An Iraqi businessman shows Turkish artificial grass, which is one of his company’s products, during the 9 Nissan District Business Trade Show at the Palestine Hotel in Karadah, Iraq, Aug. 30, 2008. More than 90 organizations, including more than 80 businesses, gathered for the event Aug. 29 and 30. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grant Okubo, Multi-National Division - Baghdad.

Participants included non-government organizations and more than 80 businesses that set up booths to display their products and services and to network with other local business owners.

Exhibitors represented businesses in retail sales, construction and durable and industrial goods. In addition to the exhibits, members of the district council, community leaders and the Baghdad 2 embedded provincial reconstruction team conducted a meeting during the event’s second day.

The trade show is the third of its kind conducted in the 10th Mountain Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team operational environment in Multi-National Division - Baghdad. The other two economic events benefited businesses in eastern Baghdad’s Rusafa and Karadah districts.

The PRT and the Patriot Brigade supported the trade show to sponsor the Iraqi-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which put together the event, Conrad Tribble, Baghdad-2 embedded PRT team chief, said. The trade show is a way for businesses to come together in a forum not normally available to them, the Los Angeles native explained.

“Trade shows aren’t something you see often here, but it gets them out of their areas,” Tribble said. “They start to see other suppliers, other competitors and other business contactors they can network with.”

Speaking with several local business owners, Tribble said, he has found that the businesses have grown during the past year, with the organizations hiring more people, doing more work and getting more contracts.

“That’s a good sign, because it shows us that when you get security in place, which was done largely in this district, then lots of things can happen on the economic side,” he said, adding that there is still a long way to go for businesses in 9 Nissan, but there is a lot of room to grow and plenty of time to do it.

(By Army Sgt. Grant Okubo, 10th Mountain Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)