Agenda ENABLING AND SUSTAINING PRIVATE FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN IRAQ. Training Workshop on One Stop Shop Services for Investors in the MENA region

Transcription

1 Agenda ENABLING AND SUSTAINING PRIVATE FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN IRAQ Training Workshop on One Stop Shop Services for Investors in the MENA region Organized jointly by the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) and the March 2010 Crowne Plaza Hotel Beirut, Lebanon

2 Rationale and content Iraq s commitment to developing international trade and attracting foreign investment is evident from its progress in WTO accession, the passing of a favourable investment law, legal and regulatory reforms, and the creation of a one stop shop to facilitate contact between the government and investors. One of the key aspects of a welcoming investment environment is the presence of such a one stop shop (OSS) a single location at which an investor can quickly register a company, receive basic advice and guidance on legal and administrative issues, and seek assistance in troubleshooting if difficulties arise at any point in the investment life cycle. In its most advanced form, an OSS incorporates representatives of all government agencies involved in the process of company registration, ensures processing of complete applications in the absence of the investor, and provides input to the Investment Promotion Agency on investment promotion strategy and business environment improvements. The seminar will: (1) Review different possible configurations of an OSS and best practices, (2) Present the OSS experiences of several MENA and OECD countries, including Iraq, (3) Focus on three key issues for the Iraqi OSS (communication about OSS services, assistance to investors seeking land, coordination with line ministries and other stakeholders), and (4) Feature full and open discussion of lessons to be drawn from the Iraqi and regional experiences. Participants The workshop will bring together OECD, IDAL and other regional OSS experts with Iraqi government officials from the National Investment Commission. Documentation The relevant meeting documents together with a finalized agenda will be distributed to participants in advance of the meeting. For information about the OECD-MENA Investment Programme please visit: For information about the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), please visit: 1

3 Tuesday 9 March 2010 Welcome Dinner offered by IDAL 20:00 Participants and speakers meet in the hotel lobby and proceed to dinner 20:30 Welcome dinner hosted by the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon Wednesday 10 March 2010 OSS: Best Practices, and the Regional Experience 9:00-9:30 Opening Remarks Mr. Nabil Itani, Chairman & General Manager, Investment Development Authority of Lebanon Mr. Saad Mezaal Hussein, National Investment Commission, Iraq Mr. Carl Dawson, Economist/Policy Analyst, 9:30-11:15 Session 1 The One Stop Shop: Best Practices, and the Iraqi Experience The One Stop Shop Concept: Best Practices for Benchmarking Mr. Carl Dawson, Economist/Policy Analyst, The One Stop Shop in Iraq Mr. Nowell Fawzi Hariri, National Investment Commission, Iraq History and evolution of the OSS, its role in investment promotion Institutional structure Services to be offered 11:15-11:45 Coffee Break 11:45-13:00 Session 2 The One Stop Shop: The Lebanese Experience The One Stop Shop in Lebanon Performance evaluation Future ambitions Insights based on the Iraqi experience History and evolution of the OSS, its role in investment promotion strategy Institutional structure Mr. Andraos Bacha, Country Manager, NPPC Fresh Produce Factory/Fresh World International, and Former Director, One Stop Shop Directorate, IDAL Services offered Performance evaluation Future ambitions Mr. Nadim Makdessi, Director, One Stop Shop Directorate, IDAL A success story from the Lebanese OSS experience Mr. Camille Saade, CFO, BENTA Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry 13:00-14:30 Lunch 14:30-17:30 Session 3 Site Visit to the One Stop Shop in Beirut Participants will visit the Beirut One Stop Shop at the IDAL offices for a hands-on look at how the concept works on the ground, followed by a discussion on site, then further visits to nearby businesses that registered through the one stop shop. Meeting point: The lobby of the hotel. 2

4 Thursday 11 March 2010 OSS: The Regional Experience, and Key Issues for Iraq 9:00-10:30 Session 4 The One Stop Shop: The Egyptian Experience The One Stop Shop in Egypt Mr. Hassan Fahmy, Head of Investment Services Sector, GAFI History and evolution of the OSS, its role in investment promotion Institutional structure Services offered Performance evaluation Future ambitions Insights based on the Egyptian experience 10:30-11:00 Coffee Break 11:00-12:30 Session 5 The One Stop Shop: The Portuguese Experience The One Stop Shop in Portugal Mr. Luis Filipe Loureiro Goes Pinheiro, Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary of State for Administrative Modernization, Portugal History and evolution of the OSS, its role in investment promotion Institutional structure Services offered Performance evaluation Future ambitions Insights based on the Portuguese experience 12:30-14:30 Lunch 14:30-16:00 Session 6 Key Issues for Iraq: Communicating About OSS Services Moderators: Mr. Carl Dawson, Economist/Policy Analyst, Mr. Saad Mezaal Hussein, Iraq National Investment Commission This session is a round table discussion focusing on optimal communication strategies to ensure that investors know the OSS exists and understand the benefits. Panellists from Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, and Portugal will comment on their respective experiences, and this will be followed by open discussion. 3

5 Friday 12 March 2010 OSS: Key Issues for Iraq 9:00-10:30 Session 7 Key Issues for Iraq: The Availability of Land Moderators: Mr. Carl Dawson, Economist/Policy Analyst, Mr. Saad Mezaal Hussein, Iraq National Investment Commission This session is a round table discussion focusing on the OSS role in locating land suitable for approved investment projects. Panellists from Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, and Portugal will comment on their respective experiences, and this will be followed by open discussion. 10:30-11:00 Coffee Break 11:00-12:30 Session 8 - Key Issues for Iraq: Coordination with Line Ministries Moderators: Mr. Carl Dawson, Economist/Policy Analyst, Mr. Saad Mezaal Hussein, Iraq National Investment Commission This session is a round table discussion focusing on coordination between the various ministries and agencies that have a role in the provision of OSS services. Panellists from Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, and Portugal will comment on their respective experiences, and this will be followed by open discussion. 12:30-14:00 Lunch 4

6 CONTACTS Dr. Alexander Böhmer Executive Programme Manager Telephone: Mr. Carl Dawson Economist/Policy Analyst carl.dawson@oecd.org Telephone: Ms. Nora-Elise Beck Consultant nora-elise.beck@oecd.org Telephone: Mr. Joshua Yeremiyew joshua.yeremiyew@oecd.org Telephone: Fax: Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) Mr. Nabil Itani Chairman and General Manager Investment Development Authority of Lebanon 5