Dutch Boy

100s More Companies in Iraq Posted on 18 October 2010. Tags: Agriculture, Banking & Finance, Construction & Engineering, education, Erbil, Investment, Transportation Kurdistan’s sixth international trade fair in Erbil opened on Monday with 850 companies from 25 countries. Hundreds of companies are at the fair for the first time. Albert Awun of EFB Arak, which organised the fair, told AKnews: “The percentage of the participating new companies in the exhibition compared to last year is about 50%, while the estimated amounts of the major projects that the Iraqi government is working on to invest in the infrastructure, housing, agriculture, transportation, health, education and communication projects is estimated to about 70 billion U.S. dollars. “The fair includes national pavilions from Austria, Britain, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Kuwait, Iran, Jordan, Turkey, in addition to the participation of many other countries such as the United States, Belgium, Poland, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.” With Germany being represented by 30 companies, a spokesperson for the country’s Economy Ministry gave his support to German businesses entering Iraq. He said: ”Some companies recognize for the first time the market and investment opportunities in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. German companies are participating in various fields: consulting, engineering, construction, logistics, hotels and restaurants, as well as pharmaceutical companies, banks, and the production equipment and special equipment.” A senior politician for the Czech Republic also said that he is optimistic for the economic development made in Kurdistan, as evidenced by the huge turnout at the fair, reports AKnews. Dr Barham Ahmad Saleh, President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, said that the presence of so many countries is evidence of the confidence of these states in the Kurdistan region and its future, which is evidence that it has become a safe site and a gateway to Iraq. He added that the Kurdistan Regional Government has adopted a “prudent policy towards prosperity, economic growth and general openness of the private sector and the private sector must play a role in this advancement.” Investment in the region has reached $13bn. The fair is expecting 60,000 visitors in the first five days. (Sources: AKnews, Kurdistan Regional Government) http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2010/10/18/100s-more-companies-in-iraq/

FM, Melkert discuss ways to bring Iraq out of Chapter VII October 18, 2010 - 03:29:47 BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari discussed on Monday with Ad Melkert, United Nations special representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq, bringing Iraq out of Chapter VII, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry. “The two officials discussed the role that could be played by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to help bringing Iraq out of Chapter VII,” said the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency. On February 26, 2010, the United Nations Security Council issued a statement in which it welcomed Iraq’s steps and efforts in the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Security Council Resolution 678 was the legal authorization for the Gulf War, which was passed on 29 November 1990. It gave Iraq an opportunity to withdraw from Kuwait by 15 January 1991 and authorized UN member states in cooperation with the government of Kuwait to use “all necessary means to uphold and implement” Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which authorizes the use of force to restore peace. Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets forth the powers of the UN Security Council to maintain peace. It allows the council to “determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression” and to take military and non-military action to “restore international peace and security.” SH (S)/SR http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=138081

I suggest we name the offspring....Romeo Victor! I hear the new arrival is expected to be somewhat larger than the normal size. Somewhere around 3.86 (feet long)! They expect such ahead of hair that they will cut 000 inches of his hair off shortly after introducing him to the world as the new prodigy of the Middle East. THREE CHEERS FOR MR. ROMEO VICTOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (or RV as his new found global friends may refer to him)

European Union to Open Office in Erbil Posted on 13 October 2010. Tags: EU, European Union The European Union (EU) will open a representative office in Erbil in the near future, an EU official said on Tuesday. The European Union Chief of the Judicial Development Program, Michael Kassan, told AKnews that the Union has requested authorization from officials in the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad to open a representative office in the Region. He added the stable security of the Region has led to the decision to open the office in the Region’s capital, Erbil and the Region’s officials have welcomed the step. Mr Kassan said their objective is to aid the Erbil and Baghdad governments in planning and development programs, to introduce modern European systems of business and administration to the justice, human rights and planning ministries of both governments, and to assist the Region to improve. The EU has two offices in Iraq, one in Baghdad and one in Basra. Some 18 countries have representative offices in the Region and this figure is expected to rise. (Source: AKnews) http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2010/10/13/european-union-to-open-office-in-erbil/

