Beirut-Baghdad, 20 July 2026 - The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the Ministry of Planning of Iraq announced the joint organization of the 4th Arab SMEs Summit, which will be held at the Baghdad International Fair from 18 to 20 November 2026, under the patronage of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi, and in partnership with the Central Bank of Iraq.
The Summit is the flagship regional platform of ESCWA for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurship across the Arab region. It brings together policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, business incubators and accelerators, innovation institutions, private sector representatives, universities and academic institutions, innovation hubs, international organizations, and development partners to foster collaboration, exchange knowledge, and develop solutions and policies that support the growth of this vital sector.
Registration is now open to SMEs and startups, professionals and media through the official application link available on the Arab SMEs Summit 2026 website: https://depar.unescwa.org/ASMES2026-registration.
This edition builds on the success of previous ones held in Jordan, Morocco, and Qatar in 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively, having established the Summit as a leading regional platform for dialogue and partnerships. The latest edition secured commitments of more than $300 million from partner organizations to support SMEs across the region.
This year's Summit will be held under the theme "Accelerating Growth" and will focus on enabling SMEs to move from potential to scale by expanding access to finance and markets, harnessing digital transformation and artificial intelligence, building strategic partnerships, and strengthening policies and regulatory frameworks that foster innovation and sustainable growth.
Iraq's Minister of Planning Mohammed Ali Tamim emphasized that the Summit reaffirmed a fundamental commitment to investing in the region's greatest asset, its young people, by unlocking their potential and providing an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. He stressed that building partnerships and fostering entrepreneurship were no longer optional but essential pillars of sustainable development, economic diversification, competitiveness, and the creation of decent jobs. He added that platforms such as this Summit played a vital role in connecting entrepreneurs and business founders with investors and support institutions, helping position the Arab region as a hub for creativity and innovation.
"The Summit serves as a regional platform for policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and building partnerships that enable SMEs to innovate and improve their access to finance and markets, while strengthening their contribution to more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economic development across the Arab region," said ESCWA Executive Secretary Rania Al-Mashat. "Stronger regional cooperation, forward-looking policies, digital transformation, connectivity, and artificial intelligence are key enablers of SME growth", she emphasized.
The Summit's main stage will feature high-level ministerial discussions, inspirational entrepreneur stories, startup pitch sessions, investor dialogues, and thematic discussions on digital transformation, market expansion, entrepreneurship policy, and emerging opportunities for SMEs. These sessions will provide a platform to showcase successful experiences, discuss key challenges and opportunities, and foster dialogue among stakeholders shaping the future of entrepreneurship and SME development in the Arab region.
