Common ground in Kurdistan

Not many businessmen cite safety as the biggest attraction of investing in Iraq. But for Maaruf Ataoglu, owner of an Istanbul-based restaurant and construction group, Iraqi Kurdistan is a haven.

An ethnic Kurd, Mr Ataoglu first came to the region in 1992, when he was involved in pro-Kurdish politics in Turkey. In 2004, urged by Jalal Talabani, now the Iraqi president, he returned to invest more than $5m and open what was then Suleimaniya's most sophisticated restaurant.

But the connection with Mr Talabani caused him difficulties in Turkey. When rebels from the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party mounted a murderous cross-border attack on Turkish soldiers, he faced accusations of channelling funds from Mr Talabani to the militants.