France Pushes to Remove Iraq from Chapter VII Posted on 13 October 2010. Tags: Boris Bouillon, Chapter VII, France, UN, United Nations The French Ambassador to Baghdad, Boris Bouillon, said on Tuesday that he wants to remove Iraq from UN Chapter VII, despite the difficulties they face, pointing at the same time the desire of French companies to enter the Iraqi market. In an interview with Alsumaria News, the Ambassador said, “France has a strategic vision towards Iraq and is working to restore it to its natural place in the international and regional arena”. Since 1990 Iraq has been under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, which was imposed after Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. This allows the use force against Iraq as a threat to international security, in addition to the freezing of large amounts of its assets in international banks to pay compensation to those affected by the invasion. Bouillon said “French companies want to enter the Iraqi market, which represents a large investment market for international companies,” pointing out that “the Iraqi market is considered an important center for French businesses over the next 20 years”. France has forgiven 80% of the debt owed by Iraq, in a move aimed at improving the country’s economy. (Source: Al Sumaria) http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2010/10/13/france-pushes-to-remove-iraq-from-chapter-vii/

Iraq’s Image is Set to Change Posted on 13 October 2010. When many people think of Iraq, they think only of wars, decades of high inflation, blistering sun, and power cuts, but the people clinging to this outdated and narrow image of the country will not be the winners in the new Iraq. As regular readers of Iraq Business News will be aware, there’s an increasing momentum of activity that will change the shape of Iraq for good in the coming years. We’ve told you before how a taste for Scotch whisky might be making a comeback, and multi award-winning Iraqi architects are bringing their skills home. This week an Italian company has announced it is bringing its country’s style to Iraq with a new shopping mall. With a budget surplus expected as soon as 2012, there will be enough public money to attract development of all sorts. Who knows, in the future, when people think of Iraq, they’ll be thinking of Gucci, Talisker, and fine modern buildings http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2010/10/13/iraqs-image-is-set-to-change/

If patience is a virtue, then you are truly a virtuous man!

The only thing which gives, IMO, any real credibility to a higher rate than this is the recent article from the IMF stating that it needed to be comparable to other regional currencies. Please feel free to correct if I misinterpreted that article. Thanks for the help.

I've been trying for the last week to find someone here in Holland to buy from, but all I get are the U.S. dealers. None of the banks here give it as a currency which is offered.

Towards the bottom of this post it calls Allawi the "the Iraqi Prime Minister". Have I missed something?

Pump it up, everybody pump it up! Pump it up everybody, pump it up! (You have to imagine the music behind it) If it comes down to our vote for what we want, this one gets mine!

It's kind of interesting. I was listening to Dr. Lance Wallnau. I highly recommend his stuff to anyone interested. He was mentioning that this year is unlike any other. It signifies in our calendar and the Hebrew calendar the beginning of a new decade. He further states that the number "10" has the significance of ordinal completion in Hebrew (All letters in Hebrew have numerical meaning as well, as I'm sure most already know). He said that this is the time to bring completion to all of your incompletes and to clean house and make room for the new. For some new things to come in, we must get rid of some the old we may not want to. I did some study on the numbers thing myself and it is quite interesting...especially if you look at 10-10-10. There was another discussion earlier, I think from TerryK or Frank26 about an interesting theory on how the announcement of the RV would be announced on a Thur. right at closing which would give them the weekend (Fri. & Sat.) to get ready. The first day of their work week is Sunday. October 10th falls on a Sunday. If I were to prophetically pick a date, it would be Sunday, October 10th, 2010. But then, that's just my opinion. I am human and fallible. I am also looking just as hard as anybody else for a connection to keep my hopes and dreams going!

"Speaking of clueless, I would really love to read your brief opinion..." Hey Katy, do YOU know what "brief" means? Read more:

This is also true of smaller regional banks. Bank of Oklahoma (BOK) handles nearly all of the foreign currency exchanges for the Tulsa,OK area. Most other banks order through them. I was told they order for. cur. from a dealer in Florida, (my guess is B of A). I was able to purchase as little as $50 worth of IQD if I wanted. That makes it easier to stock pile!

