IRAQ: Trade fair another post-war first

The international fairground in Baghdad used to look like this (below), a sad remnant of its former self.

But for the past few days, it has had a distinctly different look with the opening of the first International Fair to be held here since the U.S. invasion of March 2003.

About 150 companies converged  on the western side of the Tigris River for the fair, which opened Tuesday and closes Saturday.

There were the usual annoying fixtures of Baghdad life to contend with: the frisking of anyone who entered the fairgrounds; the road closures in the area that slowed traffic to a crawl. But once inside, the atmosphere was joyful as people sat inside the new cars on display, watched firefighters leap from cranes onto a giant air bag, and sipped coffee and tea.

"Why don't they let the women be searched by us?" cracked one male security guard frisking men as he eyed the female fair visitors, most of them dressed in fancy clothes for the event.

The fair's opening was a sign of the Iraqi government's determination to lure investment back to Iraq, whose security risks have made it a hard sell. Earlier this month, another investment effort was launched with the opening of a five-star hotel and business center at the Baghdad airport.

"It's a beginning," said Herbert Lange, who worked with the Iraqi Trade Ministry in organizing the fair. "This is the right time. We're going to get business back to Iraq."

Addel Anwar Hussein agreed. "Now, Iraq is open and the people are starting to compete over car models," he said, referring to Iraqis' obsession with what they drive.

"The ones who have a 2007 model want to replace it with a 2008. I think in four or five months, Iraqi car markets will boom," said Hussein, who doesn't have the money for a luxurious new model himself but takes comfort in seeing them on the roads here. "When I see a modern car, I feel happy and relaxed," he said.

Over at the book stall, Yousif Abd al-Hadi, a college student studying computer science, was fascinated by the selection of books.

Like many visitors, al-Hadi said the fair before the war was far more limited than this one, which featured exhibits from around the world. Under Saddam Hussein, the country's borders were tightly sealed.

Things like cellular phones, satellite TV, and internet technology were unavailable to most people or illegal.

"But this time the companies' participations are broad," he said. "In the past, the fair became routine because there was nothing interesting about it -- not like now."

Like many Iraqis, al-Hadi fled the country during the worst of the sectarian violence. He and his family lived in Syria, moving from place to place and always fearful of being targeted.

They returned so al-Hadi could go to university here.

One company exhibiting at the fair was Nissan, the carmaker.

A Nissan employee, Sinan Saddoon, said the Iraqi government had promised to lessen the tax burden on importing vehicles to encourage the company to open an office in Baghdad.

Now, Nissan only has offices in northern Iraq, but the marketing manager, Muwafaq Muhessin, said that would change.

"We intend to open an office in Baghdad during the next coming days. We are optimistic the situation will get better," he said.

-- Usama Redha in Baghdad

Photos: Scenes from the International Fair being held in Baghdad. Credit: Usama Redha / Los Angeles Times

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