By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Planning has held a meeting with representatives of the World Bank to discuss cooperation on supporting entrepreneurship, empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and creating a more efficient and attractive business environment for investment. According to a statement from the Ministry, Sunday's meeting discussed a proposed programme aimed at […]
By John Lee. Al Qaf Company has won a contract with the International Labour Organization (ILO) for: "Enhancing the Business Capacity of MSMEs through Non-Financial Services under the ILO PROSPECTS Project - Ninewa Phase II." Ref: rfx_4705_HQ. The contract value was not disclosed. According to ILO: "The International Labour Organization (ILO) is seeking qualified Business […]
By John Lee. According to a statement from the Ministry of Trade, the Private Sector Development Department will develop specialised training programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and strengthen private sector participation, in line with a resolution of the Industrial Coordination Council. The meeting brought together representatives from: Ministry of Industry Ministry of Planning […]
By John Lee. State-owned Rafidain Bank has launched the 59th round of its "Leadership and Excellence" initiative to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). According to the bank, the new round allocates a total of IQD 1 billion (approximately $763,000) to 93 beneficiaries. The programme forms part of the entrepreneurship financing initiative supported by the Central […]
By John Lee. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched its SME finance and development programmes in Iraq, including the rollout of its flagship Star Venture initiative for high-potential startups. An official event in Baghdad marked the launch, outlining the Bank's strategic priorities and planned projects to strengthen the country's small and medium-sized […]
By John Lee. State-owned Rafidain Bank has announced the launch of the 50th tranche of its Riyada wa Tamayuz (Entrepreneurship and Excellence) initiative to support small and medium-sized enterprises. The tranche totals IQD 1 billion (approximately USD 0.77 million) and will benefit 82 recipients. According to a statement from the bank's media office, the funding is […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani announced on Wednesday the launch of the Basmat (Fingerprint) Initiative, which provides soft loans for women to establish small and medium-sized projects, in cooperation with several national banks. Al-Sudani praised the efforts of all those who contributed to this national initiative, which aims to enhance women's participation […]
By John Lee. The World Bank projects Iraq's economy will shrink by 0.9 percent in 2025, marking a downgrade of 2.3 percentage points from the April forecast. The contraction is mainly attributed to reductions in oil output as Iraq adjusts production to align with OPEC+ commitments. However, economic growth is expected to rebound strongly to […]
By John Lee. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched the Credit Guarantee Fund to empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Iraq. The scheme is a partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), with funding from the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the German Development Bank (Kreditanstalt […]
By John Lee. Iraq's state-owned Rafidain Bank has announced the release of the tenth tranche of its "Entrepreneurship and Excellence" initiative, financing 80 projects with 1 billion Iraqi dinars each. This brings the total number of projects funded since the programme's launch to 1,735, with cumulative financing of 22.94 billion dinars. The initiative, launched under […]
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. 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 […]
