The Erbil chamber of commerce, led by the Chamber’s President, Mr. Geilan Saeed, hosted over 100 people for IBBC members, including Baroness Nicholson, President of IBBC. The most prominent attendees were the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry in the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Governor of Erbil, and the British Consul General in Erbil. In the beginning, there was a welcome speech by Mr. Geilan, and a speech by the Baroness. In his speech the deputy minister of trade and industry said that there are approximately 3,500 foreign companies registered in Kurdistan, approximately 180 British companies, about 130 of which operate in Erbil, thirty in Sulaymaniyah, and twenty in Dohuk.

IBBC members attending included Sardar Group, M Select, CISK, Sabis, KAR Group, London Sky, Al-Bustan, Stirling Education and Standard Chartered Bank. Dr Ali Jawad is the IBBC KRI Representative.

IBBC Membership has grown extensively in the KRI, especially in Education, and this event reflects the growing importance of the region and the expansion of relations with the UK.