Iraq's Economy: Challenges and Opportunities - Center for Transatlantic Relations

Iraq’s Economy: Challenges and Opportunities

08.30 a.m. – 09.30 a.m. Registration and light breakfast

09.30 a.m. Opening remarks

Introduction by:

Sasha Toperich, Senior Fellow and Director, Mediterranean Basin Initiative, CTR-SAIS
Michael J. Delaney, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South Asia
Lukman Faily, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United States

10 a.m. – 11.15 a.m. Economic Mosaic of Iraq

Speakers:

Joseph S. Pennington, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Iraq, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Noori Abdulrahman, Chairman, Board of Investment and Minister of Coordination and Follow Up, Kurdistan Regional Government
James Parks, Financial Advisor to the KRG Deputy Prime Minister

Commentator:

Moderator:

Andrew Parasiliti, Director, Center for Global Risk and Security, RAND Corporation

11.15 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. Coffee break

11.30 a.m. – 12.45 p.m. Centralization or Decentralization of Iraq’s Economic and Commercial Policy

Speakers:

Hoger Shalli, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Electricity, Kurdistan Regional Goverment
Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, Kurdistan Regional Government Representative to the United States
Sami Al-Araji, Head of the Iraq National Investment Commission (Via Skype)
Justin Carney, Regional Vice-President, Middle East North Africa at Business Impact Networks

Moderator:

Daniel Serwer, Professor and Director, Conflict Management Program, and Senior Fellow, Center for Transatlantic Relations, SAIS

12:45 p.m. – 1.15 p.m. Doing Business in Iraq

Iraq Commercial Office, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington, D.C.

12.30 – 12.45 p.m. Speech:

Jasim Husein, Commercial Attache’, Iraq Commercial Office, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq

12.45 – 1 p.m. Presentation:

Qasim Basry, Executive Assistant, Iraq Commercial Office, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq

1.15 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. Lunch Break

2.30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Business Challenges and Opportunities

Speakers:

Steve Lutes, Executive Director, Middle East Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Ginger Cruz, CEO, Mantid International LLC
Rebwar Berzinji, Founder and President, Pericles Capital Advisors, LLC

Moderator:

4 p.m. – 5.15 p.m. Economic Growth and Trade Competitiveness Through Job Creation and SME’s

Speakers:

Zainab Allawi, Advisor to Executive Director, The World Bank
Marc Tejtel, Deputy Chief Counsel for the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), US Department of Commerce
Christopher Schroeder, Venture Investor and Author, Startup Rising: The Entrepreneurial Revolution Remaking the Middle East

Moderator:

Rebeen Pasha, Founder & President SDH/REbuild Iraq and Middle East Young Entrepenurs’ Dreams

5.15 – 5.30 p.m. Coffee Break

5.30 p.m. – 6.45 p.m. Private Sector Growth – Strengthening Transatlantic Partnership

Speakers:

John J. Sullivan, Mayer Brown LLP
Jorge Restrepo, Managing Partner, New Frontiers Legal Consulting Services
David M. Tafuri, Partner, Dentons US LLP and President of the US-Kurdistan Business Council

Moderator