ABCC Hosts Iraq Ministerial Roundtable

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The meeting with one of Iraq’s most senior political figures attracted a capacity audience of investors, business executives, diplomats and media representatives.

The discussion took place within the presence of H E Mr Mohammad Jaafar alSadr, the Iraq Ambassador in London.

Dr Hussein delivered a comprehensive speech during which he ranged widely over Iraq’s recent history and highlighted the country’s latest progress in achieving security and economic development.

Addressing the priorities of the new government that assumed office in Baghdad in October 2022, the Minister spoke of plans to diversify the economy, encourage the private sector, attract investment, rebuild the infrastructure and provide job opportunities for Iraqis.

Investors increasingly realise that Iraq’s security situation has improved significantly, and all leading groups were working together in government to provide better services for the people, the Minister stressed.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his country’s hopes for closer relations with the UK and looked forward to holding fruitful discussions with British ministers during his visit.

Dean, Chairman of the ABCC, praised Iraq for the remarkable advances it has made in recent years and commended Dr Hussein for his willingness to take questions from the audience.

The numerous questions covered such topics as Iraq’s oil industry, plans for developing gas, reforms to its banking and financial services sector and amending the country’s investment law.

Mr Bandar Reda, ABCC Secretary General & CEO, described Iraq as a remarkable country and indicated the chamber’s keenness to assist in building stronger business links between the UK and Iraq.

Meeting with Iraq Ambassador

Meeting with H E Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain

Mr Bandar Reda, our CEO & Secretary General, and Deputy CEO & Secretary General, Mr Abdeslam El-Idrissi, were honoured to be received by H E Mr Mohammad Jaafar M Bakr Haidar Al Sadr, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq, at the Iraq Embassy in London on 7 June, where they held fruitful discussions on a range of matters including collaboration between the embassy and the ABCC and efforts to boost the trade exchange between the UK and Iraq.

Meeting with Libyan Embassy Officials

ABCC Secretary General, Mr Bandar Reda and Deputy CEO & Secretary General, Mr Abdeslam El-Idrissi, were honoured to be received by H E Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the UK, on 30 May 2023, where they held productive discussions on future cooperation including organising Arab Ambassadorial business visits to different regions of the UK.

Visit by Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce

ABCC CEO & Secretary General, Mr Bandar Reda and Deputy CEO & Secretary General, Mr Abdeslam El Idrissi, held a productive meeting with Mr Khaled Jweda, Libyan Charge d’Affaires, along with Libyan officials, Mr Walid Matough, Ms Samira Ben Ategh and Mr Salaheddin Abuaboud. The two sides held extensive discussions on a broad range of key strategic issues and the huge potential offered by Libya across ICT, tourism, agriculture and other economic areas, and the role of the ABCC in strengthening UK-Libya cooperation. The meeting took place at the Libyan Embassy on 24 May 2023.

H E Mr Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Kingdom of Bahrain, paid a visit to the ABCC’s Mayfair premises on Monday 3 July 2023 where he was received by the Rt Hon Baroness Symons, ABCC Chairman and Mr Bandar Reda, our Secretary General & CEO. Productive discussions were held on closer partnership between Bahrain and the Chamber in the promotion of UK-Bahrain business, trade and investment.

Your guaranteed road

Surrounding the uncertainty of Brexit, the Arab-British Certificate of Origin remains the certain method to trade with the Arab world. There will be no changes to the certificate, and the ABCC’s services will suffer no interruption irrespective of Brexit’s outcome.

The Arab-British Certificate of Origin remains the only certain, secure and reliable means of export documentation for companies trading with the Arab world. There have been no changes to the certificate, and, likewise, the ABCC’s range of trade services remain entirely unaltered in the post-Brexit trading environment.