A conversation with Iraq’s Ambassador to Austria, Dr Surood Najib.
“As a new Iraq, a democratic Iraq, we want to offer an open window for all the countries of the world, a relationship based on understanding and non-interference in a country’s internal business,” says Dr Surood Najib, Iraq’s Ambassador to Austria.
One step at a time
For Najib, in post since December 2010, restoring Iraq to its rightful place in the international community on the level of trade and relations happens one step at a time.
“One example is that Austria’s national airline now flies directly to Baghdad. It’s been the first airline to open a route to us for almost 20 years,” says Najib.
Austrian Airlines became the first major Western carrier to resume normal flights to south Iraq, having run a regular service to Erbil since 2006.
“These things help make our relations closer. In three hours, business people can travel from Vienna to Baghdad,” Najib says. “We brought more than 60 major companies covering different sectors to Iraq, we took them around Iraq and Kurdistan, and now they have contracts and can start working.”
Iraq is keen to see Austrian companies compete for business. “They have different aspects of expertise: oil and gas, construction, agriculture. Even in education, health, hospitals, in all things, actually. We need it,” explains Najib. “[Austrian companies] have a very open mind. I respect them for their co-operation, and their understanding of Iraqi issues, and that’s what companies have to do.”
The result of keeping that open mind is bilateral trade between Iraq and Austria put by Najib at $400 million last year, which he expects to see double. “In the next five years, our trade with Austria will be counted in billions,” he says.
Article continues on next page …
Visas
Visas are still a perennial bugbear of the business community operating in Iraq. Najib says there are solutions, and these issues shouldn’t put companies off.
“Iraq is an open country now,” says Najib. “I can approve Visas here directly. Unfortunately we don’t have that operating both ways yet. We have to get visas issued out of Amman [Jordan], and that is a little tiring, because you have to travel to Amman to fill in the application, return to Baghdad for a week or two then return. Financially it’s uncomfortable for some.
“We’ve talked with the foreign ministry here they will take care of it very shortly. We’re also hoping that Austria will open their embassy in Iraq next year, with a consulate in Erbil.”
The Kurdish regional government already has a representation office in Vienna, opened in June.
Najib emphasises that breaking down administrative problems is in everyone’s interest, and he “will work to facilitate all their needs, including Visas, tenders and so on, so the best offer from the best company takes the tenders on offer.”
Iraq, says Najib, is both large and ambitious. It will take time to recover from the aftermath of the US-led invasion and previous years of oppressive sanctions. “We don’t want to be 100% reliant on oil, but to have other sectors as well,” Najib explains.
“Telecommunications, for example, is doing excellent. It’s an example of an open Iraq, a new Iraq, in a sector that used to be forbidden, which connects us with the world.”
Iraq in OPEC
Yet for now oil remains the key to Iraq’s development, and rising exports make it inevitable that its stature within OPEC will rise. Najib says the country’s rising influence in OPEC can only be a good thing.
“Iraq was a founder member of OPEC and was always a country which wanted to see stability in the market, and that’s what going to happen with Iraq in OPEC,” he says.
With Iraq’s star in the ascendant, Najib says now is a good time for OPEC to have an Iraqi Secretary General.
“We have our candidate, Thamer Ghadban,” Najib says. “He’s very well respected in the oil and gas field, as was a former oil minister. I think the position should go to the best candidate. This position should not have anything to do with politics. OPEC has its effect on the world economy, with balancing demand and supply, so they need a real professional.”
Oil and Kurdistan
When it comes to the ongoing differences over oil policy between the Kurdish region and the central government, Najib, himself a Kurd, says “there is not a problem on the level of industry, but in interpretation.”
“I think it will be solved soon. They have continuous meetings, and it’s for the benefit of the whole of Iraq, not just the Kurdish region,” says Najib. “We abide by the law and the constitution, and the Kurdish area is part of that. I think things will work well, despite the differences: it’s time to solve it and it will be solved.”
Najib is also confident that the Kurdish regional government’s plans can fit with Iraq’s policy and the constitution, including recently announced oil export pipelines.
“Whatever they have planned, they will be a part of Iraq’s oil, not separate,” Najib says. “The central government will be respected in this regard, because it is one country, one Iraq. Of course, we have federalism. The Kurdish region has its own plans, its own parliament and its own government, They have the right to explore for and export oil, but they will ensure that Baghdad receives its share.”
