Coalition Provisional Authority

Baghdad, Iraq

Contact:   Victoria Whitford

Office of Strategic Communications

914-822-5001

whitfordv.gbr@orha.centcom.mil

Open for Business: Iraqi companies discuss contract opportunities worth $18.6 billion

Baghdad, January 29 – Representatives of the Coalition Provisional Authority today held an open meeting with Iraqi business people. Iraqi companies, together with the CPA’s Project Management Office and Private Sector Development Team, discussed opportunities to bid for prime and sub-contracts from the Supplemental Budget.

Iraqi business organisations - the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Iraqi Industry, Federation of Iraqi Businessmen, Society of Iraqi Businessmen, and the Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce and Industry - invited their members to the meeting, together with the Iraqi Business Center. The CPA outlined its initiatives for training and financing of Iraqi companies to best prepare them to compete for contracts, and offered advice and incentives for Iraqi businesses to respond to tenders.

 “Iraq is truly open for business. We want to do everything we can to encourage Iraqi companies to take part in the reconstruction of their country”, said Michael Fleischer, Deputy Director, Private Sector Development.

Iraqi businesses who want to take part in the process are encouraged register with the Iraqi Business Center at www.iraqibusinesscenter.org.

Notes for Editors

1. US Congress approved an $18.6 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq, known as the Supplemental Budget, in November 2003. Contracts are currently being tendered for 2,300 projects in infrastructure, water supply, electricity and other essential services.

2. Requests for Proposals (RFPs) can be found on the CPA Project Management Office website at www.rebuilding-iraq.net. 10 major reconstruction and 7 management service prime contracts will be announced in mid-March 04. Sub-contracts will follow.

3. Speakers at the open meeting include Col. Anthony Bell, Head of the Contracting Activity for CPA, which will execute contracts on the Supplemental Budget and provides direct support to the Project Management Office; Michael Fleischer and Mustafa Kirdar of the Private Sector Development Team, which offers advice and training to Iraq’s fast-developing private sector; and Captain James Sosnicky from the Iraqi Business Center, which offers a range of dedicated services to the Iraqi business community.

4. This meeting is the second in a series organized by the CPA aimed at supporting Iraqi efforts to participate in building a better Iraq.

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