Iraq pins hope on Rajkot for investment

Rajkot: Iraq is looking at Saurashtra’s commercial capital - Rajkot - to boost inward investments and create jobs in the war-ravaged country.
For the first time in since 2002, an 11-member delegation from Iraq consisting of businessmen and government officials will be participating in the annual international trade show organized by Saurashtra Vepar Udhyog Mahamandal (SUVM), an apex body of small industries of the region. The three-day trade show begins today.
The delegation visit is being coordinated by The State Company for Iraqi Fairs and Commercial Services, one of the Iraqi ministry of trade companies that aims to boost economic activity in the country.
“The participation in SUVM trade fair aims to expand the economic cooperation between Iraq and India in different fields, not just trade but also in industrial, technological and other fields,” Siddeq Shakir, deputy director, of the company’s exterior fair department told TOI in an e-mailed response.
“We are looking an investment in agriculture technologies, detergent making, packaging, handiwork in genuine leather industries, electronics and other sectors,” said Shakir.
Shakir said this is the first time after 2002, when it participated in a trade fair in New Delhi, that an Iraqi delegation is coming for a similar event in India.
Parag Tejura, president of SUVM, said, “Iraq has requirement of machine parts for its defence and Rajkot’s engineering industry has the potential to do business with them. They are keen on technical knowledge from Rajkot’s machine tools industry and we expect them to source various kind of machines and technology from here.”
Nearly 150 foreign delegates from various countries are participating in this seventh edition of SUVM trade show, said Tejura.
Shakir said the role played the governments of Iraq and India to facilitate the commercial exchange is represented by not making easing import-export between the two countries but also the travelling of citizens besides participating in the fairs held in the two countries.
Meanwhile, Tejura said that a special gathering of farmers will be organized on February 12 for businessmen from African countries who are looking to provide opportunities to locals here to cultivate land in their continent.