How ITC boosts top Iraqi farm and food entrepreneurs
Ten of Iraq’s most promising farm and food businesses competed for top honours at the Wifra Program run in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC).
Young entrepreneurs often have great ideas that they don’t know how to market. This intense incubator programme set them on a path to profitability.
Over 800 applied for the programme, and only 200 made it to the interview round. Of those, 25 were accepted to the incubator, and the top 10 made it to the product fair in Baghdad.
‘In just a few months, they managed to reshape their products in a very creative way, producing diverse new offerings,’ said Ali Taher, executive director of the Makers of Baghdad innovation hub.
The entrepreneurs displayed organic mushrooms, handmade desserts, natural skincare and other creative products.
‘These products offer solutions to problems faced by this sector in Iraq,’ said ITC expert Hanaa Alhasan. ‘The Iraqi market is a thirsty, niche market that truly needs these types of products. Creating a vibrant ecosystem for these projects is crucial so they can thrive, create jobs, contribute to Iraq’s economic growth, and achieve sustainable development.’
A panel of business development experts evaluated the businesses on their creativity, packaging, and market potential. The top-ranked product, Micro Harvest which produces organic micro-greens, won a $500 prize.
‘At the beginning, I had no background in project management, accounting or marketing,’ said Micro Havrest Hasan Falah Hasan. ‘The accounting knowledge especially helped, particularly for those without prior project experience.’
Makers of Baghdad ran the Wifra Program in partnership with the SAAVI Project at ITC, which supports small businesses working in food and agriculture.
The product fair let the entrepreneurs network with investors, private companies, and fellow entrepreneurs.
All 10 finalists will receive dedicated marketing campaigns, reinforcing their journey toward success. They’ve already benefited from personalized mentoring sessions in business development, accounting, and marketing to refine their operations and strategies.
