By John Lee. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Developmen (EBRD) has launched its first-ever investment in Iraq, providing a US$100 million trade finance facility to the National Bank of Iraq (NBI), the country's largest private bank. The facility, extended under the EBRD's Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP), will support Iraq's import and export activity by enabling […]
By John Lee. The Government of Iraq has signed the UNIDO Country Programme for 2026-2030, represented by Minister of Industry Prof. Khalid Battal al-Najm, with UNIDO, represented by Director-General Gerd Müller, during the organisation's conference last week in Riyadh. The programme provides a strategic framework aligned with Iraq's Vision 2030, the National Industrial Strategy 2024-2030, […]
By John Lee. The Ministry of Trade has held talks with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on launching an integrated business accelerators programme to support small and medium-sized enterprises with high growth potential. GIZ discussed with the Ministry's Private Sector Development Department the proposed framework for designing and implementing the programme, including evaluation […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani has reaffirmed his government's commitment to supporting women's rights and empowerment, directing the launch of new financial and training initiatives for women across Iraq. Chairing a meeting of the Supreme Council for Women's Affairs, the Prime Minister announced the launch of the Basmat (Fingerprint) Initiative, which will […]
From the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC): IBBC hosts 40 Iraq SMEs at UK Trade conference IBBC team brought over 40 Iraqi SMEs to a bespoke conference in London's Clayton hotel in Chiswick, presenting how to 'Trade with and Invest in the UK ', The IBBC Baghdad team arranged for several high-profile speakers covering all […]
From the International Labour Organization (ILO): Iraq launches business registration guide to promote formalization and decent work The guide is a practical resource for entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), offering a clear, step-by-step process to register their businesses. Iraq's Ministry of Trade, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and with […]
By John Lee. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has supported the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and the Iraqi Private Banks League (IPBL) in launching the Access to Finance Guide, co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the Federal Republic of Germany. The initiative forms part of the Team Europe Initiative TAEUFIQ. The […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani chaired a meeting on Sunday to follow up on the implementation of the government's "Riyada" initiative and the disbursement of youth loans for qualified applicants. Al-Sudani highlighted the initiative's positive reception among young people, describing it as a foundation for a new labour market reality, encouraging private […]
By John Lee. Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Iraqi Company for Bank Guarantees (ICBG), and several Iraqi banks, has provided significant financial and training support to displaced persons and host communities in Nineveh and Duhok governorates under the Afaaq programme. The initiative has since been replicated […]
By John Lee. Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) Governor Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq has met Bilal Al-Saghir, the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Resident Representative in Iraq, to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in training Iraq's banking sector workforce. The parties intend to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the matter in the coming period. They also […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Planning held a workshop on August 7, 2025, to review and discuss the final draft of the National Policy for the Development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This policy is set to be adopted as a key national document supporting this vital sector, with ongoing technical […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Trade has held discussions with a delegation from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Technology Centre for Entrepreneurship to explore joint mechanisms for empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Iraq. According to the Ministry's media office, Director General of the Private Sector Development […]
