In support of the Department of State’s initiative to promote participation from the Middle East and North Africa at the fifth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), CLDP, in cooperation with the US Missions in Iraq, sponsored an Iraqi delegation to attend the GES from November 19-21, 2014 in Marrakesh, Morocco.  The delegation consisted of six officials from Iraq’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and the Ministry of Industry and Minerals (MIM).  MoST and MIM are working closely with CLDP to develop and foster an innovation ecosystem conducive to entrepreneurship and innovation. CLDP conducted consultations with the Iraqi officials on developing federal and provincial incubators, with the ability to commercialize technology essential to Iraq’s economic diversification.

GES is a presidential initiative aiming to promoting economic development via entrepreneurial opportunities. Its theme, "Harnessing the Power of Technology for Innovation and Entrepreneurship," highlights the impact of technology on modern entrepreneurship.  Prior to the GES, CLDP conducted a two-day capacity building program on November 17-18. The program discussed Morocco’s experience with technology incubators and the factors determining the success or failure of technology incubator startups. This training enabled the representatives from MoST and MIM to gain the maximum benefit from the GES and equipped them with know-how required for the successful management of technology incubators. CLDP plans to build on the momentum gained from this program during consultations organized with the World Bank in January 2015 on how to design incubator bylaws.