There's a lot of stuf flying around right now. I would feel better if a link was posted to confirm this. Thanks for understanding.

Ja. Ik ben 2 weken geleden verhuisd naar NL. Ik kwam uit OK. Mijn vrouw en ik heb elkaar in Nijmegen ontmoeten, bij de Vierdaagse. Zij weet niks over mijn IQD investment. Het wordt een leuke verassing voor d'r verjaardag eind Okt....hoop ik! Waar zit jij in Amerika?

Can someone help me find that darn cork from the champagne bottle......again?

Graag Gedaan. Mijn vrouw is Nederlands. Ik kom uit Oklahoma. Waar komt u oorspronkelijk vandaan? Ja, ik weet dat mijn Nederlands niet zo erg goed is. Ach ja!

Just to let folks back home know, one of the local radio stations here in Holland announced the shifting of the Sadrists to Maliki as candidate for PM. It was announced @ 19:00 Dutch time (GMT + 1). This is only confirmation of the YAHOO article.

One of the best posts and responses I've observed yet. Also, I have the greatest respect for all men and women who have and are serving in the military. Thanks for everything you and your loved ones sacrifice for me and mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, yes, yes. The opening of dozens of children's prisons who were being held in order to secure parents "loyalty", the reestablishment of schools where a more valid interpretation of the truth is taught, giving a people the right to to begin the processes of democratic rule and self-determination, the right to live without fear of speaking out against a repressive tyrant, etc. means absolutely nothing!!!!!!!!!!! Since I can't read minds, like so many apparently can, I admit I will never know exactly all of the reasons why we went into the 2nd Iraqi war. I can, however, choose to see beyond what the leftist, liberal media spews out and find many good things which have come about as a result of this action; most of which will never be told by that same media because it doesn't fit their agenda. I have witnessed many videos sent to to family members by their loved ones who are actually in Iraq and have an entirely different story compared to what the media shows. Listen, I'm not saying the motivations were completely righteous and pure. I also don't believe they all were. But what I have done is listen to more than what one side of the media tries to lead me into believing and listen to more than one source. I open my mind to as much information as I can to make an informed decision on what I choose to believe. Isn't that what we are doing here with this investment?

Which it's probably a good thing also because NOBODY'S taking part!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh well. Thanks for clarifying!

Iraq’s 2011 Budget: $86.4bn at $70 per Barrel Posted on 27 September 2010. Tags: Budget, Ministry of Finance Iraq’s preliminary budget proposal for the next year is $86.4 billion [101 trillion Iraqi dinars], based on a world oil price $70 a barrel, Deputy Finance Minister Fadhil Nabi has told Reuters. Iraq’s Finance Minister, Baqir Jabur al-Zubaidi, will present the budget to the cabinet this week. According to Iraqi law, the annual budget must be approved by the Iraqi cabinet, the parliament and the three-member presidency council. (Sources: Reuters, Xinhua) http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2010/09/27/iraqs-2011-budget-86-4bn-at-70-per-barrel/ Maybe I'm just trying too hard, but it says in the last 2 lines that the budget will be presented to the cabinet this week for approval by the "...Iraqi cabinet, the parliament and the three-member presidency council."[/b] Does he know something we are about to know?

Pentagon Plans $4.2bn Arms Sales to Iraq Posted on 28 September 2010. Tags: defence, F-16, Sidewinder The Pentagon issued a proposal on Monday to sell weapons worth $4.2bn to Iraq, including 18 F-16 fighter aircraft, Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs and reconnaissance equipment, according to a report from the Financial Times. The Pentagon said the proposed arms sales would make Baghdad “a more valuable partner in an important area of the world as well as supporting Iraq’s legitimate [self-defence] needs”. (Source: Financial Times) http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2010/09/28/pentagon-plans-4-2bn-arms-sales-to-iraq/