Introduction
The International Federation for Businessmen and Women – IFB participated in the Iraq International Oil & Gas Exhibition 2026, held at the Baghdad International Fairgrounds from 8 to 11 September 2026.
The participation formed part of the Federation’s efforts to strengthen its professional network, support investment, and expand areas of cooperation among businessmen and women, investors, and companies, particularly within vital and strategic economic sectors.
The exhibition provided a practical platform for direct engagement with companies and investors, exploring partnership opportunities, introducing the Federation’s initiatives and membership programs, and strengthening its presence within the business environment associated with the oil and energy sectors and related industries.
Objectives of Participation
• Strengthen the Federation’s presence at major economic and investment events.
• Expand the network of relationships with businessmen and women, investors, and companies.
• Explore new opportunities for cooperation, investment, and partnerships.
• Establish direct communication with companies operating and participating in the oil, energy, and related sectors.
• Introduce IFB’s role in connecting the business community with opportunities and markets.
• Launch a new membership program targeting professionals, investors, and stakeholders in the oil and energy sector.
• Strengthen the Federation’s position as an international platform for economic networking and professional relationship-building.
Day One – 8 September 2026
Official Opening and Launch of the Oil & Energy Sector Membership
The first day marked the beginning of the International Federation for Businessmen and Women – IFB’s participation, coinciding with the official opening of the exhibition by Iraqi Minister of Oil Basim Mohammed Khudair Al-Abadi. The event witnessed strong attendance from visitors, companies, investors, and representatives of the business community.
From its opening day, the exhibition attracted significant interest from participating organizations and visitors, creating a suitable environment for direct communication, relationship-building, and the exploration of investment and commercial opportunities.
1. Participation in the Official Opening:
The Federation maintained an active presence during the opening-day activities, taking advantage of the broad gathering of companies, institutions, and investors to strengthen communication and introduce the Federation’s role and activities.
2. Launch of the Oil & Energy Sector Membership:
IFB announced the launch of a new membership category within its membership system under the name “Oil & Energy Sector Membership,” dedicated to businessmen and women, investors, companies, professionals, and other stakeholders working in or interested in this vital sector.
The membership aims to:
• Expand professional networking within the oil and energy sector.
• Enhance opportunities for cooperation and investment among sector members.
• Connect members with business and partnership opportunities through the Federation’s network.
• Provide a broader professional platform for communication among businessmen and women, investors, and relevant companies.
3. Welcoming Visitors and Business Community Representatives:
The Federation’s participation attracted interest from visitors, company representatives, and investors, who were introduced to its role, activities, and the opportunities available through its international network.
4. Establishing Initial Contacts:
From the first day, the Federation’s team began communicating with a number of participating organizations and companies in preparation for broader meetings during the following days.
Day Two – 9 September 2026
Expanding the Network and Visiting Companies and Investors
Activities on the second day focused on moving from general presence and introducing the Federation toward direct, on-site engagement with participating companies and investors.
1. Secretary-General’s Tour of Participating Companies:
The Secretary-General of the International Federation for Businessmen and Women, Mr. Imad Rakbi, visited a number of company and institutional booths participating in the exhibition to gain direct insight into their activities and areas of operation and to strengthen relations with them.
2. Meetings with Investors and Business Community Representatives:
The Secretary-General and the Federation’s team held a series of professional meetings with investors, company representatives, and economic organizations participating in the event.
3. Productive Professional Meetings:
The meetings were characterized by constructive and serious discussions, during which perspectives were exchanged and opportunities for cooperation and investment were explored, while channels of communication among the various parties were expanded.
Discussions included:
• Exploring opportunities for cooperation between the Federation and participating companies.
• Discussing future investment opportunities.
• Developing relations between members of the IFB network and participating organizations.
• Exploring the possibility of building joint partnerships and initiatives.
• Understanding the needs and priorities of companies and investors.
• Expanding professional and commercial communication channels.
4. Strengthening Professional Relationships:
The visits and meetings helped expand the network established on the first day and transformed the Federation’s presence at the exhibition into more direct professional relationships and contacts.
Day Three – 10 September 2026
Developing Partnership Opportunities and Receiving the Distinguished Participation Award
The third day witnessed further development in the nature of IFB’s participation, as discussions moved beyond introductions and information exchange toward more serious consideration of future cooperation and partnership opportunities.
1. Continued Meetings and Professional Engagement:
Federation representatives continued meeting with businessmen and women, investors, and company representatives from various sectors, with a focus on strengthening the relationships established during the previous two days.
2. Discussing Future Cooperation Opportunities:
Part of the discussions focused on transforming existing contacts into opportunities that could be further developed, including institutional cooperation, commercial relationships, investment opportunities, future partnerships, and the exchange of expertise and information.
