IBBC- IENA Basrah Conference - IBBC | Together We Build Iraq

Transcription

IBBC NEWSLETTER: September-October 2015
WELCOME TO THE IBBC SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
IBBC- IENA Basrah Conference
Akeel Al Khalidy, Basrah Provincial Council, Dr Ibrahim Al Alum, IENA, and Baroness Nicholson
The Chairman and Board of IBBC welcomed the latest IBBC conference held in Basrah on 5 October
2015. Twenty two members and around sixty locally based business people, government employees and
officials, including high ranking representatives of the South Oil Company, South Refineries Company,
South Gas Company and the Ministry of Oil’s Basrah Oil Training Institute, met at the Shams Al Basra
hotel at the kind invitation of the owner and IBBC member, Mr Akeel al Khalidy.
This conference was jointly hosted by IBBC and The Iraq Energy Academy (IENA). There was a very full
programme throughout the day, including major sessions on Oil and Gas, Water, Vocational Training, and
Environmental Challenges. In his opening address Dr Ibrahim Bahr Al Alum, the Founder of IENA, who is
a former Oil Minister and now a leading Member of the Iraqi Parliament’s Energy Committee, spoke with
confidence on the reforms the Iraqi government was presently undertaking and the sustained efforts it is co
-ordinating in his country’s fight against ISIS.
Dr Ahmed Shamma, immediate past deputy oil minister and member of IENA, chaired the Oil and Gas
session. He reminded everyone about the country’s huge reserves of both oil and gas.
Experts from IENA spoke of the progress being made on reducing gas flaring, with an update on the Basra
Gas project. There was an opportunity in this session to hear about the potential of private sector involvement in downstream projects, especially in the refining and petrochemical industries. Indeed, there was a
wide-ranging discussion of what measures need to be taken to develop the private sector in Iraq as a whole
and to attract more international investment. Hans Nijkamp, Chairman of Shell Iraq, gave an update on
Shell’s current projects and the company’s plans for future developments.
September-October 2015
IBBC/SB/20151028
Iraq Britain Business Council, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 06929280
Registered as an NGO in Iraq with registration number 2D76104
The Oil and Gas Session
Mr Hussain Ali from SOC gave a detailed briefing on the Common Seawater Supply Project. This involves
taking water at Khor Al Zubair, treating it, piping it to the Southern Oil fields and injecting it into the wells
to compensate for reducing pressure in these old fields. This is a massive project, urgently needed, but still
at conception stage. Dr Sadik Aljawad from IENA then gave an update on the pressures Iraq is facing with
fewer secure water supplies and ever increasing demands.
In the session on training there was a spirited debate about training possibilities available for students. A
particular example is the work-force led by Dr Ali Mashat (IENA), Dr Hussain Baker (IENA), Dr Ali Nasir Muthanna (AMAR Foundation), Mr Muhammaed Hassan Al–Hasani (Abo Al Khasseb Training Centre), and Mr Ali Kamil Al-Maliki (Al Zubair Training Centre). The availability of government funds for
training purposes was emphasised and the point made that these are under-utilised and sometimes suffer
from a lack of coordination between the different ministries responsible for their distribution.
SOC Chief Engineer Hussain Ali speaking on the Common Sea Water Supply Project during the Water Session
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The Vocational Training Session
The Environmental Session was in two parts. Dr Ayad from the Rumaila Operating Organisation gave a
presentation on the huge clean-up projects undertaken by ROO. He explained about how many millions of
barrels of oil, which have been reclaimed from leaked and dumped contaminated oil, lie in two major manmade lakes.
Steve Rowan from EAME reminded everyone what a beautiful city Basra had been in the 1950s, illustrating his point with beautiful images of how it was then, contrasted with the pollution of the present day,
with problems resulting from open sewers and uncollected rubbish. Mr Al Khalidy, a Basra Council member, confirmed that huge efforts were being made to improve the situation. A vigorous debate ensued as to
how members of the public could best be encouraged to support a clean city campaign.
