Sep 9, 2026 SME Listing & Growth Market Conference
The SME Listing & Growth Market Conference brings together small and medium-sized enterprises, exchange listing officers, and brokerage representatives to explore the pathway from private company to publicly listed entity. For many SME owners, the exchange remains an underused source of growth capital, and this conference aims to demystify what the listing process actually involves. The opening session will outline the exchange's core listing criteria, including the requirement to operate as a joint-stock company and meet minimum capital thresholds set under current listing regulations. Prospective issuers will learn about the requirement to submit audited financial statements covering at least the preceding two fiscal years as part of the listing application. A dedicated segment will address minimum public float requirements, explaining how much of a company's shares must be made available to public investors at the time of listing. Panelists will include representatives from companies that have successfully listed in recent years, sharing firsthand accounts of the preparation timeline and common challenges encountered along the way. A session on corporate governance readiness will cover what SMEs need to put in place before listing, including board structure, internal controls, and disclosure processes required under Companies Law No. 21 of 1997. Attendees will also hear from brokerage firms about the role they play in guiding a company through the listing process, from initial advisory work through to the first day of trading. The conference will address common misconceptions among SME owners, particularly the belief that listing requires giving up significant control of the company to outside investors. A dedicated Q&A session with ISC representatives will allow attendees to ask direct questions about the regulatory approval process and expected review timelines. Financing alternatives will also be discussed, comparing the cost of raising capital through a public listing against traditional bank lending or private equity investment. A panel on post-listing obligations will cover ongoing disclosure requirements, including quarterly and annual financial reporting obligations once a company is publicly listed. Speakers will highlight the visibility and credibility benefits that come with a public listing, particularly for companies seeking to attract new customers, partners, or additional capital in the future. The conference will also touch on sector-specific opportunities, noting that industry, agriculture, and services companies remain underrepresented on the exchange relative to banking and telecommunications. A workshop segment will walk attendees through preparing a listing prospectus, including the type of financial and operational disclosures investors will expect to see. Networking sessions throughout the day are designed to connect SME owners directly with brokers, auditors, and legal advisors experienced in guiding companies through the listing process. A case study presentation will examine a recent SME listing from initial application through to its first year of trading, highlighting lessons learned along the way. The conference will also cover investor relations basics, helping newly listed companies understand how to communicate effectively with shareholders and the broader market. Attendees will learn about the timeline expectations for a typical listing process, from initial application through regulatory review to the first day of trading on the exchange. A closing panel will discuss the exchange's broader strategy for encouraging SME participation, including any planned incentives or simplified pathways for smaller issuers. The event will conclude with a roundtable where SME owners can raise specific questions about their own company's readiness directly with exchange and regulatory representatives. Registration is open to business owners, company executives, accountants, and legal advisors interested in understanding the public listing process on the Iraq Stock Exchange. This conference reflects the exchange's ongoing effort to diversify its base of listed companies and provide a genuine growth capital pathway for Iraq's small and medium-sized enterprises.