Economic Growth and Trade

Farmers receiving training on how to prevent pests

Broad economic growth driven by a strong private sector is vital to alleviating poverty and promoting stability in Iraq. USAID's economic growth programs facilitate public-sector reform and private-sector growth, provide better access to financial services, develop private businesses and create an enabling environment that fosters private-sector development.

USAID's Provincial Economic Growth Program supports 10 Iraqi-owned microfinance institutions (MFIs) and three international MFIs. In addition to loan capital, the program provides training, technical assistance and other capacity building assistance.

In addition, USAID has helped establish the Iraqi Company for Bank Guarantees and the Iraqi Company for Finance for small- and medium-sized enterprises. This approach has helped develop profitable lending portfolios in private banks nationwide.

In addition to trade assistance, USAID has also assisted the government in building the capacity of the National Investment Commission. This has included helping the commission develop by-laws, implement regulations for the investment law and develop a one-stop-shop to promote international investment in Iraq.  

Our Financial Development Project is designed to assist Iraqi counterparts to develop a comprehensive financial sector infrastructure that will help ensure its long-term growth. The project works with the private financial sector to bring it up to international standards. The project works with other private-sector stakeholders and organizations to improve their abilities to advocate for reforms, while assisting Iraqi Government counterparts, such as the Central Bank of Iraq, to implement focused reforms and capacity building that support expansion of financial intermediation. 

USAID's "Inma" agribusiness project provides assistance to farmers in the Hillah province.

Louis Berger

USAID's Agribusiness Program assists private Iraqi agribusiness in improving their productivity by working with the entire chain of production, processing and marketing. Throughout this chain, USAID introduces farmers to the latest technologies in agribusiness including soil and water management.

USAID supports two of the most profitable agriculture value chains in Iraq: livestock and horticulture. Through technical assistance with business development training, the program's goal is to increase productivity, lower production and marketing costs, increase the profitability of agricultural enterprises and generate rural employment. In collaboration with the private sector, USAID is creating more jobs and increasing gross sales in agriculture.