For Immediate Release
July 15, 2004

Iraq Stock Exchange Boosts Private Sector
Fact of the Day

The private sector was given a boost with the reopening of the Iraq Stock Exchange. On opening day, 589 million shares were traded, and for two weeks the stock exchange has been operating normally. U.S. advisers assisted Iraqi officials in restructuring their country's trading system, and on June 24 there was stock trading in Baghdad for the first time in 15 months. The Iraq Stock Exchange will help development Iraq's economy, especially the private sector.

SOURCE: U.S. Agency for International Development.