World Bank Slates Iraq’s Business Environment

As Iraq’s politicians continue to haggle over the formation of the next government, the World Bank has issued its latest Doing Business 2011 report, and the incoming administration would do well to read it.

Consider the following:

• Out of 183 countries monitored, Iraq ranks 166th, behind even Haiti and Zimbabwe;
• No business regulation reforms have been undertaken in Iraq in the past year;
• Iraq is the world’s tenth most difficult country in which to start a business;
• Iraq is the fifth most difficult country in the world for cross-border trade;
• It is the seventh most difficult country in the world in which to enforce a contract.

Iraq’s highly-paid politicians might like to consider taking some urgent action items based on this list.