Iraq has been facing an unstable economic situation due to its heavy reliance
on oil in implementing its financial Iraq annual budgets. This reliance exposes
its economy to periodic crises, necessitating the search for policy alternatives
to alleviate these crises.
Before 2003, Iraq had multiple institutions responsible for ensuring food
security and economic stability, including the Ministry of Trade. This ministry
managed Iraq’s domestic and international trade, distributed items for the
ration card system, and supported the economy through the presence of
central markets operated by the General Company for Central Markets in all
provinces, including those in the Kurdistan Region. These markets provided
imported goods from global sources as well as local products at affordable
prices, often subsidized for various segments of the population.

Restructuring Central Markets: A Necessity to Protect the Iraqi Market