
interfere in the internal relations of Turkey, we
are not a threat to that country, and we will not
allow our territories to be used to carry out
attacks against Turkey.
I would like to reiterate that a peaceful and
political solution is the best way to stop the
violence and bloodshed. The experience of past years
has proven that this problem cannot be solved
through military means and that the problem still
exists.
We believe that there now exists a good opportunity
for dialogue and a peaceful solution.
We consider this a positive development. This is an
open door for negotiation and understanding. We are
for peace, and peace is in the interest of all
concerned.
We desire continued peace and security in order to
implement our economic reforms and service projects
and thereby improve the living standards of our
people.
Finally, I hope that your participation in this fair
gives you a chance to familiarise yourself with the
Kurdistan Region.
We in the KRG will continue to work to overcome any
obstacle that blocks our economic progress.
We will continue to encourage investment in the
Region in order to launch a great Iraqi market in
the future. We are working to build our democratic
institutions, trying to secure a decent life for our
people, put in order a good working system, and
benefit from international expertise.
I am very pleased to see you today; I thank you for
your participation. I especially thank the
representative of Prime Minister Maliki and the
delegation from Baghdad for being with us here
today. I welcome them. It is a sign that we are on
the right track to rebuilding our country. We will
continue in efforts to attract investment to the
Kurdistan Region. I wish you success and I hope that
this relationship will prove to be mutually
beneficial.
Thank you again, you are all most welcome.
Source: KRG org
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