Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce and Industry

September 29th 2010
Ritz-Carlton, Manama, Bahrain

عربي

Introduction
Mission Statement
Goals
Expertise
Project Management Experience with Expos
Trade Facilitation
Partial list of IACCI’s Major Partners, Supporters and Team Players

Capacity Statement

Introduction

Iraqi-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry – IACCI (www.i-acci.org), the organizer of the expo, is a professional, full service organization with over 10,500 Iraqi and international members, including Iraqi Ministries and local governments. The dedicated staff of IACCI comprises over 300 employees, with seven offices in Iraq, a branch in Jordan, and an office in the United States. With a distinguished track record of 16 regional job fairs and 4 international trade shows throughout Iraq, IACCI stands alone as the most innovative advocate of the Iraqi private sector to date.
Without a single security incident, IACCI continues to promote Iraqi business development through networking forums, capacity building, and training and development. With its strong presence and extensive trade show experience in Iraq, IACCI is the most qualified organization to coordinate the Iraq Energy Expo and Conference, and looks forward to making this historic event a tremendous success for all who participate. With the 2nd largest oil reserve in the world Iraq is on the precipice of being one of the fastest growing economies in the world. IACCI is committed to make sure that Iraq’s potential becomes a reality.

For a closer look at IACCI, the first international chamber of commerce in Iraq since U.S. presence began in 2003, we offer you this profile of our experience and expertise. Feel free to contact us by phone or email with any questions, comments, or concerns you may have.

Mission Statement

IACCI's primary mission is two-fold: A) the creation of new business through networking forums, and B) building the capacity of key Iraqi private and public sector elements that are necessary to growing the overall national capacity to support a vital private sector in Iraq.

IACCI aims to invigorate the small business community (SME’s) and State Owned and Mixed Enterprises (SOE’s) in Iraq by bringing businesses together and moving them forward in a proactive and constructive manner. In doing this we are promoting open-market economy and a democratic political system in Iraq. This will ensure that access to the market is open and fair.

IACCI promotes transparency, accountability and that the rule of law is enforced in Iraq. A strong business community is based on business associations having an audible voice in the policy-making process. This will contribute to the growth of participatory civil society and the development of a regulatory and policy environment conducive to private enterprise.

Goals

Promote open-market economy in Iraq through a competitive system where the rules are the same for all participants, corruption is eliminated and transparency and accountability are strengthened.
Build simplified compliance systems for small businesses by fostering the participation of business groups in the day-to-day process of government decision-making and developing laws and institutions necessary for an open market-oriented economy.
Facilitate access to and establish consistent long term relationships between the private sector and the Iraq Ministries for the purpose of progressive commerce and trade implementation and practices.
Serve as a catalyst concerning the reactivation of the professional associations and guilds including the Iraqi Industrial Federation, the Contractors Union and the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce by conducting free and fair elections to promote the emergence of representative intermediaries.
Encourage entrepreneurial climate and culture in addition to expanding access to business and economic information necessary for informed decision-making.
Development and fundraising for specific projects in support of the organization of networking events, professional development education, training, policy related events and other crucial projects as needed, to support and compliment the goals of IACCI, its members and the private sector community in Iraq.
Promote the development of certain public sector elements that are key to the success of the establishment of an environment that allows the private sector to flourish in Iraq. This is done through training and awareness programs.
To assist and establish long term US policy orientation towards Iraq on Congressional, White House and Governmental Agency levels including delegate visitation.
Facilitate access to an economic focused relationship between the private sectors of Iraq and the international community through “Free Trade” magazine (IACCI’s premier commerce and industry trade publication), educational seminars and programs, events including the EXPO Trade Show, cross-cultural activities and high level economic programs for the benefit of expanded long term sustainable growth, investment and expansion of the commerce, technology, industry, civil society and private sectors in Iraq.
Build Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a sustainable long term Iraqi NGO organization

Expertise

Networking is crucial to the capability of providing sustainable services. From the beginning, IACCI has implemented capacity building components within the organization itself to include staff training and development, especially with young people. The staff has grown from a small group back in 2003 to over 300 full time employees. This number swells to over 1000 or more during special projects such as the trade show “EXPO”, Job Fair Iraq and other equally large projects. IACCI has seven offices in Iraq, a branch in Jordan and an office in the United States. IACCI’s expertise in Iraq:

Strategic planning and logistics
Iraq Ministries Public Relations and Advocacy
Grants management
Program design and implementation
Resource development and management
Networking both governmental and trade including NGO
“Train the Trainer” programs
Civil Society and Iraqi business training and education
Cross-cultural communication and facilitation
Financial planning and training
International and indigenous public relations
Capacity building through seminars, conferences and delegations
Technical assistance
Engineering design and management
Construction project design and implementation
Job Creation including Iraqi Job Databank and Career Development Counseling
Media, marketing, advertising and graphic arts
Public Relations and Media Relations
Publication development and publishing
IT programming, design and training
IACCI Training and Development Resources Initiative for Business in Iraq (TADRIB Iraq)
Employment Centers, Adhamiya, Hay Our, Kadhemiyah, Mansour and soon over 10 more Employment centers in Baghdad
Business Centers, BIAP BC and Ramadi BC
Our own tradeshow facility in Sulymaniah with 10,000 SM show facility on 25 Doman land and soon BIAP Convention and Visitor Center

Project Management Experience with Expos

IACCI has extensive experience in its last four years of operations in a volatile Iraq. Project management has included the management of large-scale training programs, grant programs, arranging and organizing logistics for major events involving numerous different parties - private sector and government over a geographic scope spanning the entire country, extensive training both educational and vocations, international trade and development, and renovation and facility building.
Examples of our trade show expertise are best illustrated in the DBX Kurdistan international trade shows held in Erbil (2005), and Sulymaniah (2006 and 2007). At the events, there were approximately 94,000 people in attendance over a three day period who visited over 600 exhibitors in each event.
Also, the Baghdad Business to Business Expo and Conference, the first major expo in Baghdad since military operations began in 2003, recently wrapped up its three-day event at the Al-Rasheed Hotel from 15-17 February 2008. Instead of signifying an end, however, this momentous expo and conference has triggered a ripple effect across Iraq, the Middle East, and throughout the world. It was a daunting task to coordinate 260 participating companies. Fortunately, with an improved security environment and a renewed commitment to development, the time was ripe for growth, and IACCI was simply planting the seed.

Trade Facilitation

The first objective of the trade facilitation is to increase foreign direct investment which is crucial to achieving higher rates of sustained economic growth. It enhances opportunities for Iraq’s private sector firms to build strong economic structure, acquire new technologies, develop modern organizations, and gain access to overseas markets. It will allow Iraqi economy to expand businesses, create higher-paying jobs, generate exports, and increase government revenues. On this level, IACCI has conducted and is currently organizing several conferences to promote new investment laws issued by the central and regional governments to disperse information to potential investors.
The second objective is to generate concern and increase activity on the part of Iraqi companies to invest in their own country and seize the opportunities at hand. This entails improving the present opportunities, creating new opportunities and taking an active role in initiating international business contacts. These steps have resulted with increased investment, sustainability and creation of jobs in Iraq.

The third objective is to facilitate the concerns of the Iraqi business community to have a voice in the creation and amending of government trade policies. IAACI’s participation in commerce and industry provides the Iraqi business community with a sense of self-empowerment, through education and assistance in the development of effective marketing materials including the provision of opportunities for interaction with the international communities through trade-show venues, trade delegations, strategic commercial correspondence, and other networking kinds of events.
The IACCI continues to adjust and react to the ever-changing Iraqi environment. Taking initiative, IACCI has organized, (self-) funded, and begun implementing the following programs that have a direct impact on the achievement of its objectives:

Networking
International Delegations
Iraqi Delegations
Vetting
Surveys, Studies
Iraqi Ministries
Job Development and Career Support
EXPO and Trade Show Organization
International and Iraqi Conferences & Seminars
Lead Generation
Monthly News Magazine, Free Trade
Weekly Newspaper, Free Trade
Mass Communication
IACCI Buying Power

Partial list of IACCI’s Major Partners, Supporters and Team Players

Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce Members (International and Iraqi)

Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), Iraqi Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO) in the US Embassy - Baghdad, Multi-National Corps (C9) - Iraq, Multi-National Division (G9) - Baghdad, US Military Civil Affairs Brigade, International Finance Corporation (IFC), US Institute for Peace (USIP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Sulymaniah Governor’s Office, Sulaimaniyah Chamber of Commerce, UNESCO, UNDP, UNAMI, UNIDO, US Export Import Bank, Iraqi Middle Market Development Foundation (IMMDF), U.S. Department of Commerce, the World Bank, Housing Bank of Jordan, The US Chamber of Commerce, the Commercial Section of the US Embassy in Baghdad, the Cultural Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Baghdad, the Iraqi Embassy in Washington, DC, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), IRMO Office of Private Sector Development, Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources, Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture, Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Minerals, Iraqi Ministry of Trade, Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, Iraqi Ministry of Justice, Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration, Iraqi Ministry of Environment, Iraqi Ministry of Housing & Construction, Iraqi Ministry of Oil, Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights, Iraqi Ministry of Interior (Residency), Iraqi Ministry of State for Tourism, Iraqi Ministry of Health, Iraqi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Baghdad Business Center, Trade Show Organizers, Jordan Ministry of Interior, Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iraqi Engineering Union, Project Management Office (PMO, now PCO), Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkish Embassy in Baghdad, Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce, Customs Clearance at Ibrahim Khalil – Iraq, ADIPEC show and conference organizers, Organizers of BAU Trade Show, German Embassy in Baghdad, Educational Institutions in Egypt, Egyptian Embassy in Baghdad, American University in Cairo, US Embassy Economic Section in Baghdad, USAID Northern Representatives, USAID Baghdad Representatives, USAID Prime Contractors (VEGA, IRD and LBG), Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, KRG Prime Minister’s Office, CONEXPO Trade Show Organizers, Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Mission Representatives in Baghdad and in Amman, Private Institutions, KRG security forces and Peshmerga, KRG Ministry of Finance, Erbil International Airport, Iraqi Customs Officials, Salahaddin University in Erbil, WEFTEC Trade Show Organizers, US Arab National Chamber of Commerce, Public officials, university professors and private Iraqi businessmen from Basra, Baghdad, and Kurdistan focused on Private Sector development, International Relief and Development Organization, Louis Berger Group (Izdihar), MSI (Tatweer)