IRAQ
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Last updated: February 28, 2008
The leading business opportunities in Iraq today are in public tenders being proffered by the Iraqi Government Ministries and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). The U.S. Military and international organizations are also tendering for a wide array of goods and services in Iraq, although these opportunities are diminishing over time. Lucrative private investment opportunities and joint ventures with Iraqi government entities may exist for some market-savvy firms with regional experience. For companies interested in a long-term foothold in the Iraqi market, but with a lower risk tolerance, Iraqi Kurdistan is an increasingly popular gateway.
For additional information, please also refer to the Business Guide for Iraq and the Doing Business in Iraq Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or contact us toll-free at 1-866-352-IRAQ (4727) or at IraqInfo@mail.doc.gov.
IRAQI GOVERNMENT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
PRIVATE SECTOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
U.S. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENTS AND CONTRACTS
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION PROCUREMENTS
IRAQI GOVERNMENT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Becoming Eligible to Bid on Iraqi Tenders
Companies interested in bidding on any Iraqi Government tenders must be a registered entity in Iraq. To do so, requires registering with Iraq’s Ministry of Trade. Follow the steps in our flyer on Registering a Foreign Business in Iraq, which include visiting the Iraqi Ministry of Trade Business Registration Site: www.br-iraq.com. Ultimately, a company representative or agent must present certain documents in person at one of the Ministry's offices in Baghdad, Erbil, or Sulaymaniyah. If you are not an Iraqi company you may hire a local firm to do this registration for you. Many foreign companies prefer to obtain a local partner. Click here for more information on finding a local partner.
Searching For Iraqi Government Tenders
Many, and perhaps a majority, of the various Iraqi Government ministries advertise their tender procurements online. Unfortunately, these tender postings have not been centralized into a single database, and must be searched for separately through the individual websites of the line ministries and state-owned enterprises. Our office's Useful Links page has the most comprehensive list of these websites available and an additional link entitled "tender active" has been provided for those Iraqi Ministries and Iraqi state-owned enterprises that are both actively issuing tenders and posting the details of such tenders on their websites. Selecting the "tender active" link will direct you to the section of the corresponding site where tender details are posted. Finally, your company can register to receive occasional information regarding tender and other business opportunities directly via e-mail. Please note, that due to inordinate amount of tender offerings, and limited staff capacity, our office is currently unable to disseminate all such tender opportunities in Iraq directly.
CPA Profiles of 45 State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs)
Ministry of Industry and Minerals SOE Descriptions:
Textiles Sector
Construction Materials Sector
Engineering Industries Sector
Food & Drugs Sector
Industrial Services Sector
Chemical & Petrochemical Sector
Public/Private Joint Venture Investment Opportunities in Iraq
Proposal Deadline: July 23, 2007 (although some opportunities may still be available)
Iraq’s Ministry of Industry and Minerals (MIM) is seeking strong international investors to enter into joint venture production-sharing partnerships with its state-owned plants in several industries, including cement, glass and ceramics, paper, petrochemical, iron and steel, sanitary ware, and automotive. Interested investors should go to MIM's Web site and contact MIM's Investment Department to obtain the full investment file and register their interest. For detailed information please view the expanded profiles below. For more information about these investment opportunities, interested parties may contact the Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force at IraqInfo@mail.doc.gov or 1-866-352-IRAQ (4727).
Al Qa'im Cement Plant, Al-Anbar
Karbala Cement Plant, Karbala
Kirkuk Cement Plant, Kirkuk
Muthanna Cement Plant, Muthanna
Sinjar Cement Plant, Ninevah
Iskandariyah Truck, Bus, and Semi-Trailer Factory, Babil
State Co. for Iron & Steel, Basra
Petrochemical Complex No. 1, Basra
Missan Paper Plant, Missan
Fertilizer Plant, Abu Al-khasib
Related Information
Iraqi Government Quick Start Contracting Guide (English/Arabic)
This guide, prepared by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning Procurement Assistance Center, is designed to assist Iraqi Government procurement officers to improve implementation of Iraqi Government contracting. To that end, it is an invaluable resource to companies seeking Iraqi Government contracts to more fully understand the procedures of Iraqi Government procurements and tenders.
Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) facilitates the import and export of goods and services to and from Iraq, including issuing letters of credit that provide assurance Iraqi Ministries and State-Owned Enterprises will settle their contractual obligations via standard international payment mechanisms. TBI is backed by a consortium of major international banks, led by JP Morgan. For more information on TBI's structure, services and contact information, please see the attached fact sheet (PDF only)
Authentication/Certification of Documents (see right panel on page 2 in document)
Fraud Warning (PDF only)
PRIVATE SECTOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
For most American and European companies, the preferred market entry strategy for Iraq, is to partner with a private local firm to represent your business and search for the best procurement and market opportunities. This is not unlike the strategy employed by most companies in any country where they may be unfamiliar with the local market. It is particularly useful in Iraq because of the security conditions, frequent requirement for physical delivery/pickup of bid/tender documents, and that most government business is done in Arabic.
The Commerce Department's U.S. Foreign Commercial Service in Iraq has offices in Baghdad, Erbil, and Amman, Jordan which can help many U.S. companies find local partners for their business in Iraq. For further information, please visit their website at www.buyusa.gov/iraq.
Kurdistan Region: Invest in the Future (PDF), February 11, 2008
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Middle East and Africa Affairs department, in cooperation with Newsdesk Media, Inc. and the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, launched an important new publication: “The Kurdistan Region: Invest in the Future.” This groundbreaking publication provides potential investors and businesspersons with detailed information on the Kurdistan Region and its potential as a business and investment hub. Included in this publication is a special article by David Bohigian, Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce entitled “Investing in Stability.”
U.S. Commercial Service Market Research
Baghdad Business Center posts certain tender opportunities, provides a matchmaking service for connecting Iraqi firms with foreign companies, and offers vetting services of Iraqi companies.
Kirkuk Business Center also offers vetting services of Iraqi companies and publishes highly informative newsletters.
Nineveh (Mosul) Business Center
CPA Private Sector Development: Historical information organized by the old Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in 2003-04, including previously identified contacts for Iraqi lawyers, accountants, real estate services, and other information.
Iraqi Business Council—Abu Dhabi
U.S. Commercial Success Stories in Iraq
U.S. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENTS AND CONTRACTS
Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps.Gov) By law, U.S. government procurement opportunities over a minimum dollar threshold must be centralized on this website. Although these include procurement opportunities in Iraq, other Iraq-specific sites also exist with duplicating information.
Joint Contracting Command-Iraq (JCCI) administers the vast majority of U.S. military contracting in Iraq. Iraqi companies are required to register with the JCCI via their “Common Contingency Contract System (CCCS)”. CCCS provides its services in both English and Arabic.
Central Contractor Registration (CCR) Database is where U.S. companies seeking U.S. Government prime contracts are required to register prior to award of any federal contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchase agreement on or after October 01, 2003. Please also refer to the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) Handbook (900KB PDF only) for more information.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Iraq has numerous projects to expand economic opportunity, agricultural productivity, and improve the efficiency and accountability of government. The USAID Iraq Web site includes information about contract solicitations and awards. USAID press releases and Weekly Reports contain valuable insight on potential business opportunities.
Guide to DoD Contracting Opportunities
By the DoD Office of Small Business Programs
Contingency Contracting and Contractor on the Battlefield Policy, Guidance, Doctrine, and Other Relevant Information
Background information on contracting with the U.S. military in a battlefield.
Guide to Determining Business Size (120KB PDF only)
The Pentagon Renovation Program's "Guideline to Small Business Size Determination and Category Definitions" helps U.S. companies understand how to qualify as a small business. Many of the Iraq reconstruction contracts being let under the $18.4 billion emergency supplemental funding require 10% HUBZone subcontractor participation.
Reconstruction Levy Exemption Form (PDF only)
Use this form to claim exemption from the 5% reconstruction levy, as outlined in CPA Order No. 38 and amended by Section 3, paragraph 16, of CPA Order No. 100.
Defense Base Act (DBA) Insurance Coverage
The U.S. Department of Commerce offers a guide to Defense Base Act insurance coverage, a requirement on all U.S. government contractors and subcontractors working outside the United States to cover civilian employees, including U.S. citizens, as well as third-country and local nationals.
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
Contracts Awarded 2003 (PDF)
Contracts Awarded 2004 (PDF)
Chart of DOD Prime Contractors (130KB PDF only)
Small Business Development Representatives (PDF only)
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION PROCUREMENTS
Donor Country Support for Iraq Reconstruction (PDF only)
United Nations
The United Nations Global Market Place Web site includes information about pursuing contract solicitations with the United Nations, including its many affiliated organizations.
United Nations Tenders (global)
UN Development Group Procurements -- Iraq
World Bank/U.N. International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI)
More links of those United Nations Agencies, Funds, Programs and Offices with operations in Iraq proffering tenders and posting the corresponding details online can be found on our Useful Links page. As with the links for Iraqi Ministries, these are likewise supplemented with "tender active" links.