Chairman of the day, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, praised this first joint IBBC–IENA conference
Environmental Session: Dr Ayad Al Naser, Rumaila Operating Organisation, Peter Hunt, HWH Associates and Steve Rowan, EAME
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and announced that IBBC was looking to strengthen its collaboration with the Iraq Energy Academy.
The Conference ended with a Dinner at the hotel and was followed the next day with a visit to SKA International facilities at Khor Al Zubair, hosted by SKA Chief Executive Mike Douglas. After the visit delegates attended a dinner kindly hosted by the AMAR foundation on the shores of the Shat Al Arab.
Delegates seated during for the IBBC-IENA Conference at the Shams Al-Basrah Hotel
SKA International gave Baroness Nicholson and IBBC delegates a tour of the Khor Al Zubair Facility
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Dinner on the Shores of the Shatt Al Arab, hosted by the AMAR Foundation
The AMAR Foundation’s Dr Ali Muthanna presents a gift to Missy Cascells-Hamby, Trustee of
AMAR US, who was visiting Basrah for the first time
Rasmi Al Jabri of Basrah Engineering Group speaks with Nicholas Pelham of the Economist and
IBBC’s Christophe Michels
Ahmed El Khamry of Solar Turbines with Haider Thamer Alattar of Severn Glocon
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Baroness Nicholson in the House of Lords with Speaker of the Parliament, HE Dr Saleem Al Jabouri and his delegation, flanked by Zaha
Hadid Architects’ Mouzhan Majiji and Patrik Schumacher
Iraqi Speaker of Parliament and delegation visit the UK for talks
A delegation of Iraqi lawmakers, led by the Speaker of the Parliament, Dr Saleem Al Jabouri, visited London in September for talks with British business leaders and politicians.
The group visited the House of Lords and met Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, the UK Trade Envoy
for Iraq and Executive Chairman of the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC).
Later the delegation joined over 25 IBBC members and guests for lunch at the exclusive Royal Over-Seas
League. Speaking at this event, Dr Al Jabouri said the Iraqi Parliament was working hard every day to
improve the country. He said the entire region had been badly affected by the war with ISIL and he pleaded
for international support. Dr Al Jabouri said many people in Iraq were suffering because of the situation,
with millions displaced, unable to live a “decent human life.” The Speaker said the situation left him extremely concerned for the future of young people in Iraq. The priority was to prevent them from being radicalised.
Turning to more positive matters, Dr Al Jabouri said the Government was working hard on legislative reform, especially in investment law, and was pleased that these changes had been agreed by all sides of the
political spectrum.
Baroness Nicholson complimented Dr Al Jabouri, saying the speaker in the Iraqi Parliament played a much
more important role than those in the UK and the United States. She affirmed how much the UK valued
Iraq and its market. She agreed that the new legislation was vital to encourage more foreign investment. She particularly thanked Vitol for sponsoring the lunch and also for the generous support they had
given to the AMAR International Charitable Foundation – support that is now benefitting hundreds of
thousands of IDPs in Iraq.
She also thanked Zaha Hadid Architects for sponsoring a dinner for Dr Al Jiboury and his colleagues at the
House of Lords the previous evening. The Iraqi delegation included Iraqi MPs, Dr Jaber Al Jaberi, Mr Ammar Obaid, Mrs Vian Dakheel, and Mr Hassan Al Bazoon. The Iraqi Ambassador, Dr Salih Ali, and the
First Secretary, Miss Tania Hussain, also attended.
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IBBC holds Iraq Business Clinic at London Chamber of Commerce and Industry
On 21st October Christophe Michels and Richard Cotton from IBBC hosted an Iraq Business Clinic for
London Chamber of Commerce members at their offices At Queen Street with the objective of advising on
business opportunities in Iraq and how best each company might advance its plans to explore the market.
This was the first clinic IBBC had been involved with in its new relationship with British Chambers of
Commerce. The session was a success and representatives from a number of well qualified businesses were
present. Plans were agreed to assist with business development plans for penetrating the Iraq market.
IBBC intends holding further clinics with other Chambers in the near future.
