Washington, DC — May 9, 2012 — Last week, the newly formed United States Kurdistan Business Council (USKBC) held its first briefing in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq with the largest United States congressional staff delegation to ever visit the region.
The meet and greet was held at a new five star hotel in Erbil and included U.S. government officials based in Erbil, local USKBC representatives and other U.S. companies operating in Kurdistan. USKBC corporate members briefed the congressional staffers on their respective business ventures and provided them the latest about economic developments in the region. U.S. government officials also took questions from the staffers regarding the region’s growing relationship with the United States and political developments in Iraq.
“It is very important for the U.S. Congress to meet with and see U.S. business at work in Kurdistan. It is a great story of success for the region and one that we need to continue telling globally,” Oliver Westmacott, president of GardaWorld and USKBC founding member, said.
While in the Kurdistan Region, USKBC members and the congressional staffers also had the opportunity to visit an exploration and production site operated by a U.S. company in the Dahuk province of the region. Additionally, the congressional delegation met with KRG officials; Kurdistani-based companies; international NGOs; local Christian groups and students and faculty at the American University of Iraq in Suleimani.
“Educating the U.S. Congress through member and staff delegation visits to the Kurdistan Region is an important goal of the USKBC,” David Tafuri, a Patton Boggs partner and advisor to the USKBC, said. “Last week’s visit of 10 congressional staffers to Erbil was the first of its kind, and the USKBC was instrumental in educating the staff about the work of the U.S. business community in Kurdistan.”
About the United States-Kurdistan Business Council
The USKBC is dedicated to facilitating trade and commerce for U.S. companies in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and to strengthening ties between the private sector in the U.S. and Kurdistan Region. With one of the most liberal investment laws in the Middle East and significant needs in almost every industry sector, the Kurdistan Region presents untapped business opportunities for U.S. companies. The council also works closely with the Kurdistan Regional Government and private businesses in the Kurdistan Region to ensure that foreign investment reinforces the already enormous economic opportunities there. For more information on business opportunities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, please visit USKBC.org.
The meet and greet was held at a new five star hotel in Erbil and included U.S. government officials based in Erbil, local USKBC representatives and other U.S. companies operating in Kurdistan. USKBC corporate members briefed the congressional staffers on their respective business ventures and provided them the latest about economic developments in the region. U.S. government officials also took questions from the staffers regarding the region’s growing relationship with the United States and political developments in Iraq.
“It is very important for the U.S. Congress to meet with and see U.S. business at work in Kurdistan. It is a great story of success for the region and one that we need to continue telling globally,” Oliver Westmacott, president of GardaWorld and USKBC founding member, said.
While in the Kurdistan Region, USKBC members and the congressional staffers also had the opportunity to visit an exploration and production site operated by a U.S. company in the Dahuk province of the region. Additionally, the congressional delegation met with KRG officials; Kurdistani-based companies; international NGOs; local Christian groups and students and faculty at the American University of Iraq in Suleimani.
“Educating the U.S. Congress through member and staff delegation visits to the Kurdistan Region is an important goal of the USKBC,” David Tafuri, a Patton Boggs partner and advisor to the USKBC, said. “Last week’s visit of 10 congressional staffers to Erbil was the first of its kind, and the USKBC was instrumental in educating the staff about the work of the U.S. business community in Kurdistan.”
About the United States-Kurdistan Business Council
The USKBC is dedicated to facilitating trade and commerce for U.S. companies in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and to strengthening ties between the private sector in the U.S. and Kurdistan Region. With one of the most liberal investment laws in the Middle East and significant needs in almost every industry sector, the Kurdistan Region presents untapped business opportunities for U.S. companies. The council also works closely with the Kurdistan Regional Government and private businesses in the Kurdistan Region to ensure that foreign investment reinforces the already enormous economic opportunities there. For more information on business opportunities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, please visit USKBC.org.