IBBC has brought together experienced industry figures working in the Regulatory & Finance sector to discuss how best to encourage international investment into Iraq.

Session Overview:

If Iraq wishes to attract foreign investment, whether that is IOC’s setting up operations, consultants or contractors setting up shop, suppliers of goods and products setting up distribution systems, those investors need to know that there is a regulatory framework in place that will allow them to protect their investment in a fair and due process way, relying on transparent systems and where judgements are enforceable. In addition a modern banking system, without the need for payments in cash is a prerequisite for a modern and well governed economy.

The World Bank and Legatum Institute produce annual reports showing how various countries around the world compare with each other in ease of doing business. To date Iraq has featured in the lower levels of such reports indicating much more needs to be done to achieve a dynamic and sophisticated business and financial environment.

This distinguished and expert panel, covering a number of aspects concerning regulatory & financial frameworks will outline recent improvements, areas still to be tackled and reforms which can facilitate a confident environment for investors and foster economic growth.

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Speakers:

 

• Chair: Amar Shubar, Partner, Management Partners
• Ahmed Tabaqchali, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of AFC Iraq Fund
• Ayman Abu Dhaim, CEO, National Bank of Iraq
• Kareem Ismail, Resident Representative – Iraq, IMF
• Tawfiq Tabbaa, Managing Partner – Iraq, Eversheds Sutherland LLC

 

Chair: Amar Shubar, Partner at Management Partners an international top-management consultancy with a regional focus on the GCC and Iraq. As a co-leader of M-Partners’ Iraq practice, he has supported several Iraqi ministries and public institutions (incl. Ministry of Oil, Industry, Finance and Construction) in their reform, restructuring and modernization efforts. He has also worked closely with the Prime Minister’s Office regarding addressing the current financial crisis in Iraq and identifying budget improvement measures. Over the last years Amar has also advised many international and local private sector clients in their market and investment strategy related to Iraq. Before joining M-Partners, Amar was a Jr. Partner at McKinsey & Company working at their European and Middle Eastern offices for over 10 years.

 

Ahmed Tabaqchali is the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of AFC Iraq Fund and a board member of the Credit Bank of Iraq. Mr Tabaqchali is an experienced Capital Markets professional with over 25 years experiences in US and MENA markets. He is a former Executive Director of NBK Capital, the investment banking arm of the National Bank of Kuwait as head of Brokerage. Prior to that a Managing Director and Head of International Institutional Sales at WR Hambrecht + Co. based in London, New York and San Francisco. This followed on from roles as a Managing Director at KeyBanc in London charged with international sales, and before that Director & Head of Capital Markets & Institutional Sales at Jefferies Int’lin London. He started his career at Dean Witter Int’l in London. Mr Tabaqchali is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the American University of Iraq-Sulaimani (AUIS) and a Fellow at the Institute of Regional and International Studies (IRIS).

 

Kareem Ismail is the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Resident Representative for Iraq and Yemen. During ten years at the Fund, he has covered a broad range of economies from fragile markets in Africa to emerging economies in Europe, including most recently serving on the IMF Turkey team and in the Strategy, Policy, and Review Department where he worked on the design of the Fund’s lending policies. In addition, he previously served as Advisor to the IMF Executive Director for the Middle Eastern Constituency. He holds a PhD in economics from the Johns Hopkins University. He has published widely including on resource-rich economies.

Ayman Omran Abdulla Abu Dhaim is the CEO of the National Bank of Iraq. He has acquired more than 21 years of experience in banking and finance  Management. He has held several administrative positions in multiple financial institutions before joining Capital Bank Group, the latest of which was Chief of Financial Monitoring at the Social Security Investment Fund. He is also a member of the board of directors of Capital Bank Consulting for Enterprises at the DIFC.

Tawfiq Tabbaa is the Middle East Managing Partner at Eversheds Sutherland. He is the founder of the Iraq office and co-founder of the Jordan office. Tawfiq specialises in corporate and commercial law as well as regulatory reform and litigation. Tawfiq has advised on a wide range of corporate transactions, including corporate structures and joint ventures investments including assisting clients with selecting the most suitable corporate entities for their operations, as well as advising on issues relating to foreign investment, investment promotion, intellectual property, labour law, contract law, competition law, and microfinance regulation. Tawfiq was educated at the University of London, UK and obtained a Masters in Law (LLM) from Fordham University School of Law, New York. He is a member of the Jordan Bar Association. Tawfiq is fluent in both Arabic and English.

 

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