“[SelectUSA] is an investment summit that encourages business leaders from around the world to consider opening a business in the United States … strengthening their ties with the U.S. business community. So, it's a big show,” said Jeffrey Cernyar, economic and commercial officer at the US Embassy in Baghdad
The diplomat was on the sidelines of the summit in Maryland’s National Harbor on Monday.
“I think, for Iraq, we are very excited because a couple of years ago we were not able to bring anybody from Kurdistan or Iraq with us to the show,” Cernyar said. “Last year, we were able to bring a small group, and a very successful story came out of that.
“This year, we brought many more. We have over 30 Iraqis and Kurdish friends who have joined us at the show this year, which is a record for us in Iraq and in the history of our relations with Iraq at this summit.”
The SelectUSA Investment Summit is celebrating its 10th summit in 2024, hosting thousands of investors, companies and industry experts from Sunday to Wednesday.
Twenty-five of the 33 Iraqi companies that participated in the summit are from the Kurdistan Region, and this is the first time a large group of investors from the Region has attended the summit.
“I want to underscore that our friends at the consulate in Erbil are working every day on these same themes to improve the business relationship and the business climate between U.S. and Iraqi companies,” Cernyar said.
“We know that, for a long time, we have had extremely strong and positive ties with the people of Kurdistan, and I think this just demonstrates that there's a vitality, an energy, and an entrepreneurial spirit in Kurdistan that is exemplified by these meetings today,” he added.
Cernyar said US-Iraq business and economic relations are “on the cusp of great things right now,” while also acknowledging some challenges.
“We all know that recent history has been challenging, but you just look around the country of Iraq right now, and you see buildings going up, roads being built, ports being improved, and airports being renovated. You see an interest in the people of Iraq for more choices as consumers, stronger relationships, better tech, access to technology, and better access to health care. I think all of these things are going to lead to real growth in the trade between the countries,” he detailed.
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