IBBC opened its new office in Erbil this week in the Italian village. Baroness Nicholson, IBBC President, welcomed over 300 attendees, including Mr Safeen Dizaye the Foreign affairs minister, and Mohammed Shukri of the investment board, the UK Consul General Mr James Goldman. London Sky sponsored the wonderful reception, well received by all.

In welcoming everyone Baroness Nicholson said ‘IBBC now has a very large, solid membership with high calibre companies from the KRI, all of them exceptional businesses with more to come. IBBC has enjoyed 15 years to date and the next 15 will be more exciting with everyones help’ She thanked London Sky and Sheikh Saleh for the reception and indeed providing the office amenities to IBBC within his own facilities.

Safeen Dizaye thanked Baroness Nicholson for coming, and the grand opening shows IBBC are doing well, and business is thriving. IBBC has done marvellous work in the last 15 years, often fulfilling the work of government. More businesses and British goods are now in the KRI, and the government is fully behind British businesses, helping to relax investment laws and encourage other incentives and ease of setting up business. Thankyou Baroness for your tireless work’

James Goldman said ‘he had just come from a graduation ceremony at a British school, and notes partnerships in education and health are growing. The Global economic climate has been difficult but British companies are committed here for the long term’. Professor Ian Gillespie, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Dundee attended the ceremony. He is one of the few Chancellors of British Universities that regularly visit all parts of Iraq.

This week, 7th June, IBBC is hosting over 80 Iraq SMEs in London, many of whom are from the KRI. Dr Ali Jawad is the office director and can be contacted on: [email protected] for further information on membership.

Notable Attendees included:

– Professor Ian Gillespie, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Dundee
– Dr. Dara Rashid, Minister of Planning
– Dr. Saman Barzanji, Minister of Health of the Kurdistan Region
– Mr. Kamal Muslim, Minister of Commerce, of the Kurdistan Region
– Ano Jawhar, Minister of Transportation of the Kurdistan Region
– Mr. Omid Khoshnaw, Governor of Erbil
– Dr. Comrade Abubakr, Governor of Sulaimaniyah
– Mr. Gohdar Shekho, Supervisor of Zakho Administration
– Mr. Marouf Aziz Khan, Vice President of Chamber of Commerce
– Ms. Tarina Hassan, representative of Mr. Bafel Jalal Talabani
– Amal Jalal, President of the Kurdistan Regional Tourism Board
– Dr. Khanzad Ahmad, Secretary General of the High Council for Women’s Labor
– Mr. Ari Nanakali, Head of the 16th Branch of the Kurdistan Democratic Party
– Saleh Sheikh Ahmad Barazanji, Founder and CEO of London Sky