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Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 January 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 20 January 2017 (named day). It was answered by Mark Garnier (Conservative) on Friday, 20 January 2017 on behalf of the Department for International Trade.

Overseas Trade: Iraq

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent steps his Department has taken to promote bilateral trade between the UK and Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

The Department for International Trade (DIT) are actively building bilateral trade links between the UK and Iraq, supported by the work of the Iraq Britain Business Council and the PM Trade Envoy to Iraq Baroness Nicholson.

The Ambassador regularly raises trade issues with Prime Minister Abadi and in the last six weeks, along with DIT colleagues, has met with the President of Iraq and the Ministers of Electricity, Construction, Oil and Transport to support commercial opportunities for British companies. As a result, DIT has helped British companies win significant contracts in the air services, security and infrastructure sectors, with British companies competing for more business.

The full range of medium and long-term UK Export Finance (UKEF) facilities is available to support UK exports to Iraq. UKEF has received expressions of interest from a number of businesses across a range of sectors. In December, UKEF supported UK exporter Biwater to deliver water treatment solutions in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
60312
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Iraq Overseas trade
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk