The Chairman of the National Investment Commission urged in his speech at a gathering of the Iraqi community in the city of Detroit / Michigan to participate in building Iraq, based on their specialization, and the possibilities available to each individual or institution, announcing his readiness to support efforts and provide the appropriate atmosphere for each fruitful opportunity that may serve the country and the people
This came during a visit paid by the Chairman of the NIC, Dr. Sami al-Araji to the state of Michigan recently within the official business visit to the U.S. starting with the city of Detroit. His Excellency held a series of meetings with American, Arab and Iraqi businessmen,investors and economists. He also met with the mayor of Dearborn, Mr. Jacques Orly, and a number of investors and members of the Arab American Chamber of Commerce. He presented NIC program, the economic development plans and the investment climate in Iraq.
He also stressed in his speech that the nature of his visit to the United States of America is to follow-up and activate the official economic and investment affairs between the two countries, pointing to the achievements of the NIC in terms of completed projects and existing ones which accelerated the economic development in the country and support of labor and employment through the creation of investment projects covering the largest area of the country and reflect its benefit on the country and the Iraqi people.

At the end of his speech and after answering a lot of interventions and questions from the audience, He expressed his thanks and gratitude of the Iraqi community and the Consulate General of the Republic of Iraq in Detroit, which worked on preparing this fruitful meeting.
His Excellency presented to the Iraqi Consulate General a model of a memorial gift symbolizes the Iraqi palm in the name of the National Investment Commission. HE Mr. Louay Nouri al-Bashar the Iraqi Consul General received it.

It should be noted that the Consulate General of the Republic of Iraq in Detroit organized this meeting with the Iraqi community in the state of Michigan, where the meeting was opened with a speech by His Excellency Consul General of the Republic of Iraq in Detroit, Mr. Louay Nouri al-Bashar who welcomed His Excellency the Chairman of the National Investment Commission, Dr. Sami R. Al-Araji. He explained the nature of NIC and its work, functions, achievements and the nature of the visit of His Excellency the Chairman of the National Investment Commission to the United States of America, explaining that it is an official working visit that focused on the follow-up to a lot of issues between the two countries, most important is the economic investment one

This meeting was attended by a number of businessmen, academics, journalists, representatives of civil society organizations and some prominent figures.

During his meeting with the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Baghdad

NIC Chairman Asserts that Iraq has Huge Investment Opportunities

NIC Chairman, Dr. Sami Al- Araji discussed today with the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Baghdad, Mr. Ali Al- Mu’amen means of investment cooperation between the two countries.
Dr. Sami said during the meeting that Iraq is a fertile land for investment for the big investment opportunities it has in all economic fields especially the infrastructure projects which directly touches the Iraqi people life, welcoming the specialized Kuwaiti companies to participate in the ongoing investment process and ahead of all the project of the One Million Housing Units to be built all over Iraqi provinces.
The Kuwaiti Ambassador confirmed in his turn his country’s willingness to enter the promising Iraqi market and to participate in the investment process serving both countries benefits.

During receiving the Netherlands Ambassador to Baghdad

NIC Chairman Confirms the Commission’s Willingness to create Huge Economic Partnerships between Iraq & Netherlands

NIC Chairman, Dr. Sami Al- Araji confirmed, during his meeting with the Netherlands Ambassador to Baghdad, the National Investment Commission’s willingness to create huge economic partnerships between Iraq and Netherlands in various sectors according to an investment strategy aiming at reinforcing the economic relations between the two friendly countries.
Dr. Al- Araji said during the meeting that the commission is ready to grant investors willing to invest in Iraq all facilities and incentives guaranteed by Iraqi investment law No. 13 for the year 2006 and its amendments, referring that the Iraqi market is a promising one and that Iraq has a very fertile soil for planting great investments in addition to the need of the Iraqi public and private sectors to the Netherlands companies expertise in the diverse economic fields like (Agriculture, Water resources and infrastructure projects).
In his turn, the Netherlands Ambassador to Baghdad confirmed his country’s government desire to reinforce the bilateral economic relations and to utilize the available opportunities to enter the Iraqi market in a way that serves the two countries benefits.

On the Sidelines of the Conference of the Housing Development in Amman
NIC Chairman Asserts the Commission’s readiness to submit all support guaranteed by the Iraqi Investment Law for Investors willing to invest in Iraq

NIC chairman Dr. Sami Al- Araji asserted that NIC is ready to submit all support, privileges and facilities guaranteed by the investment law No. 13 for the year 2006 for investors willing to invest in Iraq in all sectors.
The mentioned words came during his chairing a series of meetings with a number of investors on the sidelines of the summit of the housing development in Amman where several important companies had joined as (Lafarge) of France an (Maaber) of UAE.
NIC Chairman also headed a meeting through which he explained the project of the one Million Housing Units to be constructed all over Iraqi provinces which will solve a big part of the housing crisis in Iraq, the meeting was attended by a number of Arab and Foreign investors.
Dr. Al- Araji referred that the project of the One Million Housing Units had reached advanced stages after agreeing to carry it out with the biggest international companies as more than 165 company had submitted their applications to participate in the project when the focus was put on only 35 companies applications being negotiated currently hoping that contracts shall be signed soon to witness during the next few months the launch of this vital project which will not only solve the housing problem but also will create a big number of job opportunities in addition to activating the other sectors through front and backup connections.

NIC Chairman also answered all enquiries and questions made by investors who in their turn highly appreciated the NIC efforts and the support it provides investors with enabling them to enter the promising Iraqi market.
The meeting was also attended by a number of high NIC and PICs officials in addition to some Iraqi Ministerial representatives.

During Heading meetings with the Korean Delegation in Baghdad
NIC Chairman Stresses the Companies Seriousness to Implement their Obligations in the Project of the One Million Housing Unit

A Korean delegation represented by chairmen of the companies specialized in constructing the housing units visited Baghdad for the period 8-12.Dec.10 within the framework of the NIC project to construct One Million Housing Unit all over Iraq.
NIC Chairman, Dr. Sami Al- Araji stressed during meetings with the Korean companies representatives and the Iraqi technical committee, stressed the Koreans seriousness in implementing the One Million Housing Unit project referring that NIC had organized a series of field visits in coordination with Baghdad provincial investment commission to view the lands specified for the project in Baghdad which cover 224 thousand unit.

Dr. Al- Araji explained that the two sides agreed to build 50 thousand unit in Basmaya, 15 thousand unit in Nahrawan and 35 thousand unit in Tajyat.
The Korean Ambassador, who had attended some of the meetings, said that the two countries had always enjoyed strong relations on both political and economic levels and that the Korean Government highly supports the reconstruction process in Iraq while Korean companies stressed their adherence to the memorandums of understanding signed between the two sides which will create real investment partnerships between the private sector and the public sector in Iraq.
NIC also organized a visit for the Koreans to Al- Salihya housing compound in Baghdad in coordination with the Ministry of Housing and reconstruction to view the vertical type of housing units previously implemented in Iraq.

Press Statement – Ministers Council Presidency – Media Offic
Sunday 12. Dec.10
Prime Minister, Mr. Nori Kamil Al- Maliki Lays down the Foundation Stone for the Iraqi- German hospital and German Medical College Project in Baghdad
H.E Mr. Nori Al- Maliki – Irqi prime Minister laid down today the foundation stone for the Iraqi- German hospital and the German Medical college project in Baghdad.
H.E said in a speech he gave during the celebration ” We feel extremely happy when we find one project is started here and another there the matter that indicates that the reconstruction wheel has started to move on in the right direction which leads the private sector and businessmen and investing companies to compete and harry to maintain the reconstruction process.’ Prime Minister added ” the government in its own cannot gear up with all the citizen’ requirements and needs unless the private sector stands by its side and back its efforts, and if the conditions were not allowing the private sector to go ahead in the past especially security wise, so now and after achieving good amount of progress in this respect and the development of the country in various fields and under the light of the constitution and laws ratified to protect investments and providing the suitable framework to make business in Iraq a success , now doors are open for our businessmen and every one willing to participate in reconstructing the country to take his role though we defiantly can touch the competition of businessmen in the time being.
Mr. Al- Maliki went on “If the security situation was of the main obstacles for the process of reconstruction so we must now work on its maintenance and sustainability and this is of our main priorities to allow the return of international companies and businessmen.
Prime Minister Nori Al- maliki also stressed the government readiness to support the Iraqi National Business Council and businessmen and companies in all their efforts especially in the medical sector since Iraq had not witnessed constructing new hospital or medical center since 1985 despite all the national wealth it is enjoying, assuring that the state in its turn had started giving priority to this sector and this example celebrated today shall not be excluded for treatment only but also for teaching.
The celebration was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Rafea Al- Easawi, the National Investment Commission Chairman, Dr. Sami Al- Araji, the Charge De Affairs of German Embassy in Baghdad, Chairman of the Iraqi national Business Council, Mr. Ibrahim Baghdadi, and the executive manager of the project, Mr. Hasan Hadad and a number of businessmen and investors and officials in Baghdad Mayoralty.

The head of relations and media section in Nineveh Investment Commission mentioned that more than 40% of the investment applications submitted in Nineveh had been received from foreign investors referring to awarding two new licenses to implement one project in Mosul and another in Sinjar of total investment value of three Billion Iraqi Dinars.
Mr. Hazim Muhammed, the head of relations and media section also said that” the number of application submitted to their commission is 191 application 87 of which is for foreign investors.
Mr. Muhammed complained of the weak cooperation shown by Nineveh governmental departments saying that” this is not acceptable to be done under the pretext that these departments are following the Ministries’ regulations while the provision No. 33 of the investment law No. 13 for the year 2006 is clear by saying that No text shall be valid which contradicts the provisions of the investment law and the last amendments which text that ministries of Finance and Municipalities and other concerned departments must specify lands for investment projects before asking for specifying these land for licensed projects.