Since 2008, the Tijara Provincial Economic Growth Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has worked to encourage private sector development in Iraq by funding microfinance institutions (MFIs), encouraging the implementation of investment law and working to kelp Iraq join the World Trade Organization.In many provinces, Tijara provides trainings for MFI staff on financial product development, marketing and the English language. As of October 31, 2009, Tijara’s eleven partners held 55,446 outstanding group and individual loans worth the equivalent of USD 81,576,700.

Sources and resources:

The Kurdish Globe article:
http://www.kurdishglobe.net/displayArticle.jsp?id=2614FC27F051985BC053A987D24C3FE8

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
http://www.usaid.gov/

Tijara Program:
http://www.tijara-iraq.com/