Businesses display wares at 'Rebuilding – Rusafa' expo

Photo By Spc. Katrina Faulkner-Brown | A Rusafa businessman explains his company's products and services to visitors during the Rebuilding - Rusafa Expo and Conference in the Palestine Hotel in the Rusafa District of Baghdad, June 20. More than 90 businesses displayed their wares to more than 3,000 visitors during the two-day event.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

06.26.2008

Story by Spc. Katrina Faulkner-Brown 

4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

By Spc. Katrina Faulkner-Brown
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

BAGHDAD – More than 90 non-government organizations and 13 Iraqi government ministries participated in the Rebuilding - Rusafa Expo & Conference in the Palestine Hotel in the Rusafa District of Baghdad, June 20-21.

The Iraqi-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the two-day event, which Baghdad-2 embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team officials estimate more than 3,000 visitors attended.

Vendors represented a variety of business owners, including women, partnerships and corporations in the fields of construction, engineering, import-and-export goods and manufacturing.

"Helping stimulate local business growth is one of our most important priorities. If we can help grow small and medium-sized businesses, we can help generate real economic growth," said Anthony Swalhah, a Charleston, S.C. native working for the e-PRT as a professional engineer and senior city manager advisor. "Economic growth will affect every citizen positively and help improve security and stability for all Iraqis."

The energy was high and business owners were eager to show visitors their products and services.

"We want to participate in rebuilding Iraq," said Yassar Alkaya, CEO of Al-Ibtihal Company for General Contractor, Ltd. Alkaya claimed his business takes the time to do things right the first time and does not waste money.

Some companies came to Iraq in the midst of war and brought successful services to Iraqi citizens they would normally not have.

"We have been able to grow our business here, and we are looking to grow larger," said Ahmed Shalal, operations supervisor with TNT.

TNT is a shipping business with 20 locations in Baghdad and has operated in Iraq since 2004. They offer shipping services, import-and-export product searches and visa assistance.

These business owners also see progress in Iraq.

"I think things are getting better. The rebuilding is going slow, but I think it will go faster and get better quicker than expected in very short time," said Ali Kattam, owner of a plastic bottling manufacturing company bearing his name. In addition, his company supplies water-treatment products, packaging and bottling machines.

Organizers incorporated discussions about local government responsibilities and involvement with businesses the second day of the expo, said Brennan Searcy e-PRT economic advisor. One topic was what local officials can do to ensure government agencies work in a coordinated effort to support citizens who want to work with or gain contracts from government entities, explained the e-PRT economic advisor from Denton, Texas. Members of the e-PRT talked with attendees about how to find contracts, how to initiate joint ventures with other companies and how to develop their businesses overall, he said.

The Rebuilding - Rusafa Expo & Conference came with big expectations, and it did not disappoint, said Searcy.

"With nearly 100 business exhibitors, it was the largest district expo this year," stated Searcy, who mentioned that Rusafa District Council Chairman Alaa Dager attended the expo, as did other council members, ministry officials and government of Iraq leaders. "Since Rusafa has historically been the center of Iraqi commerce, it was expected that this expo would be the huge success that it was."

• Date Taken: 06.26.2008
• Date Posted: 06.26.2008 07:57
• Story ID: 20874
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