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IACCI Capabilities Statement

  "Impossible is Nothing!" - IACCI's Capacity Building in Iraq

Introduction

Commerce and industry as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGO) have been active in capacity building in Iraq by providing training, education, jobs and economic growth. The Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce and Industry addresses a wide range of issues and programs, including trade facilitation, training including vocational and educational programs, data management, evaluation and survey instruments, women’s empowerment and training, and the development of the private sector by facilitating relationships between international and Iraqi investors, Iraqi companies and the Iraqi Ministries including regional and local level offices. Since the beginning of the US presence in 2003, there have been a number of attempts to establish business centers and civil society institutions to assist the evolution of the Iraqi business community away from a government-controlled mentality toward privatized business initiatives. The role played by these kinds of organizations is essential in leading the way for change and for strengthening the Iraqi business private sector. The successful establishment of these types of institutions requires an administrative body characterized by a combination of a number of key elements: extreme knowledge of and sensitivity to cultural climate of Iraq, extensive familiarity with both western and eastern business practices, concrete capabilities with an entrepreneurial sense to implement programs and projects, ability to operate and maintain accessibility in an environment that is not secure or stable and finally, and dedicated commitment to succeed.
 

Mission Statement

IACCI's primary mission is two-fold: A) the creation of new business through networking forums, and B) building the capacity of key Iraqi private and public sector elements that are necessary to growing the overall national capacity to support a vital private sector in Iraq. IACCI aims to invigorate the small business community in Iraq by bringing businesses together and moving them forward in a proactive and constructive manner. In doing this we are promoting open market economy and a democratic political system in Iraq. This will ensure that access to the market is open and fair. IACCI promotes transparency, accountability and that the rule of law is enforced in Iraq. A strong business community is based on business associations having an audible voice in the policy-making process. This will contribute to the growth of participatory civil society and the development of a regulatory and policy environment conducive to private enterprise.

Goals

• Promote open-market economy in Iraq through a competitive system where the rules are the same for all participants, corruption is eliminated and transparency and accountability are strengthened.
• Build simplified compliance systems for small businesses by fostering the participation of business groups in the day-to-day process of government decision-making and developing laws and institutions necessary for an open market-oriented economy.
• Facilitate access to and establish consistent long term relationships between the private sector and the Iraq Ministries for the purpose of progressive commerce and trade implementation and practices.
• Serve as a catalyst concerning the reactivation of the professional associations and guilds including the Iraqi Industrial Federation, the Contractors Union and the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce by conducting free and fair elections to promote the emergence of representative intermediaries.
• Encourage entrepreneurial climate and culture in addition to expanding access to business and economic information necessary for informed decision-making.
• Development and fundraising for specific projects in support of the organization of networking events, professional development education, training, policy related events and other crucial projects as needed, to support and compliment the goals of IACCI, its members and the private sector community in Iraq.
• Promote the development of certain public sector elements that are key to the success of the establishment of an environment that allows the private sector to flourish in Iraq. This is done through training and awareness programs.
• To assist and establish long term US policy orientation towards Iraq on Congressional, White House and Governmental Agency levels including delegate visitation.
• Facilitate access to an economic focused relationship between the private sectors of Iraq and the international community through “Free Trade” magazine (IACCI’s premier commerce and industry trade publication), educational seminars and programs, events including the EXPO Trade Show, cross-cultural activities and high level economic programs for the benefit of expanded long term sustainable growth, investment and expansion of the commerce, technology, industry, civil society and private sectors in Iraq.
 

Expertise

Since 2003, the Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce has expanded to become a highly respected, professional, full service organization with over 7,000 Iraqi and international membership including Iraqi Ministries and local governments. This networking is crucial to the capability of providing sustainable services. From the beginning, IACCI has implemented capacity building components within the organization itself to include staff training and development, especially with young people. The staff has grown from a small group back in 2003 to over 350 full time employees. This number swells to over 400 or more during special projects such as the trade show “EXPO” and other equally large projects. IACCI has four offices in Iraq, a branch in Jordan and an office in the United States.

IACCI’s expertise in Iraq includes:

• Strategic planning and logistics
• Iraq Ministries Public Relations and Advocacy
• Grants management
• Program design and implementation
• Resource development and management
• Networking both governmental and trade including NGO
• “Train the Trainer” programs
• Civil Society and Iraqi business training and education
• Cross-cultural communication and facilitation
• Financial planning and training
• International and indigenous public relations
• Capacity building through seminars, conferences and delegations
• Technical assistance
• Engineering design and management
• Construction project design and implementation
• Job Creation including Iraqi Job Databank and Career Development Counseling
• Media, marketing, advertising and graphic arts
• Public Relations and Media Relations
• Publication development and publishing
• IT programming, design and training
• IACCI Training and Development Resources Initiative for Business in Iraq (TADRIB Iraq).
 

