In collaboration with Raban Al Safina Group, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S.-Iraq Business Council (USIBC), and the Iraqi Business Council, the American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB) hosted a conference that brought together Iraqi business leaders and dignitaries with a large delegation of American business leaders and Chamber of Commerce officials.
AUIB President, Dr. Michael Mulnix, welcomed the distinguished guests to campus, introducing them to the “great experiment in higher education” that AUIB is, and to its ambitious future initiatives: namely, the project that aspires to transform K-12 school education through a prospective model school, the American School of Baghdad, and also the future 220-bed university hospital on campus, operating in tandem with AUIB’s upcoming College of Medicine. The university has as partners globally esteemed and accredited educational institutions in every initiative it undertakes, highlighted President Mulnix, giving the ultimate credit on the launch of this “great experiment” to AUIB Founder, Chairman and CEO of Raban Al Safina Group, Mr. Saadi Saihood, who, in his turn, addressed the crowd.
“Iraq turns a new page of hope, work, and true partnership,” said Mr. Saihood, commending the country’s Prime Minister, Mr. Mohammad Al-Sudani, for paving the way to a strong and prosperous Iraq through the empowerment of the private sector and opening the door to international partnerships, especially with American companies, and taking steps to improve the business environment, as in investing in infrastructure and utilities. Mr. Saihood saw that unleashing the potential of the private sector and creating an environment conducive to its flourishing is “the right direction” of public policy. As a result of such efforts, all came to see in Iraq not only a lucrative market, but a regional strategic partner as well, concluded Mr. Saihood.
President of USIBC, Mr. Steve Lutes, lauded Mr. Saihood’s “passion for business, education, and his country,” considering the ambitious project that AUIB embodies an “incredible legacy to leave.” AUIB educates and trains the “workforce of the future,” thus enabling the economic transformation “at the center” of which will be the University, said Mr. Lutes. He noted the size and diversity of the USIBC delegation which comprised of representatives of U.S. companies in various sectors, promising to “bring economic diversification to Iraq,” empowering and transforming its economy.