Iraq says it's open for business again - BBC

To be in London at the moment is to hear the mantra "Iraq is open for business". Business Daily went to one conference - Invest Iraq - which was chock-a-block with Iraqi and British ministers and business people.

The message was that violence continues, sure, but it is in pockets and is on the wane. The country is ripe for investment and it can now be done. However, what's the hype and what's the reality?

The BBC's Hugh Sykes has been to Basra in the south of Iraq, from where British troops have now withdrawn, to talk to one businessman who sells electrical goods, about the difficulties Iraqis still face.

Oil investment

It is six years since the US-led invasion of Iraq toppled the government of Saddam Hussein. The country has experienced a huge death toll from war and suicide bombings, and its economy has collapsed. Most of the British troops stationed in the south of Iraq are now returning home.

The Iraqi Prime Minister and senior members of his government have been in London to try and persuade western businesses to invest in Iraq. Oil companies are keen to exploit the country's oil supplies, the third largest in the world. It is the first time in more than a decade that Iraq's government has made such a big effort to get foreign firms to set up operations there.

Direct flights

One company that is keen to start operations in Iraq is the British airline BMI, its chied Executive is Nigel Turner and he wants to set up a direct flight from London to Baghdad.

Economic changes

For an overview of the situation in Iraq, Business Daily turned to two experts.

Michael Wareing, chief executive of the global accountancy company, KPMG, who is also the British Prime Minister's economic envoy to Iraq., and Dr Sami al-Araji, who is the chairman of Iraq's National Investment Commission.

David Miliband Foreign Secretary blogs from Iraq

English at Al-Azhar
Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo sits at the heart of contemporary Sunni theology. I visited this week and heard the story of 1000 years of theological history that embraces Shi'a as well as Sunni teaching. And next to the mosque is a remarkable project run by the British council at Al-Azhar university, one of the oldest universities in the world, and now the proud home of a centre for English teaching.

The students and student teachers talked best. Drawn from five of the 63 faculties of the university, which has 400,000 students at a number of sites around Egypt, they spoke of their eyes being opened to another story of the West than that traditionally pumped out, they spoke of being a voice in their own country for that different image, and they spoke of the "fantastic...better than I could imagine" exchanges in Leeds and Cambridge. This is where the struggle for understanding, respect and coexistance is won. All being well there will be 500 students in the programme from September.
Posted at 14:39 28 February 2009 by David Miliband

Military withdrawal not British withdrawal
Over the next few months British forces will complete their mission in Basra. But British engagement should go up: in business, education and culture this city wants British partnership. We will keep our Consulate here. The Invest Iraq conference will promote business here. Basra has the chance of a better future.
Posted at 22:10 27 February 2009 by David Miliband

Basra Corniche on a Friday afternoon
If you had told me in December 07 when I spent a morning at Basra air base, and couldn't go off base, that 14 months later I would be chatting with Basrawis out with friends and family on the Corniche by the Shatt Al Arab waterway I would not have believed you. Not everyone goes for a walk with an armed escort but the Basrawis told me the same thing one after another: Basra security has been changed fundamentally, the big issue now is unemployment, the future is about Basra being a great city again. Iraqi leadership has been key but so has British military and civilian support. Police chief Adel has been given huge support from a UK police team. He spoke with pride about his force. Clean and efficient police are the difference between a city which functions and one which doesn't.
Posted at 22:09 27 February 2009 by David Miliband

Fundamental change of mission
Baghdad was a good place to mark President Obama's announcements on Iraq troop withdrawal. His announcement follows the same agreed pattern as that adopted by the UK: withdrawal of combat troops to fundamentally change the mission to one of training and mentoring. His announcement combines troop withdrawal with political commitment. I said yesterday in Baghdad that President Obama was proceeding with care and common sense. The commitment until August 2010 allows for critical US support through the National elections early next year. Then Iraqis will have their own future in their own hands.
Posted at 22:06 27 February 2009 by David Miliband

BBC Radio 4 interview with UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband from Iraq

Click the link to hear the Radio 4 podcast.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7914000/7914175.stm

CHRISTMAS CHEER DELIVERED BY BASRA PERSONNEL

The Father Imad al Banna children’s schools of Basra received proceeds earned by a multi-national cast who played in the pantomime ‘Aladdin’ during 6 / 7 December, acted out by members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Basra, Iraq on 24 December 2008.

The cheque for $8300 was presented to Father Imad by the Consulate General, Mr Nigel Haywood, in a short presentation in central Basra on Thursday 24th December 2008.

Father Imad said:

“This is very good for the church and the children of Basra – we thank you very much”

The proceeds from the pantomime and the accompanying raffle will go to provide toys, medications, and food for poor children at the schools in Basra.

The Father Imad Al Banna children’s school has three facilities throughout the Basra area with about 540 students. The students, whose ages range from 3 to 5, are from varied backgrounds and learn to live and grow together as part of their experience at the school.

Although Father Imad is the Chaldean Archbishop for Basra, the school accepts children of all faiths and economic status.