Basima Abdulrahman

She started Kesk after realising the need for a company that offers green building services and products in Iraq.

The temperature can go up to 48 deg C during summer in Iraq. However, because of the country’s unstable power grid, the electricity supply lasts for less than 12 hours a day, so many residents are unable to use cooling devices for long.

“This is why more than a third of Iraq’s electricity is privately produced. However, private electrical generators are not only 25 times more expensive, but also highly pollutive,” says Basima.

After learning about green building design and the green building rating system LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) while studying in the US, the 35-yearold Iraqi started Kesk in her home country. The company uses green

Basima’s entrepreneurial journey hasn’t been without bumps, but her concern for environmental issues keeps her going.