Czechia Business Day was implemented as a project of Czech economic diplomacy (PROPED) financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

130 representatives of companies from the Region of Iraqi Kurdistan and Czechia, representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government, representatives of chambers of commerce and industry and trade unions of Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq and the Czech Republic participated. The event took place following the Czech Official Participation at the 13th International Multi-sector Fair in Erbil (30.9.-3.10.2019) and further contributed to the development of economic and trade relations.

Mr. Petr Hladík - Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Mr. Michal Svoboda - Consul General of the Czech Republic in Erbil, His Excellency Mr. Kamal Saeed - Minister of Trade and Industry of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Mr. Majid Toma – Representative of Union of Industries of thee Czech Republic and Executive Director of the Czech-Iraqi Business Council, Mr. Dara Jalil Al-Khayat - President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Vice-President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Iraq and President of the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented speeches. His Excellency Mr. Sasan Awni - Minister for Regional Development and Tourism, Mr. Mohammed Sukri - Chairman of the Investment Board of Kurdistan, and presidents of the Chambers of Commerce of Duhok, Slemany and Halabja were also present.

Presentations on the economy, business conditions in the Czech Republic, Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan were also part of the agenda aimed at sharing experiences and achievements and looking for new opportunities with reliable business partners. Mr. Tomáš Hadžega - Head of Export Division of the Czech Export Bank, Mr. Abdullah Abdulrahem - Managing Director of Shireen company - Exclusive Importer of Škoda Auto in Iraq, Mr. Jakub Hodinář - Managing Director of New Oil Generation, Mr. Břetislav Skácel - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Crea Hydro & Energy, Mr. Jan Kuchta - New Market Director of Zetor Tractors presented their companies and shared the experiences. The lively discussion of participants continued during a dinner.

Representatives of other Czech companies, participating at the International fair in Erbil - Energy Steel Plus, JISR Institute, MZ Liberec, URC Systems and Vytrych and representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic were also present at the Czechia Business Day.

It is very important that companies from the Czechia and Iraqi Kurdistan build strong and reliable relations in an effort to develop economic and trade cooperation and so to exploit the great commercial and investment potential of the rapid development of the main sectors of Iraqi Kurdistan. On the other hand, it is also necessary to encourage companies of Iraqi Kurdistan and Iraq to cooperate with Czech partners. These ties can have a significant positive impact on the diversification and modernization of the economy of Iraqi Kurdistan and Iraq, and on increase in Czech presence in the region desired and expected by local officials.