A businessman from Brighton is Britain's sole presence at an international trade fair in Iraq.

Mamoun Tabidi, the founder and director of Maram Consultancies, has flown out to Baghdad to man a stall at the convention.

Mr Tabidi, who is originally from Sudan, has lived in Brighton for 20 years and holds a British passport.

He has been involved with consultancy work for road-building and hospital construction all over the Middle East.

Mr Tabidi said he strongly opposed the UN sanctions placed on Iraq 12 years ago.

He said: "It is important to make a stand and tell the world it is not fair to put sanctions on this country where the people are suffering.

"The Iraqi government is happy we are here. I think they appreciate it."

His wife Mai Osman, who is company secretary, said: "He has been made very welcome.

"He had problems from the authorities getting permission to go. There were due to be several companies but he is now the only UK representative.

"This is his first visit to Iraq but he is involved in work with other Arab nations. He has an office in Brighton and in other countries, mostly in the Middle East."

The couple, from Whitehawk, have two children, baby son Mubeen and daughter Maram, three, whose name means "aspiration" and after whom the firm was named.

The company is run from an office at Premier House in Marlborough Place, Brighton.

Like every firm trying to do business with Iraq, Mr Tabidi will have any exports inspected by the UN sanctions committee, which prohibits anything with potential military use being sold.

The UN Security Council imposed economic sanctions on Iraq in 1990, a controversial measure which barred all imports from and exports to the country.

In 1996, the council established an oil-for-food programme, allowing Iraq to export oil in exchange for food, humanitarian supplies and equipment.

UK companies are therefore not banned from trading with Iraq if they fall into this remit.

More than 1,200 firms from 49 nations are taking part, including Finland, Denmark and France. The USA is not represented.

Trade Partners UK, a government body which offers help and advice to companies wishing to export their goods, is not supporting the fair.

A spokesman said: "We are not supporting the Baghdad fair or any of the exhibitors.

"Companies are free to attend and we cannot stop them."