U.S. to lead trade mission to Iraq

U.S. to lead trade mission to Iraq    The U.S. Commerce Department will lead a trade mission to Baghdad, Iraq, in October.
   Francisco S'nchez, undersecretary of commerce for international trade, will lead the mission, which will include about 15 U.S. companies. This will be the first trade mission to Iraq since the end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq.
   Some of the companies included in the mission will be America Cargo Transport Co. in Seattle, Boeing of Chicago, Schenectady, N.Y.-based General Electric, and Omnitrans Corp. in New York.
   The department said interest generated by last October's U.S.-Iraq Business and Investment Conference held in Washington, and the activities of the U.S.-Iraq Business Dialogue have demonstrated there is an opportunity for increased trade and investment in the region. Iraq's GDP has more than doubled since 2006, increasing from $57 billion to $112 billion in 2009.
   Iraq's government has budgeted more than $80 billion for infrastructure development, focusing on a number of large projects relating to construction, highways, railways, telecommunications and security and defense.
   The mission will provide U.S. participants with first-hand market information and access to government officials. Additionally, one-on-one meetings will be arranged with potential agents, distributors and partners, the department said.