The IBBC held its Bagdad conference dedicated to ‘Delivering Innovation’ at the behest of the Prime Minister Mr Al Sudani. It has been 6 years since IBBC members last held a conference of this magnitude in Iraq with key Government ministers and Iraq’s leading businesses sharing panels and discussions on how the country is evolving and modernising. Dr Abdulkareem Faisal chair of the PMs Advisory Commission worked closely with IBBC to organise the conference.

Over 340 leading businesses and government officials attended the conference and reception the previous evening, with companies from Iraq, UK and International corporations to focus on how they are delivering innovation in Iraq. Mr Jon Wilks CMG former ambassador to Iraq and IBBC advisory council member chaired the conference proceedings.

Baroness Nicholson, president of IBBC welcomed delegates and spoke of her immense pride as founder 16 years ago, to see such a vibrant and established organisation flourishing in Iraq. Keynote speeches were given by:

H.E. Mr Hayan Abdulghani Al-Sawad, Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil, who outlined the big focus on additional exploration opportunities for oil and gas production, and the new fields opening in Kirkuk. He also focused on reduction of emissions from flaring, and significant additional gas capture to convert into electricity, while supporting solar powered sea water distillation and oil field production support.

H.E. Hyam Abood, Minister of Communications pointed out the steps the government are taking to digitise government across all ministries, to modernise the banks and to provide more e government services to people using AI, as well as taking steps to protect digital information from both piracy and AI. The ministry is also setting up an AI academy and made calls for support from companies, NGOs and businesses to help train and develop these capabilities for the young people.

H.E Mohammed Bahr Al Ulum, Deputy Foreign minister for bilateral affairs, praised Baroness Nicholson’s dedication to Iraq  through her serious business efforts in establishing the IBBC, and also founded the AMAR Foundation, providing humanitarian help to Iraqis, which has paved stronger relationships between U.K. and Iraq . He said Iraq is ambitious to expand and diversify its economy with the U.K. in new sectors beyond oil fields in Iraq.

His Majesty’s Ambassador to Iraq Stephen Charles Hitchen, in his final conference, paid tribute to Baroness Nicholson  commitment to Iraq for 35 years and outlined the significant new additional trade between the Uk and Iraq (£12bn) and a re-evaluation of the opportunities that Iraq offers for trade and investment in the future.  UK must now think about Iraq differently, from conflict to opportunity.

Mr Zaid Elysari Iraq country manager of BP spoke of a constant quest and application of digital efficiency in oil operations, with the first autonomous fields being applied, as well as driving further efficiencies in extracting and revitalising older fields like Rumaila, whilst also driving down carbon emissions towards net zero goals.

Mr Ishmael Shaker, Managing Director of Al Busttan said they support 85 companies operating in Rumaila and is grateful to contribute to innovation in Iraq. It is a great step to refocus the conference in Baghdad and keen to support youth opportunities and ensure Iraq becomes a regional driver of prosperity.

Delegates heard from leading panels including:

Professor Frank Gunter on Ease of doing business in Iraq and the steps required to enable modernisation and an efficient private sector economy (report here)

Delivering innovation in Education & Media; with Iraq’s tv streaming company, 1001, and SABIS®  education, both using digital distribution and leverage developers’ skills in Iraq and from outside the country, to create bespoke media content or teaching for Iraqis. Mr Yousif Al Alousi of 1001 said content IP must be protected for both Tech and Creative industries as they evolve in Iraq. Mr Raed Mahmood of Sabis®  emphasised the partnership opportunities between the government and private sector education to modernise learning in Iraq, as is already piloted in Kurdistan.

Delivering innovation in Finance with H.E Mr Najjar Investment advisor to the PM outlined the Iraqi investment fund, bespoke for Iraq and focused on repatriating income, focused on homeowners and 12 key economic sectors to revitalise SMEs and leverage private sector capital and to be run by smart young Iraqis in each sector. Standard Chartered Bank and Hogan Lovells International discussed three key reforms the government and sector need to make to tap into international investment and business. Mr Ardil Salem of Hogan said Government can embrace global standards. E.g. anti money laundering measures, Cyber security and data protection, improve Transparency rules and reporting to promote trust and IP measures to protect innovation. Iraq is already making regulatory innovation but there’s room to grow as Dubai and Abu Dhabi have shown.

Mr Jamil Choucair of SC said only 23% of Iraqis have access to bank accounts but there’s an opportunity to move to mobile banking SC say opportunity to move to fully digital banking to provide full access to all and make banks more profitable.

Delivering innovation in Energy with Dr Husain Al-Chalabi, Energy Advisor to the Prime Minister and Iraq’s leading energy providers Basra Gas Company and SAP focused on how technology can reduce carbon emissions through technology and keep Iraq within the Paris accord and work with other countries to enable this, and very much through gas capture, ending flaring, and use of software to monitor and manage efficiency.

Delivering Innovation in the Maritime sector outlined the creation of the new Maritime authority and initiatives to develop this new sector with Mr Ahmed Shaban, Al Zaman Group; Mr Sadie Jasim, Dir gen of military research at DIC; Mr Rob Stewart, Aluminium Marine Consultants Ltd. Heard how the Al Faw Ports project will open the development Road, create Free Ports and enterprise opportunities. Mr Stewart mentioned how high-tech autonomous boats will be created and in service in Iraq by 2025 and Mr Shaban discussed the partnership with Government to develop the maritime agency an academy in Basra and shipbuilding manufacture.

Alongside the conference IBBC Women’s group discussed New Horizons & Innovation’ focused on training and educational empowerment led by Ms Ghadeer Haider of IBBC Women at the American University of Baghdad. The discussion focused on development of women’s skills and capabilities in their careers, enabling them to thrive and achieve greater professional success. Participants emphasized the importance of government-backed programs, policy reforms, and private sector initiatives in fostering a more inclusive innovation landscape.

Mr Christophe Michels, MD of IBBC concluded the conference with his memories of the first Baghdad conference in 2009 with 30 members, and now delighted to see 340 delegates and ministers and to see diversification of IBBC into Education and the modern economy, with more Iraqi members and offices in Baghdad, Erbil and Basra, and continue to enable the knowledge transfer between the UK and Iraq.

Sponsors included:

Please see some of the media interest and reporting of the conference: