Private Sector Development Office at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, in cooperation with Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), hosted a workshop focusing on successful investment strategies for Iraqi provinces. Members of Iraq’s Provincial Investment Commissions (PICs) were the target audience during this two day seminar (October 5-6th, 2009). A delegation from the Iraqi National Investment Commission (NIC) headed by the Deputy Chairman Dr. Salar Mohamad Ameen was accompanied by Dr.Ekram Abd-Alaziz, Director General of the NIC Economic Department, and Mr. Firas Harboon, the Director General of Provincial Coordination, as well as other NIC staff members.

Ms. June Reed of the Private Sector Development Office at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad remarked, “This workshop aims to draw a roadmap that helps the investment commission members to develop an effective strategy for investment in their provinces. Through a series of presentations, PIC members will enhance their understanding of their role in the context of global best practices and explore lessons learned in order to define successful strategies for investment in Iraq’s provinces. In addition, members will improve their understanding of the make-up of the different business environments, methods of analysis, and benchmarking techniques.”

The presentation included an evaluation of business environments through surveys of global business as well as case studies exploring the improvement of local business using international best practices.

The Deputy Chairman, Dr. Salar, opened the workshop by praising the efforts of the Private Sector Development Office at the U.S. Embassy, particularly in reinforcing the work of the PICs. He also discussed the importance of the workshop to the PIC members and the benefit brought by gathering them this central location to learn together.