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Swedish trade council, red cross and diaspora focus on
the Kurdistan region in Iraq
2.6.2007
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June
2, 2007
London, -- Last week Kurdistan Development
Corporation (KDC) visited Stockholm Sweden to run
two outreach programmes for Swedish investors and
Kurdish Diaspora students. The programmes were
coordinated by the Swedish Trade Council and the
Swedish Red Cross.
Positive Political and Economic Developments:
Mia Early, Head of Investment Promotion, KDC and Ms
Vian Rahman, Kurdistan Regional Government
Representative, presented the political and economic
developments over the past twelve months to senior
representatives of some of Sweden’s largest
companies and individual investors. Additionally,
Johann Rollen, Director of a newly launched
Swedish-Kurdish business initiative, presented the
compelling case for investing in the Kurdistan
Region. The seminar was a precursor to a high-level
trade mission to the Kurdistan Region organised by
the Swedish Trade Council in June. Presentations can
be downloaded at the end of this article.
Regional Projects Eligible for Swedish Start
Loans:
It was announced that the Swedish Agency for
Economic and Regional Growth has identified the
Kurdistan Region in Iraq as a ‘Start-Country’ under
their StartSouth and StartEast initiatives. The
programmes grant "written off loans" to Swedish SME
companies working in committed partnership with
local companies. |
Swedish trade council
Swedish students, Photo: KDC |
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The loan is in two parts; one relates to the
transfer of knowledge with a maximum loan amount of
SEK 500 000(USD 72,500), and the other to investment
in equipment with a maximum loan amount of SEK 250
000 (USD 36,000). The combined loan may only cover
up to 40% of the total cost of the project. The loan
is written off after the project has been completed
on the ground and approved by Nutek.
Kurdish Diaspora Entrepreneurship Programme:
Whilst in Sweden, KDC took the opportunity to run a
practical session as part of an entrepreneurship
programme for voluntary returnees to Kurdistan. With
the support of the Swedish Red Cross, students of
all ages from across the Kurdistan Region in Iraq
are developing small business plans in order to
successfully re-establish themselves in the Region.
They form the first wave of young, returning
entrepreneurs who will lead the development of the
local SME sector. The group is planning a scoping
mission to Kurdistan over the summer.
Hugo W. Rickberg, Program Director at the Swedish
Red Cross said: “The Office for information on
voluntary repatriation at the Swedish Red Cross is
very pleased that the KDC accepted our invitation to
come to Sweden to present to both our students and
the Swedish business community. There is a growing
recognition that the young generations of
exile-Kurds with entrepreneurial skills are
essential contributors to the economic environment
of today’s progressive and relatively safe Kurdistan
Region. As the Red Cross Program Director I hope
that this initiative between our organizations, the
Swedish Trade Council and the Kurdistan Regional
Government and their representations in the Nordic
countries and in the UK will be the first of many.”
Download Presentation in MS
Power Point by Vian Rahman, KRG and Mia Early, KDC
(Size- 6 MB)
Download Presentation by
Johann Rollen in PDF format
kurdistancorporation com
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