IBBC Autumn Conference:
Iraq in the Global Marketplace
The Iraq Britain Business Council is delighted to invite you to the IBBC Autumn Conference, to be held on
the 9th November at Church House and on the 10th November in the Eversheds Headquarters in London.
Day 1 in Church House, Westminster, will focus on Iraq in the Global Marketplace. Topics will include
Iraq’s present situation seen in a regional context, improvement in governance, changes required to attracting international investment, oil and gas seen in a regional and global context, and women in business as a
catalyst for the Iraqi economy.
Tobias Ellwood MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, will be one of IBBC’s many expert speakers
Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, IBBC Executive Chairman, will be hosting a post conference reception at the House of Lords for some of the delegates and other guests.
Day 2 will be hosted by Eversheds. There will be sessions which provide an overview of the investment
environment in Iraq (including the financial sector) and of due diligence considerations when entering the
Iraqi market. There will also be presentations by the Iraqi and British Chambers of Commerce. Both days
will benefit from the participation of delegates from all of Iraq’s governorates.
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Our confirmed speakers include Tobias Ellwood
MP, UK Minister responsible for the Middle East,
Mrs Hamdiyah Al Jaff, CEO Trade Bank of Iraq,
Dr Jana Hybášková, former EU Ambassador to
Iraq, Dr Salih Husain Altamimi, Iraqi Ambassador
to UK, Dr Mahdi Al Alak, PM Al-Abadi Chief of
Staff, Dan Chugg, Head of the UK Foreign Office
ISIL Task Force, and Ilkka Uusitalo, Senior Advisor CMI.
Bradt’s Iraq Travel
Guide in English
Iraq's rich and inspirational
history is easily forgotten in
the turmoil of recent years.
While parts of the country
remain off limit to tourists,
there is still plenty to
see. Kurdistan's capital Erbil is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited
cities. Respectful visitors
are welcome at the dazzling
shrines of Kerbala, Najaf and
Jafaar Al Hamdani, Chairman of the Iraqi Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Dara Al Khayat, Chairman of the Kurdish Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry will also be in attendance.
Standard Chartered Bank, Shell, Eversheds, BP,
Mott MacDonald, Control Risks, SKA International, KBR, Zaha Hadid Architects, Severn Glocon
Group, Management Partners, G4S, Bath Spa University, ISOS Partnership, and the International
Energy Agency will be presenting at the conference.
IBBC members Eversheds, SKA International
Group and Severn Glocon Group will be sponsoring the event.
IBBC members are entitled to one free ticket per
company. Colleagues can benefit of a preferential
rate of £350 for Day 1 and £125 for Day 2. Please
use the code IBBC in our online registering facility
http://www.webuildiraq.org/blog/ibbc-conference/
autumn-conference/ or contact IBBC staff for advice and help. We look forward to seeing you at
the event!
Kufa, and the ruins of ancient Mesopotamian cities can
still be explored.
Written both for the armchair traveller and the career
adventurer, Bradt's guide to Iraq has detailed information on history and tradition. It provides a clear explanation of the background to the current unrest, and
gives comprehensive advice on security and cultural etiquette.
Bradt Travel Guides offer a 35% discount on their new
Iraq guide for IBBC Members. To claim the discount,
visit www.bradtguides.com and enter the code IBBC at
the checkout.
Upcoming Events
9 November 2015
IBBC Autumn Conference followed by a Reception Hosted
by Baroness Nicholson at the House of Lords
10 November 2015
Second Conference Day at Eversheds
11 November 2015
Visit for Iraqi delegates to Kingston University
16 December 2015
Oil and Gas Sector Table meeting followed by the
Christmas Party at the Reform Club
14 March 2016
Council Meeting and Dinner at the House of Lords
27 April 2016
Spring Conference at the Mansion House
28 April 2016
Second Conference Day
Dr Mahdi Al Alak, The Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Abadi will
address the conference
8-10 July 2016
Cumberland Lodge Retreat
IBBC/SB/20151028

IBBC- IENA Basrah Conference - IBBC | Together We Build Iraq

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