Promoting Commercial Opportunities in Iraq

June 3, 2011

Tags: Business, Clinton, The Economist
Posted in: Embassy/State, Iran, Iraq, Other Ideas

I’m not a credentialed member of the media, just a wage slave at State, so I cannot attend this forum promoting commercial opportunities in Iraq. Might be a bit of a hoot, as everyone tries to pretend it is business as usual in Mesopotamia.

As a contrarian point of view to what State is dribbling out the side of its mouth (below), The Economist offers:

Iran is a hard place to do business because of sanctions. Iraq, its neighbour, is a hard place to do business because of everything else.

From the State Department: (links added to help clarify points)

On Friday, June 3, Secretary Clinton will lead the Department of State in hosting a Business Forum with senior executives from major U.S. corporations from across our economy to discuss opportunities in the new Iraq. Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides will also moderate discussions between senior officials from the Departments of State, Treasury and Energy and the corporate executives. Senior Iraqi government officials will deliver remarks as well.

Secretary Clinton’s remarks to the forum will be open to credentialed members of the media at approximately 10:30 a.m. in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the Department of State.

After years of civil conflict and economic isolation, Iraq is eager to develop its economic potential. As the United States transitions this year from a military-led to civilian-led partnership with Iraq, the State Department is leading a broad interagency effort to support U.S. companies looking to do business there.

While businesses entering the Iraqi market continue to face hurdles, including a greatly improved but still difficult security environment, some positive developments, such as rising oil revenues, expected double-digit domestic economic growth, significant investments in infrastructure, and a stable democratic government point to the conclusion that Iraq represents a unique business opportunity with benefits for the United States and Iraq.

Oh yeah, wonder if they talked about today’s Iraqi suicide bombing, with 21 dead?

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