Iraq’s Prime Minister, Mohammed S. Al-Sudani, has announced plans to allocate land for the development of an industrial city dedicated to small businesses, particularly those supported under the Riyada Initiative (Iraqi Riyada Network for Access Development and Advancement, IRADA Network).
Speaking to a group of entrepreneurs benefiting from the Riyada Initiative, which launched nearly two years ago under his leadership, Al-Sudani highlighted the program’s success. To date, it has provided loans to approximately 9,000 beneficiaries who have completed training and now run productive ventures.
The Prime Minister commended the entrepreneurs as the future of Iraq, noting that the country has one of the youngest populations globally. He expressed gratitude to those managing the initiative, which has received over 425,000 applications from young Iraqis, reflecting widespread trust in the program.
Al-Sudani emphasized the importance of fostering small businesses alongside large-scale projects. He underlined the role of private-sector initiatives and self-employment in creating opportunities for job seekers, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting such efforts.
To enhance the initiative’s impact, the Prime Minister called for diversified training programs that include vocational, industrial, and digital skills, keeping pace with advancements in artificial intelligence. He also recommended integrating business culture, legal frameworks, and regulations into the training curricula, envisioning Riyada participants as future leaders in business and industry.
The planned industrial city will cater specifically to small businesses under the Riyada program. Al-Sudani also instructed the expansion of loan coverage to address remaining applications and include underserved groups, particularly rural women.
