[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48222-48223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22823]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


International Trade Administration Iraq Conference; Announcement 
of U.S.-Iraq Business and Investment Conference in Washington, DC; 
October 20-21, 2009

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Event Description: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce), 
International Trade Administration (ITA), is organizing a U.S.-Iraq 
Business and Investment Conference, to be held in Washington, DC, on 
October 20th and 21st, 2009. The goal of the conference is to encourage 
U.S. private investment in Iraq by promoting current business 
opportunities, providing matchmaking opportunities for U.S. and Iraqi 
firms, providing opportunities for dialogue with Iraqi Ministers and 
other senior Government of Iraq (GOI) officials, and holding bilateral 
meetings with U.S. and Iraqi government officials to address commercial 
policy. The conference will cover twelve sectors--agriculture, banking/
finance, defense, electricity, health, education, housing/construction, 
industry, oil/gas, telecommunications, tourism and transportation--and, 
while it will be open to all U.S. companies, those operating in these 
sectors are especially encouraged to participate. The Iraqi delegation 
will include several Iraqi Ministers and other senior GOI officials, 
many provincial government officials, and representatives from over 100 
private-sector firms.
    Background: The investment conference was announced by Iraqi Prime 
Minister Maliki at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters, 
Washington, DC, on July 24, 2009. The conference, to be held on October 
20th and 21st, 2009, in Washington, DC, will provide plenary sessions 
with U.S. and GOI keynote speakers, break-out sessions with Iraqi 
provincial government officials, and breakout sessions on the following 
twelve sectors: agriculture, banking/finance, defense, electricity, 
health, education, housing/construction, industry, oil/gas, 
telecommunications, tourism and transportation. It will also provide 
matchmaking opportunities for U.S. and Iraqi firms.
    Event Goals: The conference will facilitate business-to-business 
meetings between U.S. companies and their private-sector counterparts 
in Iraq, as well as improve U.S. industries' understanding of the 
commercial opportunities in Iraq. The conference is also designed to 
facilitate commercial dialogue between the GOI and the U.S. private 
sector. The conference aims to:
     Promote current investment and business opportunities in 
Iraq.
     Provide matchmaking opportunities for U.S. and Iraqi 
firms.
     Address challenges to doing business in Iraq.
     Provide opportunities for U.S. firms to meet with Iraqi 
Ministers and other senior GOI officials.
     Hold bilateral meetings with U.S. and Iraqi government 
officials to address commercial policy.

Proposed Event Timetable

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Oct 20......................   The opening day of the event will
                               include a plenary session at which senior
                               U.S.G. and GOI officials will address
                               participants.
                               In the afternoon, industry sector
                               breakout sessions will take place, as
                               well as matchmaking meetings between U.S.
                               and Iraqi firms.
Oct 21......................   Panels addressing how to do
                               business in Iraq, the U.S. business
                               experience and sector breakout sessions.
                               The afternoon session will allow
                               for overviews of the Provinces, a
                               regulatory and legal overview and
                               matchmaking between firms.
Oct 22......................   One-on-one business meetings.
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[[Page 48223]]

Participation Requirements

    Interested parties will be able to register online for the 
investment conference at http://www.trade.gov/iraq. A registration fee 
of $200 will be charged to cover meal expenses. Registrations received 
after October 12, 2009, will be considered only if space and scheduling 
constraints permit.

Disclaimer

    The U.S. Government does not make any representations or guarantees 
as to the commercial success of business activities that utilize or 
rely upon information obtained at this conference.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tanya Cheguer, U.S. Department of Commerce, Iraq Investment and 
Reconstruction Task Force, E-mail: [email protected]. 
Telephone: 202-482-1232, Facsimile: 202-482-0980.
Ariana Monti, U.S. Department of Commerce, Iraq Investment and 
Reconstruction Task Force, E-mail: [email protected], 
Telephone: 202-482-3754, Facsimile: 202-482-0980.

Susan Hamrock-Mann,
Director, Iraq Investment & Reconstruction Task Force, U.S. Department 
of Commerce.
[FR Doc. E9-22823 Filed 9-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DA-P