Iraqi Firms Hopeful for Future: Poll --Daily Star

[Gloria]

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2//The Daily Star, Lebanon Friday, December 17, 2004

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=3&article_id=11075



IRAQI FIRMS HOPEFUL FOR FUTURE: POLL

Compiled by Daily Star staff

Eight of 10 Iraqis businesses say Iraq's economy will grow over the next two years, and almost half felt the business climate was better than under Saddam Hussein, according to a recent survey.



"Security is the first concern, but people thrive in the midst of catastrophe everywhere," said John Zogby, whose organization conducted the poll on behalf of an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.



Thousands of Iraqi civilians have died in a deadly insurgency since U.S.-led troops ousted Saddam in 2003. Firms doing business with foreigners and the new interim government have also been frequent targets. This was reflected in only 17 percent of Iraqi businessmen saying the coalition can provide the security necessary for business.



Pollsters conducted face-to-face interviews with 454 Iraqi owners or managers between Oct. 17 and Dec. 3, a period of major violence as U.S. forces battled guerrillas for control of Fallujah. They found almost 70 percent were optimistic for post-Saddam Iraq.



"When the business community sees opportunities, that fuels optimism and what we are seeing is a genuine number of opportunities," said John Sullivan from the Center for International Private Enterprise, which sponsored the poll.



(SNIP)