Iraq Provincial Economic Growth Project

AECOM International Development, in JV partnership with the Louis Berger Group, has been awarded the 4-year USAID-funded Provincial Economic Growth (PEG)/Tijara project. (Tijara is Arabic for "trade.")

The objective of the PEG activity is to grow the Iraqi economy in selected manufacturing and service sectors and to promote private sector development by increasing access to finance.

Under Component 1, we will provide business development services, with a focus on sector competitiveness, by training businesses in selected industries, supporting effective business associations, promoting association advocacy, creating an enabling environment that reduces current constraints to business operations, developing market information systems, and establishing public-private partnerships. Where an opportunity exists to select among numerous viable subsectors, consideration may be given to those subsectors that have a significant formal presence in the economy and that can therefore enhance debt service capacity and have the ability to document creditworthiness.

Under Component 2, we will focus on expansion of commercial lending through microfinance institutions and banks by identifying and reducing market lending risks; providing training and technical assistance; disseminating information, education, knowledge management, and research; and operating a grant facility.