November 2 and 3, 2023 – AstraZeneca’s innovative new product, Fasenra, has made a groundbreaking entry into the Iraqi market, launching in six major cities. The initial launch events took place simultaneously in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, followed by subsequent launches in Baghdad, Basra, Nasiriyah, and Karbala.
As the leading event management partner, Progress Group is thrilled to have played a pivotal role in the successful deployment of these events. Our comprehensive services included:
Event Planning
Logistic Support
Media Coverage
Audio and Lighting Systems
LED Displays
Printing Services
Virtual Event Management
Design and Branding
Digital Marketing
Motion Graphics
This event is a continuation of our longstanding collaboration with AstraZeneca, showcasing our commitment to delivering exceptional event experiences for high-profile clients in Iraq.
For more details about our event management services or to inquire about future collaborations, contact us:
Baghdad, October 5, 2023 – The inaugural Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) and Entrepreneurship Forum was successfully held this Thursday, marking a significant milestone in the collaboration between governmental bodies and private sector entities to bolster SME growth and entrepreneurial initiatives across Iraq.
Watch the key moments from the 2023 SME and Entrepreneurship Forum in Baghdad, a pivotal event driving forward Iraq’s business innovation.
Organized by the Private Sector Development Department of the Ministry of Commerce, in conjunction with the Iraqi Federation of Chambers of Commerce and the Progress Training and Conference Organization Company, the event brought together key stakeholders to discuss and strategize on enhancing the SME sector’s role in the national economy.
The forum commenced with a welcoming address from Mr. Taleb Neama, Director General of the Private Sector Development Department. Keynote speeches were delivered by distinguished guests including Mr. Sattar Al-Jabri, Deputy Minister of Commerce for Administrative Affairs; Mr. Abdul Razzak Al-Zuhairi, President of the Iraqi Federation of Chambers of Commerce; and Dr. Hussein Flamrz, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Head of the Entrepreneurship Initiative. A strategic dialogue from the Central Bank of Iraq was also featured, emphasizing the pivotal role of financial institutions in supporting enterprise development.
The day’s agenda included three critical panel discussions:
The Role of Government Institutions in Supporting SMEs and Entrepreneurship: This session explored current initiatives and future strategies for governmental support of the SME sector.
The Role of Financial Institutions and Business Organizations in Supporting SMEs and Entrepreneurship: Panelists discussed how financial frameworks and business networks can be optimized to facilitate SME growth and innovation.
The Role of International Organizations’ Projects in Developing SMEs and Entrepreneurship: This session highlighted the contributions of international projects to the SME sector and explored potential collaborative opportunities.
The forum concluded with a series of actionable recommendations, which will be forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council to inform policy-making and program development aimed at fostering a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in Iraq.
For ongoing updates and future events, please follow the hashtag #Entrepreneurship and #SMEandEntrepreneurshipForum.
The West London Chambers of Commerce Festival of Business was a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our business and capabilities in connecting the right people with the right opportunities between Iraq and the UK. As a business focused on improving the economy exchange between the two countries, we were thrilled to participate in this event and connect with potential partners and clients.
At our booth, we showcased our expertise in navigating the complex cultural and business differences between Iraq and the UK. We had engaging displays that highlighted our services, such as facilitating business deals and providing market research and analysis. Our knowledgeable staff was on hand to answer questions and make connections with potential clients or partners.
We also had the opportunity to attend various talks and seminars throughout the day, providing us with valuable insights into the current state of the UK and Iraqi economies and the challenges facing businesses looking to operate in these regions. We were able to network with other exhibitors and attendees, making connections that will be invaluable to our business in the future.
Announcing Al-Asriya Group Partnership and UK office Opening
On the day, we were excited to announce the opening of our partner’s UK office as Al-Asriya Group expands its presence in the international construction industry. With decades of experience in construction and mega projects in Iraq, we are proud to bring our expertise to the UK market.
The festival of Business provided a great opportunity for us to showcase our capabilities and highlight our successful projects, including our 30th project, Dijla Village.
Dijla Village is the largest mixed-use commercial center in Iraq, boasting a 12,000 m2 riverside facility that serves as a focal point for the vibrant neighborhood community. We were thrilled to share the story of this successful project and how it exemplifies our commitment to quality construction and innovative design.
At the festival, we engaged with attendees and potential partners, sharing our vision for bringing our expertise to the UK market. We highlighted our strengths in project management, design, and construction, as well as our understanding of local regulations and customs in both Iraq and the UK.
The opening of the UK office is a significant step forward for Al-Asriya Group, and we look forward to providing our clients with the same high-quality services and commitment to excellence that has made us a leader in the construction industry in Iraq.
In closing, we want to thank the West London Chambers of Commerce for hosting this excellent festival, and we are grateful for the opportunity to showcase our capabilities and meet potential partners and clients. We look forward to building on the connections made at the festival and contributing to the growth of the UK – Iraq trade and construction exchange.
Under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce – the General Company for Exhibitions and Commercial Services and in cooperation with Progressive Group.
