Turkish firms to hold first fair in Baghdad since war

The first commercial fair in Baghdad in seven years, since the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, is being organized by a Turkish company. Seventy-five Turkish companies will attend the fair to get their share of the $25 billion construction material market. Forum Fuarcilik, a Turkish fair organization company, is arranging the event, which will take place on Sept. 27-29. A presentation on investment opportunities in Iraq will be featured during the fair. Additionally, the heads of construction, electricity and shopping center divisions of Iraqi public companies working under the auspices of the trade, industry and construction ministries will hold meetings during the fair to tout the opportunities available to Turkish firms interested in Iraq. Bilgin Aygul of Forum Fuarcilik said Iraq is an extremely important market for Turkish exporters of construction materials. "The construction material market in Iraq has an annual volume of $25 billion," he said. "With this size, this country is getting the whole world's attention."