TIJARA

Provincial Economic Growth Program

Advancing Private Sector Development in Iraq

January, 2010
 Business Development Services
Goals:

• Strengthen the 15 Small Business Development Centers currently enrolled under USAID-Tijara’s SBDC
network.

• To provide technical assistance for the establishment of two new SBDCs in new locations (Baghdad,
and Mosul) and continue to respond to (e)PRTs exploration of SBDC potential in their localities.

• Build capacity of the SBDC management and stimulate outreach effectiveness of SBDCs in their offering
of trainings, business related services in key areas of economic activity, consulting, conferences etc. to
their communities.

• Develop technical sustainability of the SBDCs through a continuous engagement program.

• Assist the SBDCs in developing demand driven products and services to address the business
community needs as a result of the business constraints and opportunities identified through the market
assessments which are currently being carried out by USAID-Tijara. Additionally, encouraging SBDCs to
organize trade/job fairs, exhibitions, conferences, access to market initiatives, business linkages, and
establish business directories for the SMEs in their areas.

• Encourage the SBDCs to build strategic alliances with the local government, GoI ministries and
international agencies to diversify their funding sources.
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 Business Development Services
SBDC Development Program

 Engagement Plan  Economic Surveys

 SBDC Strategic Vision &  Value Chain Analysis
Community Positioning  Sector Evaluation
 Operational & Financial  Marketing
Sustainability  Consulting
 SBDC Organizational Structure  Counseling Services
 Enhance SBDC Procedures
 Trade and Job Fairs
and Reporting Institutional Product  Exhibitions
 Performance Related Grant
Program
Capacity Development  Conferences
 Building Strategic Alliances Building  MFI 2nd & 3rd Generation
Training

Impact Assessment
Community
Engagement

 Micro - Finance Institutions  (e)PRTs

 Banks - SME Lending
 Tijara conducts Beneficiary
Impact Assessments
 GOI Institutions
 Ministries
 Chambers of Commerce
 International agencies
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Small Business Development Centers

SBDC
Headquarters and Branch Office
Erbil
Mosul Alton Kubri
Fully operational Center
Kirkuk
Haweeja
Beiji Taza Requested by PRTs,
currently under
assessment
Tikrit
Samarra
Diyala
Ramadi
Falluja
Baghdad Numaniyah
Iskandariyah
Karbala Hilla Kut

Najaf
Samawa
Nassiriya

Basrah

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 9 Kut, IBU-K
5 Erbil, WEO
3 Basrah, BIC

8 Kirkuk, AMC

10 Najaf, COCN
1 Babel, BCED

4 Diyala, DEDC

13 Ramadi, RBC
6 Falluja, NEDO
SBDC

7 Karbala, KBDC
2 Baghdad, IASD

11 Nasiriyah, NCOC

15 Samawa, S-COC
14 Salahuddin, SEDO
12 Numaniyah, AIDED

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 Stages of Maturity - Road to Sustainability
Centers
Centers Centers
Stage 4
Basrah (BIC) Center of Excellence
Falluja (NEDO) Nassiriya (NCOC)
Najaf (COCN)
Kut (IBU-K) Tikrit (SEDO)
Erbil (WEO) • Business plan fully reflects economic
Ramadi (RBC) Numaniyah (AIDED) needs
Karbala (KBDC) Baghdad (IASD) • Outreach and media plan explicitly
Samawa (S-COC) Hillah (BCED) Stage 3 outlined
• Number of training topics delivered: 8+
Diyala (DEDC) Kirkuk (AMC) Intermediate • Number of business related services
for the community: 5+
• Business plan updated regularly • Number of fee-based services: 3+
• Number of training topics delivered: 5+ • Expanding revenue stream; able to
Stage 2 • Number of fee-based services: 2+ source revenue from GOI, donors,
Learning-level • Number of business related services: other than USG
5+ • Operational/financial sustainability:
Stage 1 •Comprehensive business plan, • Diversified revenue stream over 80%
Start Up including model for sustainability, • Financial, budgeting and reporting • Clear and strong management, leader-
systems in place ship and governing structure
marketing and product/service plan
• Vision & Mission • Staff trained in M&E processes • Fully independent from the Tijara
•Policies & Procedures: • Program, operational and financial program
• Business plan developed,
• Number of training courses: at least 2 > Board of Directors systems monitored well
per month > Human Resources • Local business directory developed
• Number of training topics delivered: 1-2 > Organizational Chart • Strategic alliance with GOI, NGOs,
• Number of business related services: > Accounting partner institutions are structured
at least 1-3 •Economic business survey completed • Clear and strong management,
• Operational manual developed •Number of training topics delivered: 3-4 leadership and governing structure
• Operational sustainability: solely reliant •Number of business related services:3+ • Operational/financial sustainability:
on USG funds 40%+ non USG funds
•Adequate staff & trainers
• Little exposure and experience in
•Clear management structure
business development services
23
 Collaboration Efforts Between Tijara & USAID / PRT Representatives

 Instilling a Unified Message to SBDCs:

• Institutional capacity building is key- A defined engagement program drawn with each SBDCs
critical to measure progress.
• Instilling the same ethos and vision within SBDCs- one that is based on bottom line results,
accountability, and quality of delivery to achieve desired impact.