Economic Development and Coordination

Coordination on a local level between governments, international and Iraqi organizations, businesses and civil society is the key to sustainable growth and rebuilding of Iraq. Iraq is a recovering country, sensitive to pluralistic ethnic and religious groups, political entities and outside elements influencing economic growth. This resulted in the need for an indigenous leader and role model. The Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce has become a key central organization of co-operative companies, organizations and governmental agencies working together successfully in rebuilding Iraq through business development, training of a diversity of workers, program development and management through a natural synergy. The US and Coalition forces (Provincial Reconstruction Teams –PRT’s) working in Iraq heavily consult with IACCI on economic development projects and matters related to business generation in Baghdad and all over Iraq. The Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce is best known for its reputation and work in providing business development support and a networking foundation to all levels of the economic society including the Iraqi Ministries, the regional and local governments and the remarkable diversity of industries throughout Iraq including, but by no means limited to the following:

Wholesale Trade of Durable and Nondurable Goods, Heavy Construction equipment, Special Trade Contractors, Miscellaneous Store Retailers, Crop Production, Truck Transportation, Real Estate, Scientific and Technical Services, General Merchandise Stores, Automotive (new dealer and service industries), Food Manufacturing, Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing, Utilities, Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores, Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing, Hospitals and Health care industry, Animal Production?, Wood Product Manufacturing, Building, Developing, and General Contracting, Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing, Water Transportation, Warehousing and Storage, Machinery Manufacturing, Apparel Manufacturing, Printing and Related Support Activities, Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Information Services and Data Processing Services, Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing, Textile Mills, Textile Product Mills, Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores, Transportation Equipment Manufacturing. IACCI leverages its relationships with the Iraqi ministries, with whom it has been interfacing since the beginning of its formation. In addition the IACCI has strong relations with US Government agencies in the I-Zone, the US and Coalition military and their contractors, other foreign commercial missions, and Iraqi business associations. Currently, IACCI is providing assistance with the execution of economic development projects at the Baghdad International Airport as well as in and around Baghdad (including Taji and Iskandiriya), Kirkuk, Mosul, Al-Anbar Province (Ramadi), and throughout southern Iraq with these agencies. The Chamber also works with regional and local governments (the Kurdistan Regional Government), non-governmental organizations, communities, military and security forces, hospitals and schools, including universities, in order to make positive changes through economic development on a civil society level.

Project Management

IACCI has extensive experience in its last four years of operations in a volatile Iraq. Project management has included the management of large-scale training programs, grant programs, arranging and organizing logistics for major events involving numerous different parties – private sector and government over a geographic scope spanning the entire country, extensive training both educational and vocations, international trade and development, and renovation and facility building. One excellent example was the Kurdistan DBX international trade show and conference held in Erbil, Iraq in 2005, and in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq in 2006. At both events, there were approximately 94,000 people in attendance over a three day period who visited over 600 exhibitors. Challenges involved in the Kurdistan DBX Trade Show and Conference were numerous. IACCI was able to take into consideration and find solutions for:

1. Provision of the venue, when there was no suitable venue to be found in either Erbil or Sulaimaniyah,
2. Provision of adequate suitable accommodations, when the number of people that the hosting city can accommodate is extremely limited (not more than 300 rooms at 4-star level),
3. Transportation of international attendees coming from outside of Iraq to allow them to reach the venue, (this is in a situation where the international airport had not been accredited until just weeks before the event was scheduled to take place), and
4. Security provision for some 5000 participants located in multiple venues throughout the host city, when all of the country was experiencing random attacks of terrorist insurgents.

IACCI’s result for the above lay in effective organization and problem solving with multiple parties involved in the production of the event. The following are some examples of the ability of the Chamber to organize and solve problems:

• The exhibition hall for the event was constructed under direct supervision of IACCI Executive Vice President and engineer, Yousif Al-Hardan in a record time of two months, involving importation of materials from neighboring Turkey and organization of over 100 laborers.
• In coordination with the Kurdistan Regional Government, IACCI was able to secure the use of over 500 rooms for the trade show participants in the brand new housing complex constructed for use of the Salahaddin University for its students.
• With regards to transportation, IACCI was able to negotiate with Kurdistan Regional Airlines to change their flight schedules to accommodate direct flights from Dubai to Erbil and later Sulaimaniyah that coincided with the opening dates of the event.
• Finally, regarding security, IACCI coordinated with the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure that intense security measures were in place at each of the venues for the event, including sniffing-dogs for explosives and modern electronic detection equipment. The Kurdistan Peshmerga army was mobilized to protect the cities of Erbil and later Sulaimaniyah, entrance points into the governate, roadways, and all venues.

This was a challenging accomplishment and it characterizes IACCI’s capacity to coordinate the diversity of team players needed to build such a huge event and included vocational training of workers.

Trade event projects continue with upcoming events for Fall of 2007 and Spring of 2008. IACCI is has constructed a brand new facility in Sulaimaniyah for the 2nd Annual Kurdistan DBX Trade Show which occurred there in November of 2006. The project involved mobilization of construction firms and coordination with the Sulaimaniyah Chamber of Commerce and Regional Government. In addition to the Kurdistan show, IACCI is beginning preparations for the Destination Baghdad Expo (DBX) in the Baghdad International Airport for April of 2008, in cooperation with the Multi-National Corps of the US Military, the Iraqi Airways, and Iraqi Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transportation. Preparations for this event involve establishing hotel accommodations and expo and conference facilities which is currently underway.
 

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