The IBBC is a charitable company* facilitating trade & investment and educational links between the United Kingdom, Iraq and internationally. Its specific goal is to develop and grow the private sector overall in Iraq and to help its members succeed. It promotes best practice and international standards and encourages the transfer of technology and know-how. Founded 2009 it has established itself as the predominant and most influential organisation promoting the interest of international and leading Iraqi businesses and universities in Iraq. All companies and universities of good standing and sharing the values of IBBC are eligible for membership.
IBBC’s President is Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne.
Some of the largest British, Iraqi and international companies operating in Iraq now are part of the council. These include: BP, BGC, Mitsubishi together with companies such as GE, Siemens, Wood, KBR, Zaha Hadid Architects, E & Y, Standard Chartered Bank, Hogan Lovells, Sardar Group, GEMS, Stirling Education and others. IBBC has separate Universities Membership stream promoting educational partnerships between UK Universities and Iraqi Universities and businesses and academia. Prominent members of the University Group include London, Newcastle and Liverpool University.
The IBBC receives high-level support from the Iraqi, Kurdistan and British Governments, as well as the UN, European Union and the United States.
By joining the IBBC, companies receive the following membership benefits:
Members will be part of a highly respected group of mostly multinational companies, each of which enjoys an impeccable international reputation and identifies with the shared goals of the organisation. Many Members have developed strong business links with other IBBC organisations through an array of networking and business facilitation events. The IBBC is highly respected as a trade organisation in both Iraq, the UK, the USA and internationally.
Members will be invited to join a sector specific group, which is relevant to their field of work. At present, the sector tables which IBBC operate are: Energy, Financial and Professional Services, Infrastructure & Logistics, General Trading & Industries, Education, Training & Heritage, and Agritech.
IBBC takes up specific concerns that individual members may have with the Iraqi, KRG or UK Governments and has a proven track record of access to senior Government Ministers and officials, which has resulted in contract extensions and renewals, long outstanding debts paid, delayed licences issued and long-term contractual disputes resolved. It also acts a wider business lobby to improve the overall standing of business and industry.
Members will be invited to an average of 3 events every month, one of which being held in Iraq every 6 weeks. These include the following major annual events:
- Spring Conference in London (typically at The Mansion House)
- Retreat at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park
- Autumn Conference in Dubai including a full day education conference
- Council Meeting, Reception and Dinner, typically held at the Cavalry and Guards Club or the House of Lords
- Biannual Tech Forum’s
- Regular Networking Receptions in Baghdad, Basrah and Erbil
- Conferences and seminars in Iraq
Members will be invited to appropriate events in both Iraq, the UK and the GCC countries and the US. These occur when Iraqi delegations visit London and are hosted by the IBBC, or when IBBC Member organisations invite the IBBC to support events that they arrange on their own or together with either the Iraqi, UK or other governments.
Membership is by invitation only and applications are reviewed by our executive committee. The standard tier yearly membership fee is £11,367, the base tier fee is £7,800**
* Iraq Britain Business Council, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 06929280. Registered as an NGO in Iraq with registration number 2D76104.
**The annual membership fee for universities is £ 5,400.