 Partnering with USAID-Tijara:

In the roll out of market assessments aimed at better understanding local business needs and
planning programmed interventions.

 Recognizing Resource Contacts:

• Tijara has limited resources. Total number of SBDCs under USAID-Tijara’s technical supervision
to grow to 17 SBDCs as identified in the workplan.
• A performance/milestone based grant program is under implementation, and close coordination
by PRTs with USAID-Tijara on supported SBDCs is essential.
• USAID-Tijara encourages the PRTs to use QRF/CERP funds to contribute towards the
milestone-based program established with SBDCs.

Full collaboration between the (e)PRTs, DAI, CERP and Tijara is key to the success of assisting the
SBDCs becoming viable institutions that provide valued services to their business communities.
 Nasiriyah Chamber of Commerce, N-COC

Summary Planned Activities

The Nasiriyah Small Business Development Center • Agribusiness Course.
(NSBC) was established in April 2008 by support from • Business directory for SMEs in Dhi Qar.
the Nasiriyah Chamber of Commerce. The focus of
the Nasiriyah SBDC is on economic development in
the region by providing businesses and
entrepreneurs' business management training
including how to apply for a loans from financial
institutions and other services such as English and
computer courses to the local community.

Activities Contact Information

• How to Improve a Business- 119 – female Director: Eng. Thijeel Kareem
45% E-mail: thijeelkareem@yahoo.com
• How to Start or Improve a Business-38 – Telephone: 07801706506
female 38%
•Proposal writing -5- 16%
 Sahara Economic Development Organization, SEDO

Summary
Planned Activities
Sahara Economic Development Center
• Advanced managerial training topics for
(SEDO) was established in April 2008. Our
SMEs.
organization focuses on developing the
• Internet Café.
economic sector through providing business
• Establish a business directory for the
management trainings and other services,
Salahuddin Province.
such as English and computer classes, to the
• Conduct market surveys and economic
local community, entrepreneurs and potential
studies.
investors which will enable them to efficiently
• Exhibitions, trade fairs and job fairs.
contribute to the growth of the city and
• To be certified in delivering ICDL trainings.
surrounding area.

Activities Contact Information

• How to start up a business-14 – females 18% Director: Wisam Neema
• How to start or Improve a business-11- females Telephone: 07703 771 543
21% E-mail: sedo@sbdc-iraq.com
• Business Skills for SMEs- 15 –females 4.5% Branch number 3
• Accounting and auditing counseling services Located: Beiji, Samarra and Tikrit
• Computer basics-4- females 17%
Nahr Al-Ataa’ for Economic Development Organization, NEDO

Summary Planned Activities

NEDO was formed under the USAID- • Contracting courses
funded Izdihar program in march 2008. • Establish a business directory
NEDO is totally reliant on Tijara for • Secretarial services for SMEs
financial assistance and training. • Fee-based courses
NEDO is very keen to expand their
current operations, and is constantly
seeking alternative funding sources.

Activities Contact Information

• Training courses offered in (How to Director: Mahdi Ahmed Saleh
Start and Improve a Business) E-mail: fallujah_sbdc@yahoo.com
attended by 120 participants, 36% Mobile: 07901602720
are female
• Counseling services to NEDO’s
MSME clients
 Iraqi Businessmen Union- Wassit, IBU-K

Summary Planned Activities

• Feasibility Studies
The Al-Kut SBDC is focused on providing
• English Language courses
training courses and services to business owners
• Agribusiness Courses
and the local community which will give all
• Conferences
participants the tools needed to manage
• Job fairs and also launching data
successful businesses and give individuals the
base
opportunity to add additional skills to their
personal backgrounds.

