HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS FROM THE KURDISTAN REGION

 TO VISIT DETROIT

Chaldean Federation of America and Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce to Host Delegation on December 18 & 19

            SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Dec. 17, 2009 – Four high ranking officials from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will be in Detroit on December 18 and 19 to meet with the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac community and area business leaders to discuss the latest developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq. The delegation has spent the past week in Washington D.C. meeting with government officials and members of the American business community. 

            Dr. Fuad Hussein, Chief of Staff to the President of the Kurdistan Region, Falah Mustafa Bakir, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Qubad Talabani, KRG Representative to the United States and Dasko Shirwani, Director of Community Outreach, plan to meet with the Chaldean Community and business leaders from southeast Michigan. 

            The Kurdistan Region of Iraq, based in the northern part of the country, is an autonomous and federally recognized region of Iraq. The region is officially governed by the Kurdistan Regional Government.

            “We are honored to host such a distinguished delegation from Kurdistan here in Metro Detroit,” said Joseph Kassab, Executive Director, Chaldean Federation of America.  “We are looking to build bridges and to advance synergies between our community here and our brothers and sisters in Iraq with the KRG.  Our goal is to strengthen that relationship in order to achieve prosperity for all.”

            “The purpose of our delegation and our visits to Washington and Detroit is to promote increased understanding of the issues facing the Iraqi people and to improve business ties between the two nations,” said Dr. Hussein.  “With the Detroit area hosting the largest population of Chaldean Assyrian Syriacs outside of Iraq, we felt it was important to include a visit here.”

            A delegation of Chaldean American business owners is planning an upcoming trip to Kurdistan to explore potential opportunities between both countries.

The delegation is available to meet with members of the media on Saturday, December 19 from 10:30 am to noon at the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, located at 29850 Northwestern Highway (at Inkster Road), Suite 250 in Southfield.

The Chaldean Federation of America (CFA) is an umbrella association of several Chaldean organizations in Metropolitan Detroit. The CFA represents more than 150,000 Chaldean-American residents in this region. The CFA has served as a catalyst for the resettlement and assimilation of thousands of Chaldeans in the US. Metropolitan Detroit is home to the largest number of Chaldean Americans in the United States. Chaldean Americans make up one of the fastest growing minorities in Southeastern Michigan. Notably, Chaldean Americans have their own culture, language (Aramaic), and religious beliefs, which differ from other Middle Eastern Arab ethnic groups. For more information, visit www.chaldeanfederation.org

            The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce is a partnership of Chaldean businesses and professionals working together to strengthen members’ business, increase job opportunities, encourage expansion and promote Chaldean business and culture.  The Chamber seeks to service and represent Aramaic-speaking people, including Assyrians, Chaldeans and Syriacs.  For more information, visit www.chaldeanchamber.com.