H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Atheer Dawood Salman AL-GHURAIRY, Minister of Trade of the Republic of Iraq, to exchange views on areas of mutual interest and potential cooperation.

During the meeting, H.E. SELÇUK emphasized the objectives of the newly established OIC Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Network (OIC-SMENET), underscoring its role as a strategic platform for fostering collaboration among institutions in OIC countries. She highlighted that the Network aims to facilitate knowledge exchange, promote best practices, and strengthen the institutional capacities of SMEs to serve as a driving force for sustainable economic growth and job creation across the OIC region.

In his remarks, H.E. AL-GHURAIRY commended SESRIC’s initiatives to promote capacity-building programs regarding trade and enterprise development within the OIC framework. He stressed Iraq’s commitment to enhancing its SME sector as a key pillar of economic diversification and resilience. He further underlined the importance of skills development, and institutional partnerships to unlock the potential of SMEs in Iraq, while expressing interest in exploring practical avenues of collaboration with SESRIC under the umbrella of OIC-SMENET.

Both sides agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation to empower SMEs as catalysts for inclusive development and international trade. They reaffirmed their willingness to maintaining close dialogue and transforming the discussed initiatives into concrete projects that will contribute to the advancement of the SME ecosystem within Iraq and the wider OIC community.