
In a recent paper titled "How American-Style Education Influences Iraq’s Private Sector," Ms. May Kadow of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy emphasizes the significant role played by AUIS and its graduates in developing private businesses and industry in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. She notes that around 75 percent of graduates from AUIS and other American-style universities opt to remain within the country, seeking opportunities within the private sector. As an example, she highlights the success of an AUIS alumnus who established "Lezzoo," an online grocery company. Since its inception in 2018, Lezzoo has partnered with over 4,000 stores, served more than 300,000 customers in six cities across Iraqi Kurdistan, and generated revenue of $13.1 million (Kadow, 2023).
