Baghdad, Iraq – 01 February 2025
The 48th edition of the Baghdad International Fair (BIF 2025), organized by the Ministry of Trade with the patronage of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, opened today, February 1st, at the Baghdad Fairgrounds.
The event represents one of the most important promotional opportunities for companies looking to enter an increasingly attractive market like the Iraqi one.
The Baghdad International Fair has a multi-sector focus, with an emphasis on goods and technologies necessary for the industrial and infrastructural development of the country.
In collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Baghdad, the ICE Agency has ensured Italy’s presence with an Italy Point, occupying an area of 18 square meters, located inside Hall No. 2 (Baghdad Hall).
The main goal of the institutional participation at the BIF is to represent Italian companies and connect them with operators and potential local institutional partners for the development of future collaborations.
Iraq represents an important commercial partner for Italy, both as a supplier of energy raw materials and as a market for our metalworking, electrical, and electronic products, as well as for civil and industrial engineering companies.
In the first 10 months of 2024, Italian exports to Iraq amounted to 807 million euros, a 15.9% increase compared to the same period in 2023, while imports from Iraq —almost entirely composed of hydrocarbons—totaled approximately 2.1 billion euros (a 34.3% decrease compared to the same period in 2023), resulting in a trade negative balance for Italy of about 1.293 billion euros.
Among the main products imported by Iraq from January to October 2024 are: general-use machinery (approximately 176.63 million euros); other general-use machinery (approximately 80.42 million euros); other special-purpose machinery (approximately 75.04 million euros); motors, generators, and electrical transformers, equipment for electricity distribution and control (approximately 67.51 million euros); steel pipes, conduits, profiles, cables, and related accessories (approximately 51.36 million euros); agricultural and forestry machinery (approximately 29.42 million euros).
The Made in Italy brand, recognized as a synonym of high quality, design and innovation, maintains a privileged position in the tastes and purchasing decisions of consumers.
The greatest business opportunities for Italian companies in the short to medium term lie in the sectors of construction, infrastructure, renewable energy, waste disposal, textiles/clothing, food/beverages, pharmaceuticals and electrical equipment.
At the opening ceremony, attended by the Italian Ambassador to Iraq, Niccolò Fontana, the Minister of Trade, Atheer Salman, emphasized the importance of achieving food self-sufficiency for the country and presented the Ministry’s projects in various sectors. Iraqi Prime Minister Al Sudani outlined the various industrial projects the government is working on, alongside other infrastructure projects, particularly roads and residential buildings, which are also under development. Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Trade, expressed satisfaction with the number of attended exhibitors, which demonstrates the desire to seize the vast opportunities offered by Iraq.
“The BIF is a key event in the Iraqi trade fair calendar” emphasized Ambassador Fontana. “It allows for direct interaction with local operators and a better understanding of the potential of the Iraqi market, which is complex but rich in countless opportunities. This Italy Point is a sign of attention,” Fontana added. “From here, we want to start spreading the knowledge of the Italian offering to our Iraqi counterparts and also show the best of Iraq to Italian operators.”