Expotroph 9 th
The Food and Food Industries Exhibition the Ninth, from 4-6 February 2023, at the MEC Exhibition City Greece – Athens
Iraqi participation included a representative of the Iraqi Ministry of Trade Dr. Asmaa Al-Janabi, Director of the External Exhibitions Department at the General Company for Exhibitions, as well as a delegation of companies and businessmen from the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Iraqi Businessmen ..
The Iraqi Embassy in Greece was visited and the meeting of His Excellency the Ambassador, Mr. Moayad Saleh, was attended by Mr. Ammar Sabah, the first secretary at the Iraqi embassy ..
During the meeting, some key points were discussed:
1- The topics of the meeting with the delegation and the Iraqi-Greek trade exchange.
2- Coordination regarding the International Food Exhibition from 18-20/3/2023 – the Iraqi pavilion.
3- Greece Exhibitions for the year 2023 (recommendation of His Excellency the Ambassador regarding Thessaloniki Exhibition 9-17 September 2023).
4- Establishing the Iraqi Business Council – Greece (the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Greek Chambers) with the support of the Iraqi Embassy.
Ahmed Al-Yasiri
CEO – Progress Group
International organizations Consultant – Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce
“The Ministry of Trade provides support for the development of the private sector to establish real partnerships to enter into projects to develop the country’s economy,”
His Excellency Minister of Commerce, Professor Atheer Daoud Al-Ghurairy
HE Mr. Al-Ghurairy considers that “the private sector is the partner of the public sector to develop and absorb the capabilities of youth by adopting and supporting their medium and small and targeted projects.” Which enhances the capabilities of these young people in line with government directives and within its government programme.
The Director General of the Private Sector Development Department at the Ministry of Commerce, Muhammad Hanoun Karim, confirmed that
“the department adopted a new curriculum and work program in 2023, to be a turning point in activating its work, which will reflect positively on developing the capabilities of the private sector and workers in the ministry, which comes in implementation of the directives of the Chairman of the Council Ministers,” noting that “the signing of this memorandum will contribute to drawing up a scientific curriculum for youth and the private sector.”
Ahmed Al-Yasiri, Progress Group CEO, stated:
” The MOU signed is only the beginning of fruitful partnership with the Iraqi Ministry of Commerce, we aim to support SMEs and start-ups in the country to thrive during these challenging times while representing young leaders nationally and through the International events we host or attend like Athena and London.”
“Progress Group is a leading Business Development and consultancy firm operating in the Middle East and the UK, we help connecting people, ideas, opportunities.”
The event was inaugurated by the Undersecretary of Culture – Dr. Imad Jassem, and was followed by the French Ambassador – Mr. Eric Chevallier, the station’s Program Manager – Mustafa Daoud, and the Director of Corporate Sustainability at Zain Iraq – Mrs. Rana Mofeed.
Progress Group Iraq provided full interpretation service for attendees through our high-tech equipment, team and management .
The inauguration of the exhibition and conference on Anti-Terrorism, Special Operations and cyber security in its second session, which was launched today, Sunday, 4th of September 2022 on the grounds of the Baghdad International Fair, in the presence of a number of ministers, security leaders and representatives of diplomatic missions and annexes in Iraq.
The inauguration of the exhibition and conference on Anti-Terrorism, Special Operations and cyber security
The exhibition witnessed the participation of local, Arab and international companies participating in the exhibition, whose exhibits represented the latest equipment, technologies and intelligence systems specialized in the field of combating terrorism, special operations and cybersecurity, with the aim of exchanging security and intelligence experiences and keeping pace with advanced systems to develop the capabilities and sectors of the country in this field.
The exhibition witnessed the participation of local, Arab and international companies participating
Progress Group Iraq have provided full simultaneous interpretation to attendees with our high tech equipment, team and management.
Today, Thursday, the Central Bank of Iraq, in cooperation with the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Water Resources, the Association of Iraqi Private Banks and the private sector, held a special workshop on climate change, desertification and national security. Progress Group Iraq provided full interpretation for attendees through our high-tech equipment, team and management.
Progress Group offer its interpretation services during launch meeting of the “Colour it Green” campaign which took place last Monday, organized by The Station Foundation for Entrepreneurship, on the occasion of World Environment Day.
The event witnessed a wide presence of specialists and those interested in the field of environment and climate change. The event was opened by His Excellency the Minister of Environment – Mr. Jassim Al Falahi
A new innovative product from AstraZeneca was launched in 4 different cities across Iraq, The US FDA Approved XigDue to treat type 2 diabetes was launched in both Erbil and Sulaymaniyah simultaneously on the 26th of May 2022, with another 2 cities launch in Nasiriya and Karbala a week after on the 3rd of June 2022. Again, Progress Group couldn’t be prouder of our support to this launch to our client AstraZeneca in Iraq, the majority of the operations were handled by us including: • Logistics support • Media and Audio Systems • LED Screen and projectors • Printing facilitations • Virtual Event Management, to name a few.
This turnkey event management was a part of many events we handled for AstraZeneca over the years and to other high end clients in Iraq.
