open for buisnessPRESS RELEASES
KRG.org 13:34:01 02 Mar. 2010
Ministers tell American companies Kurdistan is safe and open for business
Erbil, Kurdistan - Iraq (KRG.org) – Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) ministers yesterday told American and other Western businesses operating in the Region that Kurdistan is safe, peaceful and open for business.
Minister for the Interior Karim Sinjari, Kurdistan Region President Chief of Staff Dr Fuad Hussein, and Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir delivered keynote speeches and answered questions at the seminar hosted by the US Overseas Security Advisory Committee (OSAC) in Erbil.
Minister Bakir said, “The Kurdistan Region has an open-door policy. We warmly welcome international business and foreign direct investment, and the growth over the last several years is a testament to this policy. We are delighted to host the diplomatic representatives of 17 nations in the Kurdistan Region. As foreigners have witnessed the Region's progress and stability firsthand, our development has sharply increased, and the Kurdistan Region is now perceived as an optimal commercial base for operations throughout Iraq.”
Mr Bakir added that the Iraqi national election on March 7th is an opportunity to consolidate progress towards a successful democracy and a federal, pluralistic and peaceful Iraq. He outlined the importance of the Constitution in moving forward with unresolved issues for the benefit of all the Iraqi people.
Minister Sinjari said, “We all know that business and development are not possible without good security. We are thankful that we do enjoy good security throughout the Kurdistan Region, which has been achieved through the loyal service of our experienced and professional police and security forces, as well as from a supportive population that knows these forces are there for their protection and not for their oppression. This experience has been gained over many years.” He also answered several questions relating to security and border issues, and said that there would not be a curfew due to the forthcoming elections.
Dr Hussein outlined his positive impressions of the meeting between President Barzani and President Obama, emphasising the important relationship between the US and the Kurdistan Region, and all of Iraq.
Mr Andrew Snow, Head of the American Regional Reconstruction Team in Erbil, was also present at the first public meeting of OSAC’s Erbil Chapter. OSAC is a Federal Advisory Committee, with a US Government Charter, that promotes security cooperation between American business interests worldwide and the US Department of State.
OSAC’s chapter in Erbil aims to promote American trade with the Kurdistan Region and accurately portray the security situation. It has evolved from general interest to a fully functioning chapter over the course of the past four months. The KRG supports OSAC’s role in promoting US-Kurdistan Region commercial ties and maintaining an accurate portrayal of the security situation in the Region. For more information see the Erbil chapter's website
https://erbil.osac.gov/