Iraq
We are the First Spark: The Quest of Women Peacebuilders in Iraq for a More Peaceful and Equal Society
Incubating the future of business in Iraq
Since 2011 more than 5.6 million people have fled Syria arriving in Iraq Jordan Lebanon and Turkey. Many Syrian refugees are highly skilled highly educated and technologically savvy. In fact a UN survey conducted in 2015 in Greece showed that 86% of Syrian refugees had secondary or university degrees. Despite these skills countries across the Middle East have either denied refugees the right to work or curtailed it by only allowing them employment in certain labour-intensive sectors. However Iraq unlike many of its neighbours has allowed Syrian refugees freedom of movement and the right to work since the onset of the conflict.
Iraq Rapid eTrade Readiness Assessment
Iraq’s economy is at a turning point. For decades it has relied on crude oil production and export to drive the economy. In many ways this was a success story with oil revenue contributing to healthy GDP growth and funding a wide range of government services. With the relatively improved security environment and a shift towards post-conflict reconstruction Iraq is now well-positioned to diversify its economy and take advantage of new digital technologies. The economy is gradually improving with 4.4 percent GDP growth in the first half of 2019. This growth was driven by a rise in crude oil production but also a rebound in non-oil economic activity. The Iraqi economy also received a boost of confidence in 2019 with the signing of several trade agreements with its neighbors including Iran and Saudi Arabia. Looking towards the future there is a stark need to diversify the Iraqi economy. Oil accounts for more than 90 percent of government revenue and in 2018 crude oil constituted 98 percent of exports. Increasing non-oil economic activity would diversify the Iraqi economy increase employment opportunities and create new value chains. Increasing regional and international trade will be key. Iraq also has a very young population with nearly 60 percent of the population under 24 years old. The oil sector employs just one percent of the population however and the public sector can no longer afford to absorb the thousands of graduates the country produces. In this context the role which e-commerce can play is promising. There is deep appreciation of the importance of e-commerce among the people of Iraq and a few promising startups. However very few practical steps have been taken to create an enabling environment for e-commerce to thrive and no national plans have been established to move Iraq towards a digital future.
No. 51594. Iraq and Kuwait
Agreement between the Government of the State of Kuwait and [the] Government of the Republic of Iraq on the regulation of maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah. Baghdad 29 April 2012
No. 50957. Kuwait and Iraq
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait concerning practical arrangements for the maintenance of the physical representation of the boundary. Kuwait City 28 May 2013
No. 51488. United States of America and Iraq
Agreement on diplomatic and consular property between the United States Government and the Iraqi Interim Government. Baghdad 31 October 2004