Workshop on national investment reform in Iraq

22 - 24 January 2008, Amman, Jordan

The meeting, which took place in Amman on 22-24 January 2008, was the second in a series of activities undertaken by the MENA-OECD Investment Programme within the framework of its work plan for the Republic of Iraq.

Participants at the Iraqi investment workshop in Amman

The OECD’s engagement with Iraq is the result of a request for assistance by the Iraqi Government in the framework of the International Compact for Iraq. Through the resulting workplan, the OECD aims to offer to the Iraqi Government practical and co-operative assistance in the areas of investment and anti-corruption policy.

The topics of the workshop reflected the items of priority to the Government of Iraq, following a first meeting with Iraqi representatives held on 29 November 2007 in Cairo. Consequently, the workshop focused on three main aspects:

• strategies for investment climate: investment promotion and legislation
• international investment agreements
• anti-corruption and transparency in public procurement procedures

The meeting brought together senior officials from the Iraqi Government, and experts from the region and the OECD Secretariat.

Agenda

Recommendations [عربي l English]

22 January 2008: Strategies for investment climate legislation and image building

Session I: Progress in the Iraqi investment environment – building a positive image

لمحة تاريخية عن الصناعة والمعادن, Ms. Haifa Abdul Hamid, Director General , Investments, Ministry of Industry and Minerals, Iraq

Investment promotion strategies: The Western Balkans experience, Mr. Antonio Fanelli,  Deputy Head, OECD Investment Compact

Session II: Implementing investment law – regional overview

The Investment Legal Environment in Jordan, Dr. Mohammad Al Qudah,  Legal Advisor,  Jordan Investment Board 

تنفيذ قانون الأستثمار
Implementing the Investment Law: Regional Overview, Dr. Alexander Böhmer , Executive Programme Manager, MENA-OECD Investment Programme

Session III: Implementing investment law – focus on Iraq

تنفيذ قانون الاستثمار العراقي
Implementing the Iraqi Investment Law: Elements to Consider, Dr. Alexander Böhmer, Executive Programme Manager, MENA-OECD Investment Programme

23rd January – International investment agreements
Session I: Basic concepts and recent developments in OECD and MENA countries – BITs, FTAs, WTO agreements

برنامج الاستثمار للشرق الاوسط و شمال افريقيا – منظمة التعاون و التنمية الاقتصادية
International Investment Agreements in the MENA Region, Dr. Alexander Böhmer, Executive Programme Manager, MENA-OECD Investment Programme

Session II: International investment agreements negotiations – defining a strategy for Iraq

Strategy for BITs Negotiations, Dr. Alexander Böhmer, Executive Programme Manager, MENA-OECD Investment Programme

24th January – Enhancing transparency in public procurement procedures  

Fighting bribery in public procurement: The work by OECD, Ms. Nicola Ehlermann-Cache, OECD Anti-Corruption Division

Industrial Investment Opportunities In Iraq, Ministry of Industry and Minerals, Iraq

OECD – Iraq Cooperation

العراق مع (OECD) تعاون منظمة التعاون و التنمية الاقتصادية

International investment agreements concluded by MENA Countries

New generation of foreign investment laws: MENA-OECD good practice and the new Iraqi investment regime

جيل جديد من قوانين الاستثمار الاجنبي

The impact of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention