Iraq outside the Beltway: Ambassador Faily visits Houston

As part of efforts to engage the American people, state and local governments, and businesses about Iraq’s opportunities, Ambassador Faily met with Houston city leaders, executives, university students and professors.

As part of Iraq’s efforts to engage the American people, state and local governments, and businesses about the country’s opportunities and challenges, Iraqi Ambassador to the United States Lukman Faily recently spent four days in Houston, Texas to meet with city leaders, businesses executives, university students and professors, and the media.

Under the auspices of the Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador Faily’s visit was successful in driving home the importance of the burgeoning Houston-Basra partnership that both sides hope will enrich each other’s economic, political, and cultural well-being. He carried the message that the embassy is ready to serve as a conduit for those looking for help navigating the Iraqi government.

Over four days, his engagements included:

Government

• Houston Mayor Pro-Tem Ed Gonzalez, to discuss Houston-Basra partnership
• A visit to NASA, to learn about NASA’s water technology

Business

• An address to the Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, to encourage business in Iraq
• A visit to the Port of Houston, to compare with Basra’s port
• A meeting at Baker Hughes, to hear about challenges some American companies have operating in Iraq
• A visit to NRG Stadium, to see the effort involved in running a sports and convention complex

Higher Education

• University of Houston – A meeting with Chancellor RenuKhator, meeting with faculty across disciplines, and a talk with students at the Honors College to explore collaboration with Iraqi universities
• Rice University – A talk with students and fellows at the Baker Institute for Public Policy to discuss the current situation in Iraq
• Texas A&M University – A meeting with officials from the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture to review avenues for cooperation

Media

• An op-ed in the Houston Chronicle that championed the Houston-Basra partnership and opportunities for Houston businesses in Iraq
• A one-on-one interview with the Houston Chronicle that led to two pieces on the oil industry and Iraq
• Coverage of his Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce address by national and local media

Non-governmental Organizations

• An address at a fundraiser for the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project