Activities Contact Information

Director: Abdul Elah Nirman
• How To Start a Business 6-11% females
Telephone: 07808225522
• How to Start or Improve a Business 5
07809798889
• Computer Basics 3- 13% females
07705887555
E-mail: wsbdc09@yahoo.com
 Women Empowerment Organization, WEO
Summary Planned Activities
Women Empowerment Organization is a non- • Advanced managerial training
governmental, voluntary and independent courses for SMEs.
organization, established in June 2004. The • Exhibitions, trade fairs, workshops.
organization is most active in and around Erbil, Iraq, • English courses.
the capital of the Kurdistan Region with offices in • Community services and health
Ankawa. WEO increases the social, political, projects and awareness.
economic and cultural participation of women in all
aspects of society.

Activities Contact Information

• Agribusiness training courses 27- 28% females
Director: Suzan Aref
• Awareness campaigns.
Telephone: 0750 446 8658
• Different capacity building trainings 10-12%
0770 650 4922
females.
Email: suzan_aref@yahoo.com
• Three conferences.
• How to start or Improve a Business 7-43%
females
• Proposal writings.
• others
 Babylon Center for Economic Development, BCED

Summary Planned Activities

BECD was opened in Nov 2006 and is focused
on providing training in Business Start Up and
Improvement Courses. The Center opened a
branch office in Iskandariyah in Nov 2008, which
offers the same services as the main centre in
Hilla but with special emphasis on Agri Business
Training and Development.
• Feasibility study services
• Contracting course deployment
• Trade fairs, specialized managerial
trainings for SMEs
• Business sector specific services in
fishing and tourism
• Internet café

Activities Contact Information

• Association Management Development 12- 9%
females. Director of Hilla: Dr.Asmaa AL-Hashmi
• Business skills for SMEs 39- 13% females. Director of Iskandiriya: Qaiser Abdul Abass
• How to Improve a Business 22- 22% females E-mail: hilla@bced-iq.org
• How to Start up a business 17-23% females Telephone: 07702 744 085
• And others. 07801 128 021
Located: Hilla and Iskandiriya
 Ramadi Business Center, RBC

Summary Planned Activities

The Ramadi Business Center located in the center of
Al-Anbar province was established by the USAID-Tijara
program in October 2008. The Ramadi SBDC provides
technical assistance to the business community in the
Anbar province through providing managerial trainings,
business related services and consultancies as well as
skill development courses such as English and
computer basics to the local community.
• Economic studies and market surveys
• Business counseling services
• Advanced managerial training courses
for SMEs
• Establish a business directory

Activities Contact Information

• Business planning for SMEs 3- Director: Zaid Khalaf Hardan
• Business Skills for SMEs 9-35% females Mobile: 07901320459
• The “Ramadi Job Fair” in 2008 and 2009 07902649896
• Computer training courses 2 Email: rbcngo@yahoo.com
• How to Start up a Business 31- 36% females
• Sewing courses 2
 Al- Murshed Center- Kirkuk, AMC

Summary Planned Activities

Al Murshed Center for Economic Development (AMC) is
Kirkuk's Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
which was established in December 2006, registered
under the Non-Government Organization Assistance
Office and the Secretariat Council of Ministries. AMC
was created with the technical support and financial
assistance of the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) funded Izdihar program with the
focus on providing the local community business training
courses and other services such as English and
computer classes to stimulate economic growth.
• Economic studies and market surveys.
• Hosting prominent experts and academics to
conduct specialized seminars.
• Advanced managerial training courses for SMEs.
• Organize conferences and workshops.
• TOFEL courses.
• Trainer of Trainers (TOTs).

Activities Contact Information

• Agribusiness Training courses 91 Director: Dalia Jaseem
• How to Start up A Business 129- 33% E-mail: info@almurshed.org
• Computer courses in Microsoft windows Auto cad, www.almurshed.org
and website design Telephone: 07705899414
 Iraqi Association of Securities Dealers, IASD

Summary Planned Activities

The Iraqi Association of Securities Dealers (IASD)
was established in June 2004 and has become a
platform for information, advocacy, services and
development. IASD intends to reach out to other
areas of development such as introducing specialized
Expos, holding conferences for economic
development, employment generation and capacity
building
• Business planning services.
• Exhibitions, job fairs, and trade fairs for SMEs.
• Business counseling services.
• Specialized training for securities dealers.
• Advanced managerial training courses.
• Internet Café .
• Secretarial services for SMEs.
• PC training using ICDL curricula.

Activities Contact Information

• How to Start a Business 6- 13% females Acting Director: Safaa Jawad
• How to Start or Improve a Business 23- 28% E-mail: s_iasd_training@yahoo.com
• AG cooperative trainings iasd_84@yahoo.com
• Computer training courses. Telephone: 07904 302 828
• Specialized trainings for securities dealers 07904302825
• IASD monthly newsletter
 Assembly of Al-Inbithaq for Economic Development, AIDED

Summary Planned Activities

The Assembly of Al-Inbithaq for Development and • Feasibility studies
Economic Development (AIDED) was established in • Engineering courses
October 2008. AIDED was established as a brand new • Contracting courses
Non-Government Organization (NGO) in Numaniyah • Consultancy services
city with the intent of becoming a Small Business • Internet Café
Development Center (SBDC). AIDED provides • Event organizing, agribusiness
rigorous training to offer the best courses and services courses
that will increase the skill sets of the people and • Exhibitions and job fairs
businesses in the community as well as offer business • Conference hall rental
tools that will foster economic growth.

