Erbil, December 8th,2022
Today, the Ministry of Planning of Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) lunched the results of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) survey for the private sector which was conducted by KRSO in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The survey provides dozens of indicators to direct policies and strategies with the aim of finding ways towards sustainable livelihoods, especially through the development of MSMEs and provide a wide picture of economic activities.
With financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the MSMES was conducted in all four governorates in Kurdistan Region: Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok and Halabja. The same survey was previously conducted in Baghdad, Basra and Nineveh governorates. The survey was designed in order to provide a comprehensive analysis of the structure, direction, business activity, challenges and opportunities of MSMEs in the labor market.
Some of the key results of the survey in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region highlight the low level of women's owned MSMES (13%), as well as difficulties in access to financing, networking and clustering.
Dr. Dara Rashid, the Minister of Planning of the Kurdistan Regional Government, emphasized the support for this project and express his gratitude to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for their collaboration in designing and implementing this project in a timely manner and their continues support for the work plan and implementing the recommendations that are recommended based on the results of the survey . The work plan of the 9th Cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government emphasized the strengthening of the private sector to diversify the economy in the Kurdistan Region, therefore, these kind of surveys could have effects on organizing plans to further serve the economic field.
Mr. Nick Hawkins, Advisor of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recalled the important role of micro, small and medium enterprises in building local economies. He said,“ MSMEs are the artery of any healthy economy. MSMES also provide opportunities for youth, women and vulnerable population in the labor market and can participate in economic growth for the country and achieving a long-term stability”. He also said, " We are happy to partner with our counterparts in Kurdistan Region Government and the private sector to implement important reform projects that will lead to the growth of MSME and increase their role in the economy of Iraqi.
The head of KRSO said: “Conducting the survey of economic enterprises in Kurdistan Region can be used as a starting point to understand the structure of these enterprises and planning for policies support by the ministries for a significant part of the economic sector.
“MSMES in Iraq face many difficulties at the time we seek to address the social and economic effects of COVID-19” stated the Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to Iraq. “this survey focuses on the importance of private sector in Iraq to create very needed and continues opportunities specially for the vulnerable gropes” he added. He said that this important work would not had been successful without the strong partnership of the Ministry of Planning and the assistance and generosity of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The survey is part of the assistance Program reforming of the United Nations Development program (UNDP) in Iraq aims to support sustainable economic reform with special attention to the poor in the country poor which is funded by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).