3. Distinguished Participation Award:
The International Federation for Businessmen and Women – IFB was honored with the Distinguished Participation Award in recognition of its active presence and outstanding participation throughout the exhibition.
This recognition represented a major milestone in the Federation’s participation and reflected the level of engagement and visibility achieved during the event.
The award carries important institutional and symbolic value for the Federation, strengthens its presence within economic and investment events, and serves as an incentive to continue participating in exhibitions and conferences that bring together the business community and investors.
Day Four – 11 September 2026
Completing Meetings and Concluding Participation
The fourth and final day was dedicated to continuing communication with companies, investors, and organizations that had been engaged during the previous days and to using the closing day to further strengthen the relationships established throughout the exhibition.
1. Completing Professional Meetings:
The Federation continued its engagement with businessmen and women, investors, and company representatives while concluding discussions initiated during the previous days.
2. Following Up on Cooperation Opportunities:
Attention was given to maintaining communication channels with organizations that had expressed interest in cooperation or investment, allowing these relationships to be followed up after the exhibition.
3. Expanding the Network:
The final day contributed to expanding the Federation’s professional contact base by adding new organizations, companies, and investors to its network.
4. Conclusion of Participation:
The Federation concluded its participation after four days of active presence, meetings, visits, and professional networking, reaffirming the importance of specialized exhibitions as platforms for building relationships and exploring investment and cooperation opportunities.
Key Achievements of the Participation
Launch of a New Membership:
Launch of the “Oil & Energy Sector Membership” within the Federation’s membership portfolio.
Expansion of the Professional Network:
Engagement with businessmen and women, investors, companies, and participating economic organizations.
Field Visits:
The Secretary-General, Mr. Imad Rakbi, visited a number of participating companies and met with investors and representatives of the business community.
Productive Professional Meetings:
Discussions focused on investment opportunities, cooperation, and future partnerships.
New Channels of Cooperation:
Establishing contacts that can be further developed and followed up after the exhibition.
Distinguished Participation Award:
The Federation was honored in recognition of its active presence and distinguished participation.
Strengthened Sectoral Presence:
Expanding IFB’s presence and engagement within the oil and energy sector and related industries.
Strategic Impact of the Participation
The significance of the Federation’s participation extended beyond simply being present at the exhibition. Its core value lay in transforming the event into a platform for relationships, investment, and partnerships.
The participation contributed to strengthening the Federation’s institutional image, highlighting its role as a link between investors, business leaders, and opportunities, and opening the Federation to a new segment of professionals and stakeholders interested in the oil and energy sector.
Key strategic impacts included:
• Strengthening the Federation’s institutional image and presence at major economic events.
• Highlighting IFB’s role in connecting investors and business leaders with opportunities and markets.
• Supporting the Federation’s strategy of developing specialized memberships based on economic sectors.
• Expanding relationships with local and international companies.
• Creating opportunities for continued cooperation after the exhibition.
• Leveraging the award as an element that strengthens institutional credibility and visibility.
Post-Exhibition Recommendations
1. Follow Up with Organizations and Contacts:
Send formal follow-up messages to the companies and investors engaged during the exhibition.
2. Create a Database:
Organize the contact details of visited organizations and classify them according to sector and potential areas of cooperation.
3. Launch a Promotional Campaign for the New Membership:
Promote the “Oil & Energy Sector Membership” independently and explain its benefits and target groups.
4. Schedule Follow-Up Meetings:
Arrange subsequent meetings with organizations that expressed serious interest in cooperation or investment.
5. Prepare an Opportunities and Partnerships Portfolio:
Develop dedicated material for Federation members covering potential opportunities within the oil and energy sector.
6. Leverage the Distinguished Participation Award:
Use the award within the Federation’s institutional, promotional, and official marketing materials.
7. Measure the Impact:
Track the number of relationships that develop into meetings, cooperation opportunities, or new memberships during the period following the exhibition.
8. Continue Participating in Specialized Events:
Maintain participation in specialized exhibitions as an effective tool for direct engagement with the business community and investors.
Conclusion
The participation of the International Federation for Businessmen and Women – IFB in the Iraq International Oil & Gas Exhibition 2026 represented an important milestone in its economic and institutional activities.
Over the course of four days, the participation included official representation, the launch of the Oil & Energy Sector Membership, welcoming visitors, visiting companies, meeting investors, discussing opportunities for cooperation and investment, building professional relationships, developing partnership opportunities, and receiving the Distinguished Participation Award.
The participation demonstrated that IFB’s presence at specialized economic events extends beyond representation and attendance. It serves as an effective tool for building a broader network of relationships, connecting businessmen and women with markets and opportunities, and transforming professional interactions into a foundation for developing future investments and partnerships.
