FRANCE-IRAQ BUSINESS FORUM
With a young population of over 45 million inhabitants, Iraq offers a dynamic domestic market, with a strong demand for consumer goods. With its vast natural resources, particularly in hydrocarbons, Iraq remains a major player in the global energy market. Benefiting from a strategic geographical location connecting the Persian Gulf, Central Asia, and the Levant, Iraq is an essential logistics and commercial hub. Despite past political challenges, Iraq is now in a phase of revitalization and is actively working towards diversifying its economy, which is currently highly dependent on oil. The infrastructure, transportation, and logistics sectors are at the heart of this transformation and represent numerous investment opportunities for French companies.
- Iraq development road: Connecting Iraq to Europe via Turkey – highway/railway ($18 billion)
- Baghdad Metro
- Baghdad Avenue ($1 billion)
This forum will highlight the development prospects and challenges related to the country’s economic recovery, while exploring its many strategic advantages. By participating in this event, you will benefit from in-depth analyses of the opportunities and specifics of this rapidly rebuilding market. You will be able to identify business and cooperation opportunities, discuss best practices, and position yourself in the most favorable conditions for success in this market. Through roundtable discussions led by experts and local institutional representatives, as well as B2B meetings, you will deepen your knowledge and establish key contacts for your future development.
A LOOK BACK IN PICTURES
HIGHLIGHTS IN VIDEO
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
ROUNDTABLE REPLAY
PROGRAM
SECTORAL AND CROSS-SECTORAL ROUND TABLES
Moderated by Arnaud FLEURY, economic journalist
Didier BOULOGNE, Chief Operating Officer, Export Division, Business France
Laurent-SAINT-MARTIN, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, French Republic
Dr. Atheer Dawood AL-GHRAIRI, Minister of trade, Republic of Iraq
Sophie SIDOS-VICAT, President of the National Committee of French Foreign Trade Advisors
Mohammed AL-NAJJAR, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Investment Affairs/Executive Director of the Iraq Fund for Development, Republic of Iraq
Axel SCHAEFER, Export Finance, UMAX TRADE
Pierre FOURNOL, Of Counsel – Corporate & Arbitration, Al Muhamoon Al Mutahidoon (United Law Firm – ULF)
Arjoun RAJ, Deputy Head of the Economic Department in Baghdad, French Treasury
Duncan TOULON, Deputy Head of the Economic Department in Baghdad, French Treasury
Zekri Basheer SHENI, Chairman and Owner, Kavin Group
Zina Yakoob AL-KHAFAJI, Chief Executive Officer, ATA YATIRIM
Ahmed Mohammed SALMAN, Investment Law Expert, BHC Bayt Al-Hikma – Legal Consulting and Services Firm
Guillaume DUFFET, Export Manager, Coopex Montbéliarde
Ali Hussein ABDULAMEER, Vice Minister of Construction, Republic of Iraq
Muqdad AL JUBOORI, CEO & Senior Lawyer, Al Muhamoon Al Mutahidoon (United Law Firm – ULF)
Philippe MATIÈRE, Chief Executive Officer, Matière
Maitham AL-ASADI, IFBC Member, CEO of Basra Logistic City
Dr. Atheer Dawood AL-GHRAIRI, Minister of trade, Republic of Iraq
Mustafa JUMAAH, Director General of Fairs and Exhibitions, Ministry of Commerce, Republic of Iraq
Chantal CHARBEL, General Manager Middle East, Lactalis
Adham AL-FAKHAR, Chief Executive Officer of AL-FAKHAR Co. Ltd. & AL-JAD Co. Ltd. / Co-Chair of the IFBC (French-Iraqi Business Council)
Adel KARIM, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Energy, Republic of Iraq
Dr. Mohammed SHUKRI, Head of Board of Investment, Iraqi Kurdistan regional government
Dunia CHALABI, Managing Director and Country Chair, TotalEnergies Iraq
Bassam AL-ATTEIA, Alsaree3 App. & Alatiyah Oil Services Company
Philippe GUEGUEN, Director, Governmental Affairs, Export, Airbus Helicopters
12.35 PM – Healthcare: Key projects and challenges
Dr. Hasan ALKHATIB, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Iraq on Digital Transformation and Telecommunications, Republic of Iraq
Sherif SABRY, Country Director for Iraq at Al Hayat Scientific Office
Frank SIMONET, Vice President, Ellipse Projects
Sophie LE ROMANCER, Head of Consulting, C3MEDICAL
1.00 PM – Closing of the plenary session
H.E. Wadee AL-BATTI, Ambassador of Iraq to France
H.E. Patrick DUREL, Ambassador of France to Iraq
Abdulrazaq AL-ZUHEERE, President of the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce
Vincent REINA, President of the Franco-Arab Chamber of Commerce
MoC signing between Business France and the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce (FICC)
Didier BOULOGNE, Chief Operating Officer, Export Division, Business France
Abdulrazaq AL-ZUHEERE, President of the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce
2.30 PM/6.00 PM – B2B SESSIONS
Starting March 31 you will be able to book meetings with other registered stakeholders via the B2Match Matchaking platform. To make the most of these in-person meetings, please ensure that your profile is as detailed as possible.
*This program is provided for informational purposes only and is subject to change.
MODERATION
SPEAKERS
Chief Operating Officer, Export Division, Business France
Ambassador of France to Iraq
Ambassador of Iraq to France
President of the French Foreign Trade Advisors Committee
President of the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce
Advisor to the Prime Minister for Investment Affairs / Executive Director of the Iraq Development Fund, Republic of Iraq
Export Finance, UMAX TRADE
Director, Governmental Affairs, Export, Airbus Helicopters
Deputy Head of the Economic Department in Baghdad, French Treasury
Of Counsel – Corporate & Arbitration, Al Muhamoon Al Mutahidoon (United Law Firm – ULF)
Investment Law Expert, BHC Bayt Al-Hikma – Legal Consulting and Services Firm
Chairman and Owner, KAVIN GROUP
Deputy Head of the Economic Department in Baghdad, French Treasury
Vice Minister of Construction, Republic of Iraq
CEO & Senior Lawyer, Al Muhamoon Al Mutahidoon (United Law Firm – ULF)
Chief Executive Officer, Matière
Director General of Fairs and Exhibitions, Ministry of Trade, Republic of Iraq
General Manager for the Middle East, Lactalis
Chief Executive Officer of AL-FAKHAR Co. Ltd. & AL-JAD Co. Ltd. / Co-Chair of the IFBC (French-Iraqi Business Council)
Advisor to the Prime Minister for Energy, Republic of Iraq
Managing Director and Country Chair, TotalEnergies Iraq
Head of Board of Investment, Iraqi Kurdistan regional government
Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq on Digital Transformation and Telecommunications, Republic of Iraq
Country Director for Iraq, Al Hayat Scientific Office
Vice President, Ellipse Projects
Head of Consulting, C3MEDICAL
Export Manager, Coopex Montbéliarde
President of the Franco-Arab Chamber of Commerce
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