On Monday, March 11, 2019, in Baghdad, Iraq, at the behest of the U.S. Consulate General in Basrah, CLDP led a conference on franchising at the headquarters of the Iraqi agency in charge of foreign investment, the National Investment Committee (NIC). The purpose of the conference was to highlight the success already achieved by CLDP in terms of franchising by U.S. firms, particularly in the Baghdad and Basrah provinces, so that the audience, composed of Iraqi firms from other provinces, could understand how to become franchisees of U.S. firms. Iraqi media covered the seminar extensively, quoting U.S. Consul General Timmy Davis on his comments regarding business partnerships and starting new franchises. The NIC noted that companies like Burger King, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and Domino’s are interested in entering the Iraqi market in Kurdistan and the Southern provinces. Franchise agreements between U.S. franchisors and Iraqi franchisees benefit both groups, granting franchisors access to the Iraqi market and creating revenue and opportunities for management experience for franchisees. For the last five years, CLDP, working in close cooperation with FCS, has created opportunities for Iraqi firms interested in becoming franchisees and built the capacity of these Iraqi firms to enter into durable franchising agreements with U.S. franchisors.