Archive for month: September, 2021
Signing & Publicizing of the Prominent Iraqi Journalist Dr. Majeed Al-Sammarraie’s Book Supported by IBC’s (Ibdaa) Cultural Program
With the support of the Cultural Program of the Iraqi Business Council in Amman (Ibdaa), and under the parsonage of the Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan Mr. Haider Al-Athari, signing of the second part of “Atraf Al-Hadeeth” book for the prominent Iraqi journalist Dr. Majeed Al-Sammarraie, published by (Dar Al-Thakira), took place on Monday, September 27th 2021 on Al-Orfali Hall in Amman.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Dr. Al-Sammarraie extended his thanks and appreciation to all those who had contributed to the publication of his book, especially the Iraqi Business Council in Amman for its support through its (Ibdaa) Cultural Program to publicize and sign the two parts of his book “Atraf Al-Hadeeth”; the first part was published in 2019 and the second in 2021.
Dr. Al-Sammarraie reviewed the most important episodes of his famous program “Atraf Al-Hadeeth”, which he talked about in his book, recalling dialogues for a number of very important personalities; such as artists and journalists, thinkers, religious and philosophy men, that he had hosted over the years in his widely-watched program.
For his part, the Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan Mr. Haider Al-Athari stressed that the educated Iraqi elite is capable of contributing to strengthening the ties between members of the Iraqi community in Jordan and their Iraqi cultural environment despite the geographic distance, lauding the distinguished effort exerted by Dr. Al-Sammarraie over his long years of work.
The event was attended by IBC Deputy Chairman & Secretary General Dr. Saad Naji and IBC CEO, a large number of Iraqi and Jordanian art and cultural figures, in addition to the media and satellite TV channels.
Opening of the 4th Personal Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition for Iraqi Calligrapher Adil Al-Hadi Under Patronage of the Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan At The Iraqi Business council Hall
Among the activities of IBC Cultural Program (Ibdaa), and under the patronage of the Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan Mr. Haider Al-Athari, the fourth personal exhibition for Arabic Calligraphy for Iraqi Calligrapher Adil Al-Hadi was opened on Wednesday, September 22nd 2021 on IBC Hall – 1st Floor.
During the opening ceremony and his exhibition tour with the Iraqi Ambassador Mr. Al-Athari, IBC Chairman Dr. Majid Saedi, IBC Deputy Chairman & Secretary General Dr. Saad Naji, Iraqi Consul Mr. Waleed Al-Issawi, the Commercial Attaché Mr. Nabil Al-Karbouli and a number of IBC members, the Iraqi Calligrapher Adil Al-Hadi reviewed the artworks on display, which included technologies and different types of calligraphy that reflected different types and formations of Arabic Calligraphy of different schools represented by Al-Thulth, Al-Thulth Al-Jali (Clear Thulth), Al-Naskh, Al-Diwani, Al-Jali Al-Diwani Calligraphy, and the different types of Kufi Calligraphy; such as Al-Muwarraq (the leafy), square, Al-Madfour, Al-Taaleeq, Al-Ijaza, Al-Nesabouri and other types of Calligraphy.
The Calligrapher used colors as important elements in the composition of his paintings, and introduced the technique of decoration such as Al-Suleimi and Al-Nabati to give aesthetic aspect to the painting.
As for the selected texts, most texts were picked from the Holly Quran and Hadiths, in addition to the introduction of poetry with its various purposes such as praise and flirtation.
The event was attended by a number of artists, academics, media figures and IBC guests of the Iraqi community in Jordan, in addition to satellite TV channels, IBC CEO and staff.
IBC Deputy Chairman & Secretary General Participates in the 6th Annual Business Forum for Sustainable Development of the United Nations Global Compact
The Iraqi Business Council Deputy Chairman & Secretary General Dr. Saad Naji and IBC Chief Executive Officer participated in the Sixth Annual Business Form for Sustainable Development of the United Nations Global Compact, which was held on September 20th to 22nd 2021 via audio – visual communication technology.
An elite group of decision makers, Chief Executive Officers, Sustainable Development Experts and Business Leaders, in addition to Heads and Representatives of Civil Society Organizations, participated in the Forum, which was organized in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the International Chamber of Commerce.
The Forum coincided with the convening of the United Nations General Assembly.
