Special Interactive Business Meeting in Honour of Hon'ble Minister of Electricity of The Republic of Iraq
November 26, 2001, New Delhi

Welcome Address by Mr H S Mejie, Chairman, India-Iraq JBC

It is indeed an honour and privilege for me to welcome a leader of the stature of H E Sahban Faisal Mahjoob, Hon'ble Minister of Electricity of the Republic of Iraq, on behalf of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the largest Apex Chamber of India representing over two hundred thousand enterprises all over the country and India-Iraq Joint Business Council. I am also delighted to welcome a team of high powered Government officials from Iraq.

We are also honoured to have H E Mr Salah Al-Mukhtar, Ambassador of Iraq to India and Senior Government and India officials.

May I mention, Sir, that a number of strategic factors such as close historical affinity, geographical proximity, availability of natural resources, complementarity of capabilities and above all, an independent political will, constitute a solid basis for development of ties between the two countries and both the countries are taking all possible steps in translating these positive factors into concrete achievements. FICCI plays an important role in this process.

Your visit, coming close on the heels of the visit of H E Mr Ramadhan, Hon'ble Vice President of Iraq, along with a high-powered Iraqi Business Delegation and H E Dr Ahmad Murtadha Ahmed Al Khalil, Hon'ble Minister of Transport & Communications of the Republic of Iraq, signifies the keenness of Iraq to promote bilateral economic cooperation and lend the requisite support to the private sector initiatives in India.

The members of the FICCI Business Delegation, a part of the Special Goodwill Mission led by the Deputy Chairperson, Rajya Sabha, Government of India, August-September 2001, were very impressed with the warmth and cordiality with which they were received by a number of other Ministers and senior officials that they interacted with.

FICCI has been at the forefront in providing proactive business inputs to the process of consolidation of our bilateral relation at various levels.

I am sure, that your visit, Sir, would give a new perspective to India-Iraq economic relations and will be another milestone in the progress of our relations in the coming years in the promising years of transport, communications, IT, Power, telecom, railways and many more. As we move ahead we should build on the achievements of the past and explore newer avenues for taking India-Iraq economic relations to greater heights.

As you are aware, Government of India has taken numerous initiatives to liberalise the economic structure. We, in the India business totally support this direction and are making efforts to align ourselves with the development worldwide. India is likely to be a major player in the emerging world scenario in the years to come.

India-Iraq cooperation can pick up only through diversification of trade, enhanced project exports and joint ventures. There are no doubt several opportunities for cooperation available to both the countries since Iraq to rehabilitate and promote several projects in different sectors and requires manpower as well, while India has the expertise in various fields.

Your Excellency, the tremendous response of the Indian industry which is gathered here to listen to your address represents a very wide cross-section of industry interested in deepening our business linkages. This meeting undoubtedly, will unleash a flood of entrepreneurial activity from both the sides which will make this century a truly remarkable one for the wide range of our economic cooperation that it will encompass.

We in India, whole heartedly support Iraqi Contention that UN Embargo be lifted as there is no justification in continuing it for 11 years. We share the hardships of our Iraqi Brothers and support in all manners possible to mitigate these hardships.

This is our commitment and hope for the future. We wish all success to the Iraqi people in its present struggle under your Great Leader.

Thank you