WASHINGTON—19 February 2015—The United States Kurdistan Business Council (USKBC) board members received a private briefing from the honorable Bayan Sami Rahman, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) new Representative to the U.S. about the political and security climates in Iraq and the Kurdistan region; KRG relations with Iraq’s Federal government, the fight against ISIS and the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Darcy Anderson, Vice Chairman of Hillwood, a founding board member of the USKBC provided introductory remarks at the briefing and introduced Representative Rahman to USKBC members. Anderson said, “We welcome this great chance to meet with Rep. Rahman today, to get her views about issues of importance to council members and the USKBC looks forward to work closely with her and the KRG.”
Representative Rahman thanked USKBC members for their business commitment to and investment in the Kurdistan region. She stated that one of her top priorities in the new role as the KRG’s top diplomat in the United States is to continue strengthening trade and commerce between the U.S. and Kurdistan.
According to KRG figures for 2014, the percentage of American companies operating in Kurdistan is higher than most, if not all, Western countries doing business in the region. Only neighboring nations have higher percentages of companies in the region. In addition, total U.S. investment in the Kurdistan region is in the hundreds of millions of dollars and is expected to exceed one billion dollars in the years ahead.
Rahman told the council, “It is a great pleasure to be here with the USKBC. Your role in Kurdistan’s development is critical, and I know we can count on your companies moving ahead. I am proud that my predecessor Qubad Talabani supported the USKBC and I plan on working closely with it as well. The KRG is committed to its relationship with your companies.”
Rahman addressed the challenge that ISIS poses to the KRG, and described how Kurdish forces time and again have pushed the terrorist group back with the support of U.S. air strikes. She thanked the U.S. government for that support.
Rahman said, “The KRG is currently at war with ISIS; it is not a fight we chose. Since August of last year, Kurdish forces have both countered this menace and have retaken almost all of the Kurdish territory it had previously conquered.”
Rahman also briefed the USKBC about the deal struck between the KRG and Iraq’s Federal government in December of last year on oil exports and budgetary issues, saying her government remains committed to implementing that agreement, and expects Baghdad to do the same.
Retired General James Jones, the USKBC CEO, emphasized the council’s work on behalf of its members:
“The USKBC is working diligently to make sure that members receive a positive return on investment in the region. We believe that U.S. investment in Kurdistan will continue to strengthen the bonds between Americans, Kurds, and Iraqis. As a business council, we strongly encourage the U.S. Government, particularly the Departments of State and Commerce, to continue supporting American participation and business in the region.”
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 www.USKBC.org.
Darcy Anderson, Vice Chairman of Hillwood, a founding board member of the USKBC provided introductory remarks at the briefing and introduced Representative Rahman to USKBC members. Anderson said, “We welcome this great chance to meet with Rep. Rahman today, to get her views about issues of importance to council members and the USKBC looks forward to work closely with her and the KRG.”
Representative Rahman thanked USKBC members for their business commitment to and investment in the Kurdistan region. She stated that one of her top priorities in the new role as the KRG’s top diplomat in the United States is to continue strengthening trade and commerce between the U.S. and Kurdistan.
According to KRG figures for 2014, the percentage of American companies operating in Kurdistan is higher than most, if not all, Western countries doing business in the region. Only neighboring nations have higher percentages of companies in the region. In addition, total U.S. investment in the Kurdistan region is in the hundreds of millions of dollars and is expected to exceed one billion dollars in the years ahead.
Rahman told the council, “It is a great pleasure to be here with the USKBC. Your role in Kurdistan’s development is critical, and I know we can count on your companies moving ahead. I am proud that my predecessor Qubad Talabani supported the USKBC and I plan on working closely with it as well. The KRG is committed to its relationship with your companies.”
Rahman addressed the challenge that ISIS poses to the KRG, and described how Kurdish forces time and again have pushed the terrorist group back with the support of U.S. air strikes. She thanked the U.S. government for that support.
Rahman said, “The KRG is currently at war with ISIS; it is not a fight we chose. Since August of last year, Kurdish forces have both countered this menace and have retaken almost all of the Kurdish territory it had previously conquered.”
Rahman also briefed the USKBC about the deal struck between the KRG and Iraq’s Federal government in December of last year on oil exports and budgetary issues, saying her government remains committed to implementing that agreement, and expects Baghdad to do the same.
Retired General James Jones, the USKBC CEO, emphasized the council’s work on behalf of its members:
“The USKBC is working diligently to make sure that members receive a positive return on investment in the region. We believe that U.S. investment in Kurdistan will continue to strengthen the bonds between Americans, Kurds, and Iraqis. As a business council, we strongly encourage the U.S. Government, particularly the Departments of State and Commerce, to continue supporting American participation and business in the region.”
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 www.USKBC.org.