During the Forum, the participants discussed the current challenges of the escalating crisis of climate change and Corona Virus Pandemic, their serious consequences on all societies and the method of advancing and achieving the goals of sustainable development.
The International Chamber of Commerce launched a number of initiatives including the launch of the world’s first software platform for small and medium sized companies to evaluate the effects of their operations on the environment, issuance of a report on sustainable imports financing, and the announcement by the International Chamber of Commerce that it will host a virtual global event coinciding with the United Nations Conference “Together for Climate Modification” “COP 26”.
During the Forum, workshops were held for entrepreneurs to develop mechanisms and solutions to reduce Carbon emissions and address the effects of climate change.
IBC Chairman and IBC Deputy Chairman & Secretary General Participate in a Meeting with the Iraqi Interior Minister During His Visit to Jordan
At the invitation extended by the Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan, Mr. Haider Al-Athari, IBC Chairman, Dr. Majid Saedi, and IBC Deputy Chairman & Secretary General Dr. Saad Naji participated in the meeting that was held with the Iraqi Interior Minister, Mr. Othman Al-Ghanimi, on the sideline of his visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan at the headquarters of the Iraqi Embassy in Jordan.
The convening of this meeting with the Iraqi Interior Minister is intended to call on the Iraqi community in Jordan and listen to the requests made by the participants.
IBC Chairman, Dr. Saedi, requested sending a team from the Iraqi Interior Ministry to issue the “unified identification card” to members of the Iraqi community in Jordan.
The Minister replied that issuance of the cards is suspended at the present time and promised to send a work team from the Ministry to solve problems related to the Directorate of Civil Status, Passports and Residence and work on overcoming all obstacles facing the Iraqi community with regard to nationality issues and others.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Saedi, Dr. Naji and participants from the Iraqi community extended their thanks and appreciation to the visiting Iraqi Minister and the accompanying delegation, and to the Iraqi Ambassador, Mr. Al-Athari, for organizing this meeting and for the Ambassador’s interest in members of the Iraqi community and his keenness on overcoming all obstacles encountering them.
It is worth mentioning that the Iraqi Interior Minister, Mr. Othman Al-Ghanimi, is on official visit to Jordan heading a high-level security delegation to discuss a number of issues of common interest between the two countries.
Participation of Iraqi Business council Deputy Chairman & Secretary General in the Meeting of the International Labor Organization (ILO) on “Diagnosing the Informal Sector in Iraq”
At a personal invitation extended by the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Iraqi Business Council Deputy Chairman and Secretary General Dr. Saad Naji participated on Tuesday, September 14th 2021 in the meeting held by (ILO) via Zoom application, on “Diagnosing the Informal Sector in Iraq” Project and setting a strategy for the transition to formal economy in Iraq.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Women Organization (UNWO), International Migration Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU), in addition to a number of other international organizations take part in the implementation of the strategy.
The meeting included a special review by (ILO) Regional Coordinator in Iraq Dr. Maha Qattaa on the progress of “Diagnosing the Informal Sector in Iraq” Project, including the activities and outputs, followed by presentation by the representative of FAFO Research Foundation – Mr. Theodoros Kebede – on the results of the second round of the data on the impact of Corona Virus on workers and organizations in Iraq, and (ILO) expert Mr. Mohammad Al-Maayteh gave a presentation on the observations he reached after a series of meetings with partners and stakeholders in the Project including the Iraqi Business Council, which is the only institution inside and outside Iraq that has been selected by the International Labor Organization to be the main partner in setting the strategy for the transition to formal economy in Iraq.
Then the ILO expert Ms. Miranda Wegermann discussed updating the legal review of the Project. During the meeting, IBC Deputy Chairman and Secretary General Dr. Saad Naji participated with an important intervention, in which he wondered about the support provided by the Iraqi government to the affected sectors in the Iraq private sector, and the extent of its impact on the study being conducted by ILO concerning the informal economy in Iraq.
The meeting was attended by experts from government institutions, the United Nations Agencies, development partners and international organizations in Iraq.
