(L-R) Chevron’s Jay Pryor, Dr. Sami Al Araji, Chairman of the Iraqi National Investment Commission, Hon. Stuart Holliday, President of Meridian

On October 20, Meridian International Center hosted a delegation of US and Iraqi business and government leaders at the close of the opening day of the US-Iraq Business and Investment Conference (USIBIC). The USIBIC was organized by the U.S. Department of State, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Iraqi Embassy to focus on twelve sectors: agriculture, banking/finance, defense, electricity, health, education, housing/construction, oil/gas, telecommunications, tourism, industry, and transportation.

Opened by Meridian’s president Ambassador Stuart W. Holliday, the Meridian reception featured remarks by Jay Pryor, Vice President of Business Development for Chevron, Ambassador Patricia Haslach, Coordinator for Assistance Transition, U.S. Embassy Baghdad, and closed with a statement by Dr. Sami Al Araji, Chairman of the Iraqi National Investment Commission.

At the reception, Jay Pryor of Chevron highlighted the important new chapter in relations between Iraq and the US, as well as Chevron’s ongoing commitment to support the economic development of Iraq and the continued work of Meridian to support leadership development and exchange. Dr. Sami Al Araji stated that the USIBIC surpassed all expectations.

The conference and reception marked a positive shift in relations between the US and Iraq as articulated in the new Strategic Framework Agreement between the two nations. The conference and reception were successful in promoting current investment and business opportunities in Iraq, providing matchmaking opportunities for U.S. and Iraqi firms, and providing opportunities for U.S. firms to meet with Iraqi Ministers and other senior Government of Iraq officials.

USIBIC delegates at Meridian

USIBIC delegates at Meridian

Hon. John Negroponte and Jay Pryor

Ambassador Patricia Haslach, Coordinator for Assistance Transition, U.S. Embassy Baghdad addresses the reception

Hon. Stuart Holliday, Iraqi Ambassador H.E. Samir Shakir M. Sumaida'ie, Jay Pryor and Dr. Sami Al Araji