Today, Sunday 12/1/2025, Gailan Haji Saeed, President of the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with Kamaran Salah Bajger and Marouf Azizkhan Harki, Vice Presidents of the Chamber, and several board members, received Christopher Beam, the Canadian Ambassador to Iraq, and his accompanying delegation, which included the Commercial Attaché from the embassy.
After the welcome, the meeting focused on strengthening and expanding trade relations between Canada and the Kurdistan Region.
Gailan Haji Saeed, President of the Chamber, stated: "It is important for us that Canada participates in rebuilding the economic infrastructure and that Canadian investors participate in investing across all sectors of the Kurdistan Region."
The Chamber President said: "Being aware of economic activities and exchanging trade delegations between both sides is very important in developing and expanding economic relations."
The Chamber President requested the visiting delegation to play a role in attracting their companies to the Kurdistan Region, particularly to Erbil, which is viewed as a commercial center for all of Iraq. He also expressed hope for organizing a large Canadian trade delegation to visit the Kurdistan Region and conduct economic meetings in the future.
The visiting delegation thanked the Chamber for the reception. Canadian Ambassador Christopher Beam said: "We have come to seize investment opportunities in the Kurdistan Region." He stated that as an embassy, they represent Canadian companies and will introduce their products to Iraqi and Kurdistan Region markets. Companies from the Kurdistan Region and Erbil can establish connections with Canadian companies through the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Ambassador also mentioned: "We are working on bilateral investment, both for Canadian investors to invest in the Kurdistan Region and for Kurdistan Region investors to invest in Canada."
During the meeting, discussions also included facilitating visa processes for Kurdistan Region businesspeople and company owners traveling to Canada for participation in economic events and international exhibitions in that country. Additionally, the issue of restrictions on Kurdistan Region products entering central and southern Iraqi cities was addressed.