From the International Labour Organization (ILO):
Iraq launches business registration guide to promote formalization and decent work
The guide is a practical resource for entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), offering a clear, step-by-step process to register their businesses.
Iraq’s Ministry of Trade, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and with funding from the government of Italy, launched the Business Registration Guide. The event took place at the Ministry of Trade’s Directorate for Private Sector Development.
The guide is a practical resource for entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), offering a clear, step-by-step process to register their businesses. It simplifies procedures and encourages formalization, enabling more enterprises to access legal protections, financing and public services, while contributing to the creation of decent work through social security coverage, wage protection and greater enterprise sustainability.
With approximately 84 per cent of MSMEs in Iraq operating informally, many business owners face barriers to growth and workers are excluded from essential protections such as social security, health insurance and wage protection. The guide addresses these challenges by providing the information needed to navigate the registration process efficiently, helping to integrate more businesses into the formal economy and strengthen the role of the private sector in Iraq’s recovery and growth.
Malik Al-Duraie, Director General of the Directorate for Private Sector Development at the Ministry of Trade, stated:
“Micro, small and medium enterprises are the backbone of our national economy. The Business Registration Guide was developed as a practical and simplified reference to help entrepreneurs enter the formal economy with confidence and ease. What makes this achievement unique is that it is the result of a genuine partnership between the Government of Iraq, the International Labour Organization, and our national institutions, a collective vision that strengthens the business environment and supports sustainable economic growth.”
Maha Kattaa, ILO Country Coordinator for Iraq, emphasized:
“Formalization is more than a legal requirement, it is a gateway to decent work. Through this guide, we are helping business owners, especially youth and women, to grow sustainably, protect their workers, and access the opportunities that come with being part of the formal economy.”
Rosamaria Genovese, First Secretary and Head of the Commercial and Cooperation Office at the Italian Embassy in Iraq, underlined Italy’s commitment:
“This guide is more than a technical resource, it is a symbol of opportunity. Overall, by facilitating more formal enterprises, it strengthens the foundation for decent work, social inclusion, and long-term resilience. Italy is proud to stand with Iraq and the ILO in promoting sustainable growth and empowering entrepreneurs to contribute to the country’s future prosperity.”
In addition to launching the guide, the event featured the presentation of a recommendation paper developed jointly by the Ministry of Trade, the ILO and national stakeholders. The paper outlines concrete policy and procedural measures to further simplify business registration, reduce administrative burdens, and create a more enabling environment for entrepreneurs. Recommendations include streamlining documentation requirements, expanding the use of digital registration platforms, improving inter-agency coordination, and launching nationwide awareness campaigns to encourage businesses in all sectors to formalize.
The event concluded with the official signing and adoption of the Business Registration Guide as a national reference tool for entrepreneurs and MSMEs. A recognition ceremony followed, acknowledging the contributions of the technical team whose expertise and dedication were instrumental in developing the guide from concept to publication.
This initiative was implemented under the ILO project “Towards More and Better Employment through Enhanced Support to Private Sectors in Southern Iraq – with a Focus on Green Business”, funded by Italy through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
Click here to read the full guide [Arabic].
Access the interactive site here [Arabic, Kurdish, English]
To browse our comprehensive library of reports on Iraq, click here.
