From November 4– 15, with significant input from FCS, CLDP hosted a delegation of former Iraqi commercial attachés, government officials and professors, in Washington D.C. and Orlando, FL. These consultations were the second phase of a program that started in Baghdad June 2013. The program focuses on Training of Trainers for Iraq’s future commercial attachés. As part of the US consultations, the Iraqi officials met with the World Bank and related agencies, with the US Commercial Service and with a US Export Assistance Center – Baltimore. They also met with standard setting organizations. The overall objective of these meetings was to develop the delegates’ knowledge of  best practices in trade, customer relations, investment promotion, and negotiations. In an effort to hone the delegates’ negotiation skills, CLDP organized a two-day simulated negotiation of a FDI joint-venture, during which the delegates negotiated with four US volunteer law firm partners. The outcome was very successful, as delegates, for the first time, were not passive participants, but decision-makers in the negotiation process. The final portion of the program saw the delegates travel to Orlando, FL., to attend the international Power Generation Trade Show. This venue allowed the delegates to interface directly with a number of US businesses and suppliers in an effort to improve their communication skills and work to better inform these US companies about doing business in Iraq.

The head of the delegation, Mr. Kadhim Al-Hassani, the Senior Advisor to the Minister of Trade, also met with USTR and with US Department of Commerce officials. He highlighted that Iraq is looking for “real partnerships” with foreign countries. Under such partnerships, firms from foreign countries, would provide technological, managerial, legal, expertise, as well as direct investment in Iraq. Mr. Al-Hassani added that Iraq views the US as a “real partner” for Iraq’s economic development. With the support of Mr. Al-Hassani and top officials in Iraq, CLDP will design further program phases to facilitate the creation of a training institute in the Ministry of Trade that will serve as a resource center for future commercial attaches and a forum for trade policy analysis. With efforts to rebuild the country, Iraq, in coming years, will import over $200 billion of goods. The Iraqi delegates pointed out that a significant share of this market could be taken by US firms and that Commerce, through technical assistance, could contribute to making this potential become a reality.