Photo By Lt. Col. Juanita Chang | Poolside of the new Naz City Apartments in Irbil, located near the new state of the...... read more read more
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By Maj. Juanita Chang
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
IRBIL, Iraq - Going to a shopping mall, riding an escalator, sipping freshly squeezed orange juice at a juice bar and buying a new outfit doesn't seem like something to write home about.
But it is if you are doing this in Iraq.
With a little assistance from a small military team and a few people from the Department of Defense, a group of international businessmen representing over a dozen international companies spent a full week traveling through the northern Kurdish region of Iraq while on a mission to find opportunities for business and economic development.
The group traveled the relatively stable northern region of Iraq meeting with local business leaders, members of chambers of commerce and key governmental officials. All left surprisingly impressed by what they saw and experienced and some had already arranged for return trips to begin projects.
What they found was a part of the country that isn't what you see on the news or in mainstream media.
This truly is 'the other Iraq,' as the local public relations campaign touts, and it is open for business.
"I was very impressed with the enthusiasm, zeal and passion of the Kurdish people and their government," said Subhas Sircar, regional vice president of Marine Middle East, Mediterranean and South Asia AIG MEMSA Insurance Company Ltd. "A lot needs to be done at the shortest time, and they would look forward to our support in their endeavors, to be partners in their progress."
Many of the businessmen, who saw the huge potential for investment there, were already planning to return to the region before they even left.
Desert? What desert? That misconception is quickly dispelled. Upon arrival at the Irbil International Airport, travelers senses are shocked by the pleasant sights and smell of thousands of fragrant and colorful roses. Wheat fields fill the plains up to the mountain range skirting the north and east of the city. And the skies are filled with cranes busily moving concrete from one location to another on more structures than one can believe.
The airport demonstrates the same high level of security that we have come to expect in the U.S., with the same high-quality baggage screening and inspections and unimposing armed guards who keep a quiet but close watch over everything that is going on. Flights land daily with direct routes to popular hubs such as Vienna, Stockholm, Amman, Dubai, and Amsterdam and passengers exit and enter wearing designer business suits and talking on cellular phones.
Irbil, Iraq's fourth largest city, with an estimated population of one million, is the capital of the Kurdish region and is booming with development. There are world class hotels, a 400-store mall, amusement parks filled with playful children and blooming roses, and even a zoo which holds bears, a camel, monkeys, a pelican and other animals.
Every day seems to hold another ground breaking or grand opening. Members of the task force attended the ground-breaking ceremony of The Park Hotel Kempinski, a luxury resort hotel, which was also heavily attended by influential members of the community, to include the Nechervan Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdish Regional Government.
"Projects such as this are our response to the destructive activities of terrorists. Whatever they do, the terrorists cannot stop our progress," said Barzani, referring to a bomb that went off in the city just two days prior. The bomb was the first to go off in the city since February 2004.
"Here, I would like to assure our people that the KRG is determined to build a civil society in which the rule of law and the principles of democracy and respect for human rights become our standards in everyday life," continued Barzani.
All throughout the region, leaders of business and industry praised the KRG for setting the conditions to attract more investors and international interests to the region. The glamorous state-of-the-art convention center is just down the road from the $300 million airport and across from the new Naz City Apartments, which are selling out at a price of $130,000 per apartment.
After a few days acclimating at the comfortable hotel, which included two restaurants, a coffee and cocktail bar, a pool, sauna, and comfortable rooms, the executives embarked on a journey to the Turkish border to see the point of entry for many import and export goods. This drive included a stop in the booming city of Dahuk.
Dahuk is a thriving city of an estimated 50,000 people who welcome visitors with smiles, waves, thumbs-up and, if given the chance, an invite into their home to dine with them. Dahuk hospitality is like none other.
Businesses in Dahuk are flourishing, as well. Banks and markets buzz with commerce. The trip included tours of a brick factory, water factory, chocolate factory, and a delightful lunch with Dahuk's Gov. Tamir.
The next day begins with a scenic three hour drive down to yet another shining example of what all of Iraq could be like - Iraq's sixth largest city with a population estimated around 750,000, Sulaymaniyah. The drive passed through scenic mountain passes and past a lakeside resort village with a brief stop to buy some fresh kabobs, ice-cold sodas and ice cream.
Upon arrival into the city, the team was met by a full police escort. Not for security reasons, but because that is how they like to do things in Sulaymaniyah – they like to make their guests feel as special and as welcome as possible. And it works. After being greeted by none less than Gov. Dana and having lunch with the Chamber of Commerce, the executives visited other businesses, including Asiacell communications.
The region has had some advantages compared to the rest of the country.
The Kurds are a unified group who do not fight each other like their southern neighbors, the Sunni and Shi'a. So, without that internal violence, they have been able to work together to achieve common goals.
Additionally, the northern no-fly zone established shortly after the Gulf War continued until the United States-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. The operation provided the Kurdish population with humanitarian aid and reassurance of safe skies, and the ability to effectively get a dozen-year head start on redevelopment of their area.
With world-class international airports at both Irbil and Sulaymaniya, a secure environment, solid infrastructure, economic development and eager business-minded residents, the northern region of Iraq is an ideal place to get in on the ground floor of promising investments.
The Kurdish region is certainly open for business, and it shows in every aspect of daily life.
| Date Taken: | 05.21.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 05.21.2007 12:40 |
| Story ID: | 10470 |
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| Web Views: | 459 |
| Downloads: | 417 |
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