The tragic events of recent times have obscured historic Mesopotamia's justifiable claim to be the cradle of civilisations as well the potential of modern day Iraq to be both a political and economic leader within the Middle East.

However, the corner has at last been turned with a new democratic Iraq clearly set to become an important player as well as a growing source of wealth creation. As such it is in the UK's interest to build its future relationship with Iraq on the firm foundations of mutual understanding and respect The economic importance of this relationship has already been illustrated by a major conference in London to boost international, and particularly British, investment in Iraq. The timing of the exhibition, at the end of April, was significant. Marking a new beginning, it commenced the day after UK forces began their departure from Iraq.

More than 200 British company representatives and 170 Iraqi businessmen and officials attended. The VIP list was led by Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki with senior British ministers in attendance including Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander. The long term desire to establish firm links between Britain and the new Iraq is not though going to be achieved by a single event. Its achievement is going to take patience in addition to commitment and hard work.

This process is being helped by the activities of the British Iraq Friendship Society (BIFS) an organisation launched at the end of 2007 to nurture cultural understanding and links as well as provide business development opportunities between the two countries. The declared purpose of the BIFS is to establish itself as a worthwhile medium for improving mutual understanding between the UK and Iraq. The society aims to inform the British public about all aspects of Iraqi life and culture including the history, heritage, art, language and traditions of the country.

This laudable aim requires considerable work. In this, BIFS has been fortunate inbeing able to draw on the depth of knowledge and experience provided by the society's chairman Dr Salah Al-Shaikhly and Vice Chairman Sir Terence Clark. The latter was British ambassador to Iraq from 1985 to 1989. Dr Salah Al-Shaikhly was Iraq's first ambassador to Britain following the overthrow of the Saddam regime and he occupied the post for three years until November, 2007. He is one of his country's longest serving public servants having previously served his country as deputy minister of planning, head of its statistical office and also as Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq. He has also been head of the Iraqi Fund for External Development. An economist and postgraduate of Manchester University, Dr Al-Shaikhly has a long attachment to the UK, with him and his family having lived in exile in Britain when he broke free from the increasingly oppressive Saddam regime in 1978 after Dr Al-Shaikhly had served as UN Assistant Secretary General. Dr Al-Shaikhly is one the best connected men in the new Iraq and is keen now to broaden and deepen British perspectives on his country.

Sir Terence Clark believes that "in particular we need to widen our appeal to the British public through a programme of events that enhances in the popular imagination Iraq's cultural heritage, which despite its richness remains far less well known than Egypt's. We also need to demonstrate the opportunities for building a new relationship between the two countries in the future." A series of highly informative and unique lectures providing the society's members with valuable contemporary and historical insights into Anglo-Iraqi relations have already taken place over the last year. Dr Al-Shaikhly has spoken about the changing face of Iraqi politics with Sir Terence speaking on the British connection with Iraq from the days of the East India Company to the present day. Dr John Jenkins the director of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Middle East and Africa desk recently addressed the society. The coming months are expected to see further lectures from expert speakers focusing on Iraq's oil and gas prospects, the country's financial sector as well as the potential for developing tourism looking at Iraq's multitude of archaeological as well as religious sites.

Cultural aspects as well are being focused on by the BIFS. The society's inaugural event was held at the British Museum when it sponsored a late viewing of the museum's Babylon - Myth and Reality exhibition.

Another major exhibition at a London gallery this time on Iraq art is being planned. The society will hold its annual dinner in October. In Dr Al-Shaikhly's view the BIFS can be said to have come of age.

BIFS membership is open to anyone interested in learning about Iraq and its association with Britain or with specific commercial, cultural or other interests there. Commercial and other organisations may become corporate members. More from the society's website at www.britishiraqi.co.uk.