From the 14^th until 16^th of May 2011 the DAFG (German Arabic Friendship Association) and the vbw (Association of the Bavarian Economy) organized a visit with the support of the German Liaison Office for Industry and Commerce in Erbil and Eng. Mr. Nasyr Birkholz (who is active in the DAFG the past years in the board) to Erbil .

Professor Randolf Rodenstock, President of the vbw e.V. and Vice President of the DAFG e. V. lead the delegation. The visitors had the opportunity to get a firsthand impression of the positive development in North Iraq and especially the tremendous economical potential for German companies.

The participants were very impressed, also about the fully inoffensive security situation in North Iraq.

All dialogue partners assured that the Kurdistan region is constantly keen to be a trade pass with and for investments in all of Iraq , as the motto of the regional investment office is declaring “ working together to rebuild Iraq through Kurdistan region”.

Thanks to the support and company of the head of the German liaison office in Erbil, Mr. Volker Wildner, it was possible for the delegation in spite of the short time, to meet high ranking and interesting dialogue partners. After a briefing in the German liaison office and a reception in the consulate of the federal republic of Germany on the arrival day, the delegation was perfectly prepared for the following meetings in Erbil.

Also a reception held on the occasion of the opening of the Kurdish-German European Business Alliences GmbH on the following evening offered the opportunity for economical exchange discussions and to meet up with Kurdish personalities from politics, economy and society.

The highlights of the program were meetings with H.E. Sinan Abdulkhalq Ahmed Chalabi , minister of trade and industry of the Kurdish regional government , H.E. Dr. Ali Osman Haji Sindi, minister of planning of the regional government , the Head of the Department for foreign relations of the Kurdish regional government , Falah Mustafa Bakir and the Governor of Erbil, Nawzad Hadi Mawlood.

A presentation about investment and business possibilities through the investment office of the Kurdish regional government as well as a meeting with the president and vice president of the chambers of industry and trade in Erbil was attended also.