A ceremony was held on the NIC premises in Baghdad to sign a MOU on economic development between Iraq and Germany; Iraqi side was represented by Mr. Rodg Nori Shawees, Deputy Prime Minister while the German side was represented by Mr. Dirk Niebel, German Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development.
H. E Mr. Rodg NOri Shawees had given a speech through which he welcomed the visiting delegation and stressed the serious desire of the Iraqi Government to reinforce the joint cooperation with Germany calling for the German companies to hasten their existence in Iraq for the good reputation these companies used to be enjoying in a way that serves developing means of economic, investment and commercial cooperation in all sectors between the two countries.
In the same context, NIC Chairman, Dr. Sami Al- Araji asserted that the signed agreement will enhance joint cooperation between Iraq and Germany and in the same time it represents the serious efforts to create sustainable economic partnership in various fields on both short and long terms, adding that the German side had proposed the idea of establishing what can be called the German House as an attracting center for the German companies to work in Iraq.
Dr. Sami also discussed receiving a bigger delegation of the German companies next March to complete the discussions series between the two countries stressing that NIC is welcoming all countries willing to cooperate with Iraq in economic and investment fields and ready to submit all facilities for the success of the agreement between the two countries.
The German Minister, in his turn had conveyed his gratitude and appreciation for the warm reception meant to the German delegation referring that Iraq must be a proud country for the democracy it is enjoying and for maintaining human rights and peaceful coexistence that ensure a strong cohesive society.
Head of the German Industries Union, a delegation member said that German companies are keen to work in Iraq and had shown his hope for this visit to provide the appropriate ground for joining the ongoing investment process calling for businessmen in both countries to exchange opinions and ideas in different economic fields to create a real partnership between the two sides.
Mr. Ibrahim Baghdadi- representative of the Iraqi private sector stressed in his turn, the desire of the Iraqi businessmen to open contact channels with the German side in all sectors.
Worthwhile to mention that the German Minister was accompanied by a delegation that included parliamentary and Economy figures in addition to several German media organizations representatives.

Aiming at Activating the Ministerial Representatives Role in Making the Investment Process in Iraq a Success
NIC Holds the Periodic Meeting for the OSS Sectoral Representatives

The periodic meeting for the OSS sectoral representatives was held within the NIC premises aiming at activating the role of the Ministerial representatives to make the ongoing investment process a success. The meeting was headed by Dr. Sami Al- Araji, NIC Chairman who had given his directives for the One Stop Shop Department to provide investors with all requirements needed to issue investment licenses within the period specified in investment law No. 13 for the year 2006 which is (15 days). NIC Chairman also said during the meeting that the OSS is relying on two bases in performing its duties, the first is the department’s employees and the other is the sectoral representatives stressing the important role representatives are required to act within their ministries in order to provide NIC with the technical information required to utilize investment opportunities in addition to the importance of obtaining the required authorities to get approvals on investment applications sent to their ministries. Dr. Sami also talked about the land allocation subject and the problems accompanying it which had been mostly solved after the issuance of the statute No. 7 for the year 2010 which had laid down new instructions for selling and leasing state owned properties for investment purposes.

Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Saleh Al- Mutlag with the NIC Chairman, Dr. Sami Al- Araji the Iraqi investment opportunities map.In a statement made by the Presidency of the Ministers Council mentioned: ” Mr. Al- Mutlag also discussed means of activating Arab and foreign companies contracts and encouraging local investment and establishing big partnerships with developed countries in order to develop Iraqi expertise in all fields.

Completing all the Technical Preparations to start constructing One Hundred Thousand Housing Unit in Baghdad
A Delegation of South Korean companies visit Iraq

Iraq NIC was recently visited by a number of Korean companies in order to complete the technical and logistic preparations for starting the construction of the one hundred thousand housing units in Baghdad within the project of building one million housing unit all over Iraq adopted by NIC.
An official source in the NIC said that the NIC Chairman, Dr. Sami Al- Araji had received the delegation and confirmed during the meeting, which was attended by the Korean ambassador in Baghdad, the NIC’s readiness to submit all support and help to make the Korean companies work in Iraq a success referring to the state’s serious support for the construction campaign currently going in the country enhancing all ministries to provide investment companies willing to invest in Iraq with all facilities granted by the law.
The official source also added that the delegation which consisted of engineers of different specializations had concluded a series of meetings with all NIC and other ministries concerned people during which they reviewed the project site maps in addition to the field visit the Korean delegation made to several project proposed sites in Baghdad.
In turn the head of the Korean delegation stressed that the Korean companies are keen to achieve what they had proposed to make the project a success.

During his Meeting with the Australian Ambassador
NIC Chairman Confirms that Iraq Has a Promising Market

NIC Chairman, Dr. Sami Al- Araji discussed means of reinforcing economic cooperation between Iraq and Australia with the Australian Ambassador in Baghdad.
Dr. Sami said during the meeting that the Iraqi market is a promising one for the huge investment opportunities it implies in all sectors and in the forefront the infrastructure projects asserting the Commission’s readiness to receive the Australian specialized companies to participate in the ongoing investment process.
The Australian ambassador in his turn stressed his country’s desire in creating real economic partnership with Iraq through participating in the currently going investment process in a way that serves both sides.