Partnership & VIP Visit

Partnership

By Aymen Salman

Despite the difficulties and challenges that the ecosystem has faced over the past year in the world in general, and Iraq in particular, The Station was keen to expand its network by increasing its partners all around the region; Where The Station partnered with Innovation Partners. IP is a local Iraqi firm specialized in providing supply chain solutions and professional services. IP successfully operates with a diverse set of high-profile professionals in terms of project management, HSE, supply chain, finance and general contracting. This partnership has enhanced the overall performance of the Station’s accounting department by developing and implementing a new accounting system throughout re-structuring the accounting system in place, implementing a new accounting software and providing technical assistance for the staff about the new module in line with the new practice methodology of the new accounting system.

VIP Visits

By Aymen Salman

In the last days of 2020, The Station was proud of being a hub for many officials, VIPs and official missions during the year. Despite the difficult security and health conditions that Iraq is going through, these obstacles did not prevent our international partners from visiting The Station. Mr. James Cleverly, The Minister for Middle East & North Africa in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Officer, accompanied by the British Ambassador, Mr. Stephen Hickey, was a very important event during this year. Mr. Cleverly expressing his admiration for the youth’s work, he said “I met with inspirational young entrepreneurs and youth leaders ,I saw first-hand the potential that the Iraqi people have to transform and diversify their economy and build a more stable country.” We also had another important visit by the CEO of Zain Iraq, Mr. Ali Alzahid. Zain Iraq is one of the major players in the entrepreneurship sector in Iraq and one of its biggest supporters, where Mr. Alzahid had a tour at the Station's various facilities and got closely acquainted with its positive role towards youth, in addition to his meeting with a number of startups from our Coworking space.

The Station was delighted for the visit of Mr. Fabrice Bousslam from Expertise France, an important partner of The Station and one of the most important supporters of the entrepreneurial environment in Iraq.

Mr. Arthur Botto, from the Center for Humanitarian Operations and Stabilization at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Leila Morghad the Political Department at the French Embassy, also visited us to discuss ways to develop an entrepreneurial environment in Iraq and follow up on the progress of projects implemented by The Station in Mosul and Baghdad funded by the French Foreign Ministry. The visit of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Adnan Darjal, was an important event. Actually, the Minister visited The Station more than once during 2020 and got acquainted with The Station's activities as well as the young entrepreneurs and showed his admiration for our programs and for becoming a hub for the Iraqi youth.

We also hosted Ms. Merel de Coninck, from the Economic Department of the Dutch Embassy, to The Station building in Baghdad, to discuss some of the projects to be implemented in cooperation with The Station Foundation.