ASI Team Leader awarded OBE

In an important recognition of ASI’s work in Iraq, Mike Francino, former team leader of ASI’s longstanding Economic Reform Project in Iraq, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours for service to economic reform in Iraq.

The ASI team led by Mike helped Iraq secure a Stand By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF involving a write off of 80% of $40 billion in foreign debt.  Other key achievements included helping the Iraqi Government formulate its budgets from 2005 to 2008 as well as to design and implement a communications strategy regarding necessary economic reforms including subsidy reduction.