Internet Usage by Businesses: Electronic Commerce & E-Business
Companies
Reports from people returning from Iraq note that more websites are appearing online and business cards are now displaying E-mail addresses. E-mail services are not widely available in Iraq and free on-line services usually at Yahoo are often used.
The new Iraqi Business Center is a partnership between the CPA and the Iraq Ministry of Trade (formerly known as the Baghdad Business Center) and provides on-site business counseling for the local Iraqi business community. The Iraqi Business Center is located at the Convention Center in Baghdad and has an informative website at www.iraqibusinesscenter.org. On the website, business inquiries are directed to businessinquiries@baghdadforum.com The Iraqi Business Center website provides a database of Iraqi companies seeking subcontracts and international partners for work in Iraq.
The list of US Government contracts, including contact information of the prime contractors and known subcontractors is available from the US Department of Commerce Iraq Reconstruction Task Force website at www.export.gov/Iraq
Sites such as these will promote the present and future use of the internet by businesses wishing to do business in Iraq. The US Commerce has one of the best websites for obtaining internet information regarding business opportunities in Iraq.
An international business center recently opened in Kirkuk and is operated between the local government, Coalition forces, the Kirkuk Chamber of Commerce, and the Kirkuk Contractors Union; one of their goals is to facilitate coordination between local and international businesses and to facilitate unsolicited bids for reconstruction work.
On October 28, 2003, the Central Bank of Iraq authorized Iraq’s private banks to process international payments, remittances and foreign currency letters of credit. I have not found that banks are offering on-line banking services and transactions at this time. It will be imperative for Iraqi banks doing E-business to provide security. This would include authentication - the ability to assure customers that the site is legitimate; data integrity - to protect data transmission from third-party alterations; confidentiality – keep sensitive web transactions and communications private, and they must provide a payment gateway – the ability to process credit card and other transactions securely.
The outline below was obtained from the US Department of Commerce Website located at http://www.export.gov/irag/
Iraq: Key Websites and Contacts
Business Information about Iraq
U.S. Department of Commerce
Iraq Investment & Reconstruction Task Force www.export.gov/iraq , tel: 866-352-4727
U.S. Department of State www.state.gov/e/eb/cba/iraq , tel: 202-647-1625
Iraqi Business Center (in Baghdad) www.iraqibusinesscenter.org , tel: 914-822-7538
U.S. Commercial Service, Kuwait www.buyusa.gov/kuwait/en , tel: +965-539-5307/8, x2392
U.S. Commercial Service, Amman, Jordan www.buyusa.gov/jordan/en , tel: +962-6-692-0101, x2632
Reconstruction Contracts
Coalition Provisional Authority www.cpa-iraq.org , tel: 703-343-8108
Program Management Office www.rebuilding-iraq.net
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers www.hq.usace.army.mil/cepa/iraq/iraq.htm , tel: 866/461-5171
U.S. Agency for International Development http://www.usaid.gov/iraq/ , tel: 202-712-4300
United Nations, Oil for Food Program www.un.org/Depts/oip , tel: 202-736-7733
Export Licensing Questions
U.S. Department of Commerce
Bureau of Industry and
Security
www.bis.doc.gov , tel: 202-482-4811
U.S. Department of Treasury
Office of Foreign Assets Control www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac , tel: 800-540-6322
Resources on Finance
Export-Import Bank www.exim.gov/iraq.htm , tel: 800-565-3946 (EXIM)
Overseas Private Investment Corporation www.opic.gov , tel: 202-408-9859
U.S. Trade & Development Agency (TDA) www.tda.gov, tel: 703/875-4357