Jordan Investment Minister Eng. Kheiri Amr Meets with Iraqi Business council Chairman and Members at Investment Ministry Headquarters
Jordan Investment Minister Engineer Kheiri Amr met on Thursday December 9th 2021 at the Investment Ministry Headquarters with the Iraqi Business Council Chairman Dr. Majid Saedi, Deputy Chairman & Secretary General Dr. Saad Naji and a number of IBC Board member; Mr. Mekki Al-Faiz and Mr. Tariq Al-Hassan, along with IBC members; Mr. Ahmad Al_Amili, Mr. Aqeel Al-Hadi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Thabit Safar, Mrs. Leilas Asfour and IBC Director General.
During the meeting, a set of observations and suggestions were discussed to enhance investments of Iraqi investors in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The Investment Minister also stressed keenness of the Jordanian Government to provide all necessary facilities to businessmen and investors in Jordan and communicate with them on permanent basis to learn about any observations relating to the progress of their businesses and investments in Jordan to overcome any obstacles they may encounter.
His Excellency the Investment Minister reviewed the mechanism of improving investment and developing investment attraction, pointing to the efforts exerted by various official authorities to improve the investment reality in the Kingdom and create an appropriate and attractive climate for investment, stressing that finding appropriate solutions to the challenges encountering investors has always been on the top priorities of the Jordanian government under Royal Directives.
For his part, Chairman of the Iraqi Business Council Dr. Saedi thanked the Jordanian government for its efforts to provide all facilities to the Iraqi investor, and the efforts exerted by the Investment Ministry to continue searching for solutions to the obstacles and challenges encountering the Iraqi investors.
Dr. Saedi tackled some of the challenges facing the Iraqi investor, which he affirmed that finding solutions would contribute to the flow of even more Iraqi investments to Jordan.
IBC Deputy Chairman Dr. Saad Naji presented a working paper covering all obstacles on Iraqi investment in the Kingdom “reality and challenges” which covered the volume of Iraqi investment in Jordan in the investment sectors on the obstacles facing the Iraqi investor with proposals covering solutions.
At the end of the meeting, the Investment Minister promised to study the suggestions provided by IBC members to facilitate their work in Jordan, and the delegation representing IBC members expressed thanks and appreciation to the Investment Minister for holding the meeting.
Economic Event: IBC Board Member Mr. Louay Al-Saeed Represents the Iraqi Business Council at Rafidain
Board member of the Iraqi Business Council Mr. Louay Al-Saeed participated, as speaker on behalf of and representative of IBC Chairman Dr. Majid Saedi, in the Sixth Session of Rafidain Forum for Dialogue 2021, titled “A White Paper : Stage Requirements and Reform Path”, where Mr. Al-Saeed discussed the private sector’s vision of the White Paper, describing it as a paper for government reform and the extent of its seriousness to overcome the obstacles facing the Iraqi private sector, development plans and strategies, stressing the importance of applying the contents in the White Paper and applying the required government reforms, and the need for an independent national and government will.
Mr. Al-Saeed also talked about the lingering of several projects due to the lack of funding and government support. On the private sector’s views of the future prospects and partnership projects between the public and private sectors, especially they are limited to the ports and cement industries sectors Mr. Al-Saeed responded as saying: “the government must find the correct mechanism for the Iraqi private sector to benefit from, in addition to development plans and a clear investment chart, especially since many government projects have employment inflation, which fact prevents the private sector from investing in these projects, in addition to a number of measures imposed by the government on the private sector, heavily weighing on this sector, add to this the lack of confidence and commitment on part of the government, which reflected on the local and foreign investment leading to the failure of investment in Iraq”.
The Iraqi Minister of Planning Mr. Khaled Bettal Najim talked about the efforts exerted by the Ministry to extract the licensing rounds from the investment budget, and the Ministry of Planning’s keenness to work on the White Paper – Plan B. The Minister also stressed that Iraq will soon reach the highest population increase.
The Session was attended by Dr. Hussein Latif Kadim Al-Zubaidi / CEO of Rafidain Centre for Dialogue (RCD) / Session Chairman, Dr. Adnan Abid Khudeir Al-Zurfi / member of the Iraqi Parliament, Dr. Major General Omar Adnan Al-Waili / Head of the Border Ports Authority and Mr. Ihsan Shemran Al-Yasiri / Central Bank Deputy Governor. The Forum was also attended by IBC member Engineer Turkey Al-Qaissi.