Embassy Events 2004

Related Photos

The First Delegation: Focus on Private Investment

Iraqi Trade Minister Ali Alawi and Director for Private Sector Development for the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Tom Foley held meetings in Warsaw with representatives of the Polish government and companies on February 26.

Minister Alawi and Mr. Foley met Deputy Prime Minister Jerzy Hausner and an inter-ministerial team headed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Najar. They also participated in a briefing for Polish companies on trade and investment opportunities in Iraq.

Minister Alawi said he appreciates the help Poland has provided in Iraq's reconstruction, and believes Polish companies can build on their good reputation of providing services, as they did in the 1980s. He noted that companies should work directly with their Iraqi counterparts to pursue trade and investment opportunities in a wide range of fields, including chemicals, housing and consumer goods.

Mr. Foley encouraged Polish firms to come to Iraq now to explore opportunities, noting that companies investing early were likely to benefit most. He also mentioned that a number of basic services essential for business are already available, including a good road, air and port network.

Mr. Foley said the outlook for the Iraqi economy is improving, with growth forecast at more than 2% in 2004. More than $5 million in foreign investment is also flowing into the country every day.

A Second Delegation: Focus on U.S.-funded Contracts

At the same briefing in Warsaw, the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) and the Project Management Office (PMO) of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq also sent a team of experts to brief Polish companies on investment opportunties in Iraq. This delegation focused on U.S. government-funded contracts, rather than private investment which Minister Alawi and Mr. Foley discussed.

The visit follows up on a pledge Commerce Secretary Donald Evans made to Deputy Prime Minister Hausner during Evans' visit to Poland last December. At that time, Secretary Evans promised to help Polish companies access reliable and specific information about contracting opportunities.

Peter Thompson, of the PMO, and Jay Brandes, Director of USDOC's Iraq Trade Task Force, participated in the same seminar as Minister Alawi and Mr. Foley. The Ministry of Economy and the National Chamber of Commerce hosted this event, and more than 200 Polish companies participated.

Presentations discussed opportunities to win tenders as part of the $18.4 billion in U.S.-funded contracts, as both prime and sub-contractors.

A senior vice president from U.S. engineering company Parsons also discussed his company's experience in selecting companies to act as subcontractors.