TURKEY EPC: IRAQ INTERNATIONAL FAIR IN GAZIANTEP MAY 22 -

UNCLAS ANKARA 000850 SIPDIS EEB FOR A/S DAN SULLIVAN USDOC FOR DAS PAUL DYCK PRT BABIL FOR DON WELTY PRT NAJAF FOR DARRELL BROWN SIPDIS FROM AMBASSADOR TO A/S DAN SULLIVAN AND DAS PAUL DYCK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL TU IZ SUBJECT: TURKEY EPC: IRAQ INTERNATIONAL FAIR IN GAZIANTEP MAY 22 - 25 Ref: U.S.-TURKEY 2008 EPC DISCUSSIONS ¶1. Turkey will host its Third Iraq International Fair in the southeastern city of Gaziantep May 22 - 25. This trade fair is jointly organized by the Iraqi Ministry of Trade and the Turkish Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (FTU) and will include exhibitors from Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Italy, Russia, Taiwan, France, Iran, Poland, China, Saudi Arabia and others from the region. Sectors of interest to the Iraqis include construction and housing; agriculture and environment; communications; education; energy and utilities; healthcare; information technology; oil and gas; security; transport; and water and wastewater. ¶2. During the April 2008 U.S.-Turkey EPC, Turkey and the U.S. agreed to support regional trade events focusing on Iraqi development and reconstruction. The Gaziantep Iraq International Fair was specifically mentioned as one upcoming event. Our PRTs in Babil and Najaf and Embassy Baghdad have been coordinating with Iraqi companies and hope to accompany approximately 100 Iraqi business people to the event, and Turkey expects as many as 3000 Iraqi business people to attend overall. 2007's fair attracted over 50,000 attendees and included 902 exhibitors from 30 countries. ¶3. I strongly encourage U.S. participation at this event and our support for it. This is one of the only fairs officially sanctioned by the Iraqi Government and provides an opportunity to encourage strengthened Turkish-Iraqi cooperation and, on a practical level, to foster U.S.-Turkish business collaboration in this key third-country market -- an issue that was also discussed at the EPC. The organizers have provided the USG with a small booth free of charge that our Consulate in Adana will staff on the opening day. We should also have an FCS Baghdad or other appropriate trade promotion representation presence. I have been asked by both FTU and the Prime Minister's office to participate and am considering this, as well. ¶4. Looking ahead, we understand that FCS is considering officially supporting the 2009 event, which would include recruiting U.S. companies to exhibit at the fair and possibly hosting a U.S. pavilion. I strongly support this and believe that FCS Iraq participation this year would provide an opportunity to better understand the event and market it in the future to U.S. companies. I hope we can give this event the USG support it deserves. WILSON