Day one

9:00

Registration and coffee

10:00

Welcome, opening remarks and introductions from the Chair
Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, High Representative to the UK, Kurdistan Regional Government

10:10

International co-operation and development priorities

Keynote address: Kurdistan and the international community
Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, Head of Foreign Relations
See video (part 1) (part 2)

Moderator: Michael Thomas, Middle East Association See video

Panelists:
Jeremy Macadie, British Consul General, Erbil See video
Andrew Snow, Team Leader US Government Regional Reconstruction Team, Kurdistan Region See Video
Nicholas Armour, Director of International Group, UKTI See video
Qubad Talabani, Representative to the US, Kurdistan Regional Government See video
Stefan Kaszubowski, Managing Director Special Projects, YouGov See video

Followed by Q&A See video (part 1) (part 2)

11:15

How the Kurdistan Board of Investment works with the business and investment community   

Keynote address: Minister Herish Muharam, Chairman of the Kurdistan Board of Investment (confirmed)
See video (part 1) (part 2)

Panel discussion:  Investing in Kurdistan, case studies

Moderator: Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, Executive Chairman of the Iraq-Britain Business Council (IBBC) See video

Followed by Q&A See video

Welcome to Keynote Speakers
Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, High Representative to the UK, Kurdistan Regional Government See video

13:20

Baroness Wilcox, Minister, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Government Spokesperson, Department of Innovation and Skills See video

13:30

Keynote address: The building of strong and stable civil institutions in the Kurdistan Region
Prime Minister Barham Salih See video (part 1) (part 2)

13:50

15:00

Infrastructure trade and industry

Keynote address: Mr Sinan Çelebi, Minister for Trade and Industry See video (part 1) (part 2)

Moderator: Nadhim Zahawi MP See video

Panelists:
Stafford Clarry, Acting Director, Erbil International Airport See video (part) (part 2)
Faruk Mustafa Rasool, Chairman, Asiacell See video (part 1) (part 2)
Mark Richards, Non Executive Director, IPFA Global Board See video
Mohammed Baban, KRG Economic Adviser See video

Followed by Q&A See video (part 1) (part 2)

16:00

Afternoon tea

16:15

Keynote address – Financing and protecting your investment
Dr Ezat Issa, Kurdistan Regional Government Adviser on the Economy
and Moderator: Rt Hon Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean See video (part 1) (part 2)

Panelists:  
James Baban, Vice President and General Manager, Heritage Oil See video
Leslie M. Schweitzer, Senior Trade Adviser to US Chamber of Commerce See video
Russell Jones, CEO, JMJ Group See video
Zaid A. Mahdi, Vice President Business Development, Trade Bank of Iraq See video

Followed by Q&A See video (part 1) (part2)

17:15

Summary of the day and closing remarks

17:30-19.00

Day two

9:00

Coffee

9:30

Chair’s opening remarks
Ms Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, High Representative to the UK, Kurdistan Regional Government See video

9:45

Keynote address – Investment opportunities in Iraq
Dr Sami Al-Araji, Chairman, Iraqi National Investment Commission
See video (part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (part 4)

10:05

Panel discussion: Security in Kurdistan – an analysis of improvements in law enforcement, legal and judicial reforms and resulting benefits to the investor community

Keynote address: Mr Karim Sinjari, Minister of the Interior, Kurdistan Regional Government
See video (part 1) (part 2) (part 3)

Moderator:
Professor Dr. Friedbert Pflüger, Professor for International Relations, King's College London, State Secretary (Ret.) and member of the national board of the CDU in Germany See video Download Transcript

Panelists:
Ralph Gonzales, Chairman, Overseas Security Advisory Council, Erbil Chapter. International Security Director, Hunt Oil Company See video
Professor David Kennedy, Director of Institute for Global Law and Policy, Harvard Law School See video
Col. (Rtd) Harry Schute US Army, Adviser to KRG Ministry of the Interior See video
Hans Kindroth, Business Development Director, BAE Systems AB (Sweden) See video

 
Followed by Q&A See video (part 1) (part 2)

11:15

Morning coffee

11:45

Panel discussion: An update on oil and gas developments in the Kurdistan Region

Keynote address:
Dr Ashti Hawrami, Minister for Natural Resources, Kurdistan Regional Government
See video (part 1) (part 2) (part 3)



Panelists:
Dr Khaled Salih, Adviser to Dr Ashti Hawrami and Moderator: Lord Tim Clement-Jones, DLA Piper
See video
Dr Kim, Director and Senior Executive Vice President, Korea National Oil Corporation See video
Ahmed Said, Forbes & Manhattan See video
Brad Camp, Adviser, Kar Group See video

Followed by Q&A See video (part 1) (part 2) (part 3)

13:15

14:30

Agriculture, food and water

Keynote address: Mr Jamil Sleiman Haider, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources See video

Moderator: Tom Hardie-Forsyth, Special Adviser to the KRG on Capacity Building See video summary

Panelists:
Dr. Tim Chancellor, Director of Capacity Strengthening and Training, University of Greenwich See video
download transcript download presentation
Dr Saad Al-Hayani, CEO, Noor Company for Agriculture and Animal Investment See video (part 1) (part 2)
Anwer Omar Qader, Director General of Planning and Follow-up, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources See video
Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, KRG Head of Foreign Relations See video

15:45

Afternoon tea

16:05

Education, training and capacity building

Keynote address:
Dr Dlawer Ala’Aldeen, Minister for Higher Education & Scientific Research
See video (part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (part 4)

Moderator: Professor Gareth Stansfield, Kurdish Studies Programme, Exeter University

Panelists:
Caterina Alari, Principal International/UK Consultant, National School of Government
See video (part 1) (part 2)
Glenn T. Ware, Managing Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers Forensic Services See video
Professor Simon Walker, National Teaching Fellow, Head of Educational Development, University of Greenwich See video
Stephan John, Head of Corporate Qualifications, People 1st Sector Skills Council See video
Dr. Mohammed Al-Uzri, Chair of Sub-Committee on Iraq, Royal College of Psychiatrists See video
Tom Hardie-Forsyth, Special Adviser to the KRG on Capacity Building See video
John McNamara, CEO, Alliance of Sectors Skills Council See video

Followed by Q&A See video (part 1) (part 2)

17:20

Closing remarks

17:30

End of conference

One-on-one meetings ran concurrently with the afternoon sessions