‘Kurdistan is blossoming with its cities, infrastructure services, electricity, water, education, health, housing, financial services and oil industries all fast developing offering excellent opportunities for UK companies.  In some cases these industries are well ahead of the rest of Iraq’  said Michael Thomas CEO of Pathfinder who led this important trade mission.

The programme, which was organised by Pathfinder with the support of the Kurdistan Regional Government, involved an intensive three days of high level meetings commencing with a dinner at the five star Rotana Hotel in Erbil hosted by the Bank for established senior British businessmen, to first of all get a flavour of the fast developing economic situation in Kurdistan.

International Conference and Exhibition on the Refining Industry in Iraq

Organised by Symexco in collaboration with the Ministry of Oil under the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister for Energy, HE Dr Hussain al-Shahrestani with our own Michael Thomas (CEO, Pathfinder) moderating the Panel on Day One.

17 – 18 April 2012  ¦  Lancaster Hotel  ¦  London

www.iraqrefinery.com

Japan and Uzbekistan signed exchange notes within the ‘no-strings’ aid of the JapaneseGovernment on the project “Providing medical equipment” on 20 March 2012.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan: Yosihisa Kuroda and Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan: Abdulla Aripov signed the exchange notes.  As part of the project “Providing medical equipment”, the Government of Japan agrees to provide a grant of 250 million yen (approx. US$3m).  Products presented within the project, comprise medical equipment produced in the Japanese regions which suffered from the earthquake of 11 March 2011. (uzdaily.uz)

Pathfinder is pleased to announce that it has signed a major sponsorship deal with DLA Piper, one of the top legal advisers around the globe.  DLA Piper will be sponsoring all Pathfinder missions in 2012.

Michael Thomas CEO of Pathfinder said that this was a hugely important development and will enable Pathfinder to not only offer an unrivalled level of service but at a competitive cost, which will include high level introductions and Match Making.

Following the launch of CASCA, the Central Asian and South Caspian Association business forum, a Pathfinder initiative, a  busy programme of events focusing on the tiger economies of the region has and is taking place.  VIP lunches have been held for the Ambassadors of Mongolia and Azerbaijan in association with the British Azerbaijan Business Council, well attended business briefings and country seminars on Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have taken place.  Pathfinder supported the recent Uzbekistan Business Council and Conference held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Westminster as well as the Mongolian Investment Conference where Michael Thomas was a speaker.

Our Pathfinder High level trade delegation leaves for Tashkent on 20 March and applications are now invited.

We are working with the British Azerbaijan Business Council and last year jointly led a highly successful BABC trade mission to Azerbaijan.  Azerbaijan is of huge strategic importance to Europe as the gateway to Central Asia, rich in oil and gas and minerals and like all countries in the region offers good opportunities beyond oil and gas for financial services, education and agriculture, and remains a priority market for Pathfinder.  A trade mission is planned for later this year.

Pathfinder Trade Mission to Mongolia an outstanding success.

Working with the Mongolian British Chamber of Commerce, Chairman - John Grogan, Michael Thomas - CEO of Pathfinder jointly led a highly successful trade delegation to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.

In true Pathfinder style meetings were held at the highest level with Government Ministers and business leaders. The Mongolians turned out to be hugely welcoming and easy to get on with.  Opportunities in Mongolia, a country the size of Europe with a population of only 3 million, are immense, particularly in financial services, IT and infrastructure, agriculture and mining.  Mongolia has huge mineral resources of all types but particularly copper and coal.  With the ready markets of China and Russia, Mongolia is set to be the next Abu Dhabi of Asia said Michael Thomas.

Following this trade mission many of the missioners returned to Mongolia for a second look later in the year.

Pathfinder will be leading its next trade mission to Mongolia in June 2012.