THIS EVENT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED.

The Middle East Association is delighted to be hosting HE Mr Christopher Prentice, HM Ambassador to Iraq for a VIP luncheon on 15 July 2009.

HE Mr Christopher Prentice took up his appointment as HM Ambassador to Iraq in September 2007. He has had a distinguished career in the Foreign Office, serving as Ambassador at Large for the Sudan Peace Process and as HM Ambassador to Jordan. His overseas postings have included positions in Kuwait, Hungary and as First Secretary in Washington. He has also worked as Middle East Analyst at the Cabinet Office and as Assistant Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary.

Iraq holds immense potential for UK companies. The economy is dominated by the oil sector but there are opportunities across all sectors, including telecommunications, construction, water/wastewater, health, education and ICT. Apart from the relatively secure area of the Kurdistan Region in Northern Iraq, security remains an issue but has improved considerably in the last year. The MEA has been active in leading Trade Missions to Iraq and plans an Education & Training Sector Mission in September 2009. The Invest Iraq conference held in London in April 2009 attracted over 600 delegates and showed the tremendous amount of goodwill there was towards the UK.