Iraq mulls establishing Ministry of Entrepreneurship
Government move aims to institutionalize youth-led innovation, tackle unemployment through self-employment
BAGHDAD, Iraq (MNTV) — Iraq is weighing the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Entrepreneurship as part of broader government efforts to curb unemployment and strengthen youth participation in the economy, a senior adviser to the prime minister said.
Hussein Flamers, adviser to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and Director General of the Directorate of Leadership and Excellence, said the proposal reflects the expanding reach and impact of the Riyada initiative, which has drawn participation from more than 500,000 young Iraqis since its launch.
According to Iraqi News Agency (INA), Flamers said the long-term sustainability of Riyada remains the clearest measure of its success.
He explained that the initiative was designed to move young people away from reliance on traditional public-sector employment toward entrepreneurship and opportunity creation as an integral part of the national economy.
Flamers noted that Riyada relied extensively on digital platforms and modern technology to engage youth directly, bypassing bureaucratic processes that had previously limited participation.
While the approach initially faced skepticism, he said it ultimately helped build trust and credibility among young Iraqis.
For the first time, the initiative deliberately targeted university and high school students, aiming to embed entrepreneurial thinking early and encourage students to transform ideas into viable projects aligned with future labor market demands.
Flamers emphasized that in today’s economy, ideas have become more valuable than conventional skill sets alone.
Riyada was officially launched on March 4, 2023, following three years of preparation, and was rooted in Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s strategy of preventing unemployment rather than merely managing its effects.
Since then, the initiative has evolved into the Directorate of Leadership and Excellence, with plans underway to further formalize and expand its institutional role.
As part of this expansion, entrepreneurship has been incorporated into vocational education programs at 360 technical high schools overseen by the Ministry of Education.
In parallel, dedicated entrepreneurship units are set to be established at Iraqi universities, with full implementation scheduled to begin in 2026.
Flamers also announced that the first specialized training course for university lecturers will be launched on December 21, marking a significant step toward integrating entrepreneurship into Iraq’s higher education system.
Looking ahead, he said Riyada is expected to incubate large-scale projects capable of generating tens of thousands of jobs, particularly as opportunities for government employment continue to decline.
The initiative, he added, has already played a role in shifting youth culture toward freelancing, innovation, and technology-based economic activity.
The program remains open to partnerships with the private sector, investors, and private banks under a mixed-sector framework, with the government working to improve lending mechanisms and training systems to position the private sector as the primary driver of economic growth.
Flamers concluded by underscoring the importance of public awareness in supporting these changes, calling for greater promotion of local products and responsible consumption.
He described Riyada as a national project linking Iraq’s legacy to a more innovative and economically resilient future.
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