History

The early formation of AmCham Kurdistan began in 2012, with our Founding member Mr. Kurdo Jaff, and his vision of establishing a U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. With the help of the U.S. Department of State, Mr. Jaff received introductions to visiting U.S. Senior officials, one being Mr. Steve Lutes of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

During this visit, Mr. Jaff shared his vision of forming an AmCham Kurdistan; at the time, it was not on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce initiatives. The discussion continued, and towards the end of 2012, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce gave the green light to establish AmCham Kurdistan.

Mr. Jaff's next official visit in 2013 to Washington D.C., after more meetings and further discussions with U.S. Chamber of Commerce senior officials and the then Ambassador Anne Peterson who encouraged Mr. Jaff's vision and gave support in her own words, "Kurdo no better time to establish AmCham Kurdistan." And the rest is history.