Ambassador: Current Turmoil More Reason for Canada to Re-engage in Iraq

MONTREAL, Canada – The turmoil in Iraq is an opportunity for Canada to understand the importance of greater engagement with the Iraqi government, Bruno Saccomani, the Canadian ambassador to Iraq, told a business meeting in Montreal.

“It is simply an opportunity for the government of Canada to realize why we need to fully re-engage in Iraq,” the ambassador told the meeting in Montreal on Sunday, organized by the Iraq-Canada Business Council (ICBC) to meet with Saccomani and other personnel from Canadian missions in Iraq.

Being fully engaged means humanitarian aid, development aid and political aid, according to Saccomani, who is Canada’s ambassador to both Iraq and Jordan.

With Iraq in panic and Sunni rebels who have captured cities advancing on Baghdad to overthrow the Shiite-led government, it was perhaps not the best time to drum up support for business opportunities in Iraq, at an event attended by more than 50 Canadian representatives. Iraq’s ambassador to Canada, Abdulrahman Hamid Al-Hussaini, was also present.

“Iraqi children grew up eating bread made from Canadian wheat,” Saccomani said. “Even the hummus served in many Iraqi homes was made with Canadian-grown chick-peas!” he said.

After Canada’s strong stand against Saddam Hussein, who was ousted in the 2003 US-led invasion, “Canada is now back in Iraq,” Saccomani said to attendees from various sectors, including electricity, construction, agriculture and farming.

He said the turmoil unfolding in Iraq demonstrates why Canada needs “a strong presence in Iraq to support the Iraqi people and seek peace, stability and prosperity.”

Referring to the Sunni militants who are racking up battlefield victories, the ambassador said:

“These murderous actors find space to thrive when we don't engage, not when we are fully engaged.”

“Canada is among the highest contributors to help Iraq cope with the immense humanitarian pressures it is experiencing, and we are readying even more support as events unfold,’’ Saccomani said.

He added that Canada is entering into a new phase with Iraq, where the private sector would have a greater role to play.

Iraq is already Canada’s second-largest two-way trading partner in the Middle East, and there are many more opportunities, given that Iraq is expecting to invest more than $1 trillion in infrastructure investments over the next 10 years.

“I have personally gone to Iraq 10 times in the last 10 months. I have seen the enormous economic and commercial opportunities first hand,” Saccomani said, explaining that he and his team have been working hard to have Canadian businessmen see the opportunities for themselves.

After re-opening the Canadian Embassy in Baghdad and the Canadian Trade Representative Office in Erbil, Canada is now working at opening a third office in Basra. 

Following the success of the Canadian trade mission to Iraq last February, focusing on oil and gas, infrastructure and transportation, other visits are being planned, focusing on education, construction, agri-foods, financial services, security and other sectors.

To help strengthen people and business ties, Canada will be opening visa application centers in Erbil and Baghdad over the next few weeks.

Canada has so far sent no evacuation alert to Canadians residing in Iraq. Three Canadian oil and gas companies are operating in Kurdistan and SNC-Lavalin, a leading engineering and construction group, has offices in Basra.

“Today, more and more Iraqis are calling for better quality goods and services, and they are ready to pay more if they are assured they will get greater quality in return,” Saccomani said.

Canada believes it can help rebuild Iraq, as it did in the 1960s and 1970s. Since it is perceived as a friendly country with strong moral and ethical values, Iraqis are eager to work with Canadian companies, officials say.

“This is a powerful advantage for Canadians entering the Iraqi market,” Saccomani said. “Canada carries “a very unique brand.”