Send Print Tweet

Istanbul, 23-24 November 2011

An investment protection assessment on a proposed network of investment zones in Iraq will be undertaken by the MENA-OECD Investment Programme, leading to recommendations on regulatory and institutional reforms that would increase the general level of investment protection in Iraq and make investment zones more attractive to potential private developers  and users. The assessment was decided by the second meeting of the Working Group on Investment Zones in Iraq, held in Istanbul, Turkey on 23-24 November 2011. The Iraq National Investment Commission (NIC) will assist in mobilizing all relevant GoI agencies to provide the data necessary for the assessment and to debate its recommendations.

Terms of reference for international feasibility studies on the six planned investment zones will also be drafted by the MENA-OECD Investment Programme, in close collaboration with the NIC, and the Programme will assist the NIC in seeking funding for the studies. At a later stage, the Programme will assist the NIC in marketing the six pilot zone propositions to potential private developers, using the feasibility studies as key marketing tools, including via Internet-based marketing, road show events, and targeted direct contacts.

Participants in the meeting included top officials of the Iraqi National Investment Commission (NIC) and its Chairman, Dr. Sami Al-Araji, the Chairman of the Babil Provincial Investment Commission, representatives of the Iraqi ministries of planning,  industry and minerals, and finance (General Commission for Free Zones), the Office of the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Infrastructure and the Office of the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, the OECD, the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD), the Industrial Land Agency (Tunisia), Nabulsi and Associates (Jordan), Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (United States), El-Erian Associates LLC (United States), and Shannon Development (Ireland).

The MENA-OECD Investment Programme partnership with Iraq

• Was first launched in October 2007 following a request from the Government of Iraq
• Is implemented in close collaboration with the private sector, and supported by a broad range of governments and development agencies
• Aims to promote private sector development and build government capacity to attract foreign investment, contributing to the development of a stable economy
• Has three main fields of activity:

• The Working Group on Infrastructure Finance in Iraq
• The Working Group on Investment Zones in Iraq 
• Integrity in public procurement, with an emphasis on the role of businesses and civil society
    

Agenda (English | Arabic)

Presentations

Session 1 – Attracting Investment Zones Developers

International good practices for attracting investment zone developers, Zuhair Al-Maliki, Iraq Project Advisor, MENA-OECD Investment Programme

Case Study: Tunisia (Arabic) Ben Aissa Abidi, CEO, Industrial Land Agency, Tunisia

Session 2 – Attracting Investment Zones Users

International good practices for attracting investment zone users, Zuhair Al-Maliki, Iraq Project Advisor, MENA-OECD Investment Programme

Case study: The Dubai free zones, Christopher Gunson, Lawyer, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Case study: Tunisia, (Arabic) Ben Aissa Abidi, CEO, Industrial Land Agency, Tunisia

Session 3 –  Benchmarking the draft Iraqi Investment Zones Regulation

Benchmarking the draft Iraqi Investment Zones Regulation, Zuhair Al-Maliki, Iraq Project Advisor, MENA-OECD Investment Programme

Session 4 –  Benchmarking the proposed Department of Investment Zones, NIC

Benchmarking the proposed Department of Investment Zones, NIC, Christelle Monteillet, Iraq Project Advisor, MENA-OECD Investment Programme

Session 5  –  Plans for a pilot investment zone

Plans for a pilot investment zone, Christelle Monteillet, Iraq Project Advisor, MENA-OECD Investment Programme

Final declaration (English | Arabic)

First Meeting of the Working Group on Investment Zones in Iraq, 29-30 March 2011, Amman.
Workshop on the Iraqi Economic Zones Strategy, 25-26 November 2010, Paris.