With support from the government of Iraq, the International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), organized a two-day trade forum to help Iraqi businesses to identify and develop trade opportunities. The Forum was funded by the European Union (EU).According to a statement from ITC, more than 450 participants from the agriculture and agrifood sectors, business support organizations, international and regional suppliers, and investors, including over 200 Iraqi and international companies, donors and development partners attended the first day.The second INTF comes after the successful first edition held in 2022 that helped secure participating companies' potential deals worth $2.5 million through more than 170 business-to-business (B2B) sessions, bridging over 70 Iraqi companies with global suppliers and investors. 30% of participant companies that had participated in 2022, returned for the second year.The B2B event remained an integral part of the INTF to better connect Iraqi micro, small and medium-sized enterprises involved in farming, food processing, packaging and logistics with international and regional suppliers and investors.These interactions are key for expanding business networks, facilitating business deals, fostering sustainable investments and promoting innovation while sharing best practices from leading Iraqi agribusinesses.In addition to plenary sessions, high-level panels with practical workshops and B2B meetings, the 2024 edition of the Forum featured a trade exhibition called 'Iraqi Bazaar' that showcased hundreds of locally produced items in a pop-up store.The label 'By Iraqi Hands' to stimulate the food industry and encourage people to buy more local products and support sustainable development was launched at the INTF. Iraq's Potato Sector Development Strategy was also officially launched on the occasion.The ITC flagship report, SME Competitiveness Outlook 2023, was also launched globally on 19 February at the INTF. The report focuses on the impact of fragility on the competitiveness and growth of small businesses. (ICE AMMAN)

Fonte notizia: Stampa Locale