Activities Contact Information

• How to Start or Improve a Business 10- 31% females Director: Maher Mahmood
• How to Start up a Business 14- 14% females Email: alinbithaqsbdc@yahoo.com
• English language Mobile: 07808 780 886
• Fee based Computer basics 9- 16% females 07706 976 161
 Najaf Small Business Development Center, COCN

Summary Planned Activities

The Najaf SBDC was established in Jan 2009
under Civil Society Law with Iraqi Chambers of
Commerce Union. The SBDC will focus on serving
the needs of the business community in general,
the fishing industry and the tourism industry in
particular with Business Development, Languages,
Computer Skills and Hospitality Management
courses.
• Hotel service quality improvement
• Basic French language
• Basic Farsi language
• Sheep & grain farming improvement programs
• Vegetable farming improvement
• Specific Training tailored to meet local business
requirements - Skill Upgrading, Product Improvement,
Market Development and Value Added Improvement
Programs.

Activities Contact Information

• How to Start up a Business 23- 30% females Director: Hassanein Muhiaddin
Telephone: 07812565550
• How to Improve a Business 5 07708762226
• Tourism Conference Email: hmj20042005@yahoo.com
director@najafsbdc.com
• Agricultural Conference
• Fee based computer training courses.
• Media training course.
 Basra Business Information Center , BIC

Summary Planned Activities

The Basra Business Information Center (BIC) was • Specialized training for securities dealers.
established in 2004 as an independent nonprofit, • Advanced managerial training courses.
• Internet Café.
nongovernmental organization (NGO) focused on
business & economic development by the British PRT.
In recognition of BIC's accomplishments and high
standard services, it had joined the SBDC network in
June 2009.

Activities Contact Information

• "How to Start up a Business" training course Director: Qais Al Maliki
• Business planning services 24- 12% females Telephone: 07808883433
Email: bic_iraq@yahoo.com
• Exhibitions job fairs, and trade fairs for SMEs. manager@bicenter.net
• Business counseling services. www.bicenter.net
• 2010 edition of Basrah business directory.
 Karbala Business Development Center , KBDC
Summary Planned Activities
Karbala Business Development Center was • Business planning services.
established in October 2009 as an independent • Exhibitions, job fairs, and trade
nonprofit, nongovernmental organization (NGO) fairs for SME's.
focused on business & economic development. • Business counseling services.
KBDC is located in Karbala which is located in the • Economic Development &
southwest of Baghdad. Focused on being a pioneer Business Conferences.
and innovator for business development in the • Small and Medium Business
Karbala region. The Karbala Business Center has the Development Training.
expertise to provide creditable business information • Basic English language training.
for investors and decision makers. • 2010 Karbala business directory.
• Specialized consultancy .

Activities Contact Information

• "How to Start up a Business" training course 8- Director: Mustafa Muhammad
18% females Telephone: 07813444936
07801020740
Email: karbalaa.kbdc16@gmail.com
Samawa Small Business Development Centre, S-COC
Summary Planned Activities
The Samawa Small Business Development Center • How to Start Up a Business
was established in October 2009, located in the training course.
Chamber of Commerce. The SBDC's main • How to Improve a Business
objectives are to provide services to the local training course.
ministerial department, traders and other • Business skills for small
spectrums of community including training courses businesses.
to entrepreneurs to improve their businesses • English courses.
acumen, computer courses and foreign languages. • Consulting services.
Samawa SBDC is focused on developing the skills
of community to adopt modernized methods in
managing their business.

Activities Contact Information

• "How to Start up a Business" training course 5 Director: Emad Ribat
Telephone: 07800058314
• Computer Training Courses 3 Email: emadrabat@yahoo.com
samawa_sbdc@yahoo.com
 For more information on the activities of our
teams please contact:
Business Development Services bds@tijara-iraq.com

Investment Promotion investment@tijara-iraq.com

International Trade and WTO Accession wto@tijara-iraq.com

Sustainable Microfinance microfinance@tijara-iraq.com

SME Bank Lending banking@tijara-iraq.com

Tijara Regional Office, Erbil erbil@tijara-iraq.com

Thank you!