After the rise in Iraq's per capita income, Iraqi families are now looking for products other than those available in the local market, which are often imported from China, Turkey and Iran. Due to the country's security situation, most American and European companies do not have branches in Iraq. Added to this is the bureaucracy in state institutions that obstructs companies from obtaining the necessary approvals to open branches.

Responding to this demand for commodities, several young Iraqis have created ways to connect Iraqi customers with the global market by launching Facebook pages promoting European and American goods. All the customers have to do is log on to Amazon and choose their product, and then send the link to the page administrator who sends them the total cost including shipping and customs fees.

Ahmed (a pseudonym) is an architect who opened a Facebook page that now has more than 1,000 members. The page is full of links to goods, and customers can shop around and ask Ahmed about prices. Ahmed first came up with this idea four years ago, when he would buy products on Amazon for his family. He then expanded his activities to include relatives and friends, and then friends of friends. This prompted him to start the public page.

Ahmed only sleeps four hours a day. His day job as an engineer and his work replying to customer inquiries fill his daily schedule.