On Thursday 13 October 2016, 13 members of the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) attended a meeting hosted by IBBC President Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne with Dr Sami Al Araji, Chairman of Iraq’s National Investment Commission (NIC), and Stuart Smith, the Department of International Trade’s (DIT) Director for Iraq, at the Reform Club, London. IBBC in particular welcomed Eng. Zuhair Sharba, Chairman of Najaf Chamber of Commerce, and Faisal Al Haimus, Acting Chairman and CEO of the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI).

Dr Al Araji called for the UK Government to relax its rules on visas for visiting Iraqi business people and alter its travel advice for Iraq on the basis that much of the country is safe for business people to travel to. Baroness Nicholson confirmed both issues are already being addressed.

Dr Al Araji later outlined a list of major projects in the oil and gas, energy, water and infrastructure sectors that British companies are invited to participate in. He recognised that difficulties remain for foreign investors but is in agreement with the IBBC that the future for Iraq is looking much better than it did. Dr Al Araji added that it is time for British companies to be more positive in their attitude on Iraq, adding that other countries are already more active there. DIT’s Stuart Smith confirmed that UK Export Finance is allocating more money to Iraq and is very keen to support British companies.

Dr Al Araji ended his presentation by suggesting that companies dealing with individual ministries should register with him so that he can bring his influence to bear in pushing activity along.