Tag Archives | MSMEs

New Initiative to Support Entrepreneurs in Iraq

Seed investor Flat6Labs has launched its StartMashreq entrepreneurship program. The regional program is being implemented over a two-year period in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and the government of the Netherlands. As the first program of its kind, StartMashreq will offer comprehensive support to entrepreneurs across […]

New Agreement to Promote Entrepreneurship in Iraq

ITC and UN WFP Sign an Agreement to Promote Development and Strengthening of Entrepreneurship The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) signed an agreement on 6 March 2023 to collaborate on improving the efficiency and competitiveness of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Iraq. The partnership will leverage […]

New Study Supports Iraqi Private Sector Development

The Ministry of Planning of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a study on Micro, Small, and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs) in Iraq. The study provides an evidence base to inform policies and strategies […]

Informal Businesses in Iraq: Critical Lessons

The World Bank's Enterprise Analysis Unit, in collaboration with colleagues from the Social Protection and Jobs team in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, recently published the data from an Informal Sector Enterprise Survey conducted in Iraq, covering four major cities in the country: Baghdad, Basrah, Sulaymaniyah, and Najaf. These surveys are designed […]

Call for Applications: Entrepreneurship for Public Health, COVID Recovery

Call for Applications: Entrepreneurship for Public Health and COVID-19 Recovery in Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon UNITAR Division for Prosperity invites young entrepreneurs in Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon to apply to the Great Ideas Space 2022: Entrepreneurship for Public Health and COVID-19 Recovery in Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon. The programme aims to train entrepreneurs and MSMEs […]

UN: Iraqi MSMEs need Targeted Support

The United Nations set aside 27 June to annually celebrate the role that micro, small and medium enterprises play in the global economy, poverty reduction and the attainment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. This year, UN agencies in Iraq share a statement to recognize MSMEs at the heart of any resilient recovery from the […]

Partnership Supports Private Sector Development in Kurdistan

New partnership supports private sector development in Iraq's Kurdistan Region The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Planning (MoP) have today signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will boost the private sector by encouraging the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The MoU […]

1,000 SMEs Financed by IOM's Enterprise Development Fund

Sustainable Living in Iraq: A Milestone 1,000 SMEs Financed Through IOM's Enterprise Development Fund At the conclusion of Iraq's devastating conflict with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), small and medium enterprises (SMEs) found themselves without access to the finance necessary to rebuild in the wake of the war's large-scale destruction. In […]

Germany, IOM Supporting Economic Recovery in Iraq

Germany, IOM Reaffirm Partnership to Support Economic Recovery in Iraq Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which employ roughly half of Iraq's workers, were severely impacted by the conflict with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the resulting economic slowdown undermined the gradual progress SMEs had made toward […]

IFC, NBI boost access to Finance for SMEs, Create Jobs

IFC, National Bank of Iraq Partner to Boost Access to Finance for SMEs, Create Jobs To support the growth of smaller businesses in Iraq and help them create jobs and overcome challenges, including from COVID-19-related disruptions, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced an investment for the National Bank of Iraq (NBI). IFC's $10 million […]

Economic Recovery "Slow" for SMEs in Iraq

Economic recovery is slow for SMEs in Iraq during the second year of COVID-19 To measure the impact of COVID-19 on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Iraq, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Trade Center (ITC) conducted a panel study of 716 SMEs, covering June […]