American University of Iraq graduates first class

By Qassim Khidhir
The Kurdish Globe

AUIS sends its first master's of business administration graduating class into the business world.

Kurdistan Prime Minister Dr. Barham Salih calls the new graduates "the basis of developing the country and building democracy in Iraq and Kurdistan."

Last week, the first group of students graduated from American University of Iraq-Suleimaniya (AUIS). Twenty-nine students received master's degrees in business administration.

The graduating students were elated in the ceremony, which was attended by the Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, U.S. ambassador to Baghdad, Kurdistan Minister of Higher Education, and a great number of academics.

"It's the day we dreamed about. Now, in our country, we have a high-quality university," said Hiwa Othman Faraj, one of the graduating students.

Graduates remarked that their minds have been opened by the information they learned at the university, including business planning, investing, and finding job opportunities.

The current Kurdistan Prime Minister, Dr. Barham Salih, ex-U.S. ambassador to Baghdad, Zalmay Khalilzad, along with numerous other influential Iraqis, Iraqi expatriates, and American citizens and officials began to formulate a concept for a center for the development, education, and training of the future leaders of Iraq.

Originally, it was Dr. Salih's idea and dream. He stated that he "always dreamed one day to open the American University in Kurdistan Region." At the ceremony, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Rafeh al-Isawi said that "Dr. Barham Salih is the father of the American University of Iraq project." Al-Isawi noted that "the University is the best investment for developing Iraq."

Dr. Salih thanked all of the people in his speech who helped build the university. He also praised the graduates. "I am proud of you, because you will be the basis of developing the country and building democracy in Iraq and Kurdistan." He hoped that Kurdistan Region would become a gate for all of Iraq, and both Arabs and Kurds, to build a developed and stable area.

Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador in Iraq, Christopher Hill, promised that United States will always support the university. "Kurdistan Region has a strong economy; it is rich with natural resources and in an important geographical position."

Said Hill: "We [Americans] have been here for seven years; we are not the kind of people to run away from responsibilities. On the contrary, we will stay here until we finish the job, and we have great faith in U.S.-Iraq relations, and U.S.-Kurdistan Region relations."

AUIS opened in October 2007 in Suleimaniya city. It is a nonprofit institution of higher education following the American model of undergraduate and graduate education in the Middle East. The university operates with the Carnegie semester credit model. All instruction at AUIS is in English. The institution is licensed by the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research of the Kurdistan Regional Government of the Republic of Iraq.

The vision of the university is to be the foremost educational institution in the development of future leaders in all fields, so as to promote and preserve a peaceful and democratic Iraq with liberty and prosperity for all its citizens and for the entire region.

The missions are to promote the development and prosperity of Iraq through the careful study of modern commerce, economics, business, and public administration. The mission is also to lead the transformation of Iraq into a liberal and democratic society, through an understanding of the ideals of freedom and democracy.

Note: Photo by AUIS.

Korea, from the military base to a restaurant

By Qassim Khidhir
The Kurdish Globe

Korea's cultural presence in Erbil continues to enrich Kurdish culture

A Korean businessman opens a Korean restaurant serving Korean and Kurdish food in downtown Erbil city.

Kobang means "guesthouse" in Korean. Kobang, a new restaurant in Erbil, is designed and decorated according to Korean tradition. In addition to the main dining room, there are several private rooms, or quiet rooms, where guests can dine comfortably and in silence.

The restaurant's walls are covered by well-known Korean actors like Dae Jang Guma and Hayn Jwan Yo. These actors are also are very famous in Kurdistan, since Korean dramas are widely shown on Kurdish TV because of South Korean troops in the region.

In August 2004, South Korea deployed more than 4,000 soldiers to Erbil city as part of an influx of multinational forces. South Korean troops left Iraq in December 2008.

Kobang owner Kim Ki Seon used to run a restaurant inside the Korean military base in Erbil, which was also known as the Zaytun Camp. When the Korean military was in Kurdistan, Seon thought about one day opening a Korean restaurant outside of the base in Erbil city.

Fuad Aziz Qadir, a Kurdish worker at Kobang, also worked in the restaurant in the Korean military base for five years. "When we were inside the base, Kurds who worked with the Korean military as well as guests and delegations always asked Mr. Seon why he didn't open a Korean restaurant in the city," said Qadir. "Local people liked the Korean food very much; we discussed opening a Korean restaurant in Erbil city many times with Mr. Seon," said Qadir.

"The Kurdish Globe" visited Kobang on its second day of being open for business. According to Qadir, most customers who had visited were Kurdish and some foreigners; he said most of Kurds asked for Korean rather than Kurdish food.

Kobang's staff is Kurdish, Korean, and Nepalese. The Korean foods include Bulgoki, Kimchi, and Tukboggi, as well as Kurdish and international fast food.

Kim Nam-Seon, business advisor and Seon's assistant, is also Kobang's owner. He pointed out that business for Korea is lucrative for Koreans. And Korean technology manufacturing companies such as LG and Samsung, along with Korean carmaker companies like Hyundai and KIA, enjoy an excellent market in the region, said Seon.

The Korean National Oil Company (KNOC) is currently exploring and drilling in Bazyan area in Suleimaniya province, and five Korean construction companies currently are working in the Kurdistan, noted Seon. "Now we are planning to open a permanent exhibition trade center in downtown Erbil city, selling and exhibiting only Korean made goods."

Seon speaks good Arabic as he studied in Saudi Arabia and worked as an advisor and interpreter for the Korean military when they were based in Kurdistan Region. He stated: "Korea has a very good reputation in Kurdistan Region. The Korean troops were different from other multinational forces in Iraq; the other multinational forces only gave donations to Iraqis. But in Kurdistan Region, we taught people how to catch fish instead of just giving them fish. Korean troops also respected the culture of Kurdish society."

According to Seon, it was easy for Koreans to understand the Kurdish culture, "The Kurdish customs are similar to the Koreans; Kurds respect elders, guests, and strangers; and just like Korea, the family connection is very strong."

Behind Seon--inside the restaurant--was a carpet on the wall that read, in the Korean language, "Zaytun," a Kurdish and Arabic word for olive, and the name of the Korean military base in Erbil city.

"Zaytun is front and center in our relations with Kurdistan Region, and we will continue to strengthen our relations with Kurds through business, diplomacy, and the Kurdish-Korean Friendship Organization, which has only recently been established," concluded Seon.