logo
Around 60 French companies to invest in Kurdistan Region: Official

Around 60 French companies to invest in Kurdistan Region: Official

Rudaw Net10 hours ago
Also in Kurdistan
Over 30 Westerners invited to PKK disarmament ceremony: Source
Youth migration intensifies in Sulaimani town amid economic despair
KRG delegation in Baghdad to discuss financial disputes
Sulaimani town uses cameras, fines to curb littering
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Some 60 French companies are set to visit and invest in the Kurdistan Region in the coming days as part of efforts between Erbil and Paris to strengthen bilateral ties, a Kurdish official said on Monday.
'Fifty to 60 French companies were supposed to visit the Kurdistan Region this month, but due to the Iran-Israel war and the instability of the regional airspace, it was postponed a bit. Now we are in contact with the French consulate [in Erbil] to determine an appropriate time,' Bargasht Akreyi, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region's Board of Investment, told Rudaw on Monday.
The initiative is expected to create thousands of job opportunities and pave the way for French brands to establish a presence in the Region.
Akreyi further stated that the expected investment of French companies in the Kurdistan Region "will lead to the creation of thousands of job opportunities."
The companies are from the agriculture, energy, technology, and tourism sectors, according to Akreyi. They are set to meet with local companies in the same fields to foster mutual understanding.
"Several famous French brands are set to open branches of their companies in the Kurdistan Region,' he noted.
Officials and business leaders from Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and France met in Paris in May for a major forum to boost trade and investment, with Baghdad and Erbil pushing to expand international partnerships by presenting the country as stable, attractive destination for foreign companies.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been stepping up efforts to diversify the economy by strengthening the private sector.
As of May 2024, French investments in the Kurdistan Region stood at around $3 billion across multiple sectors, according to France's Consul General in Erbil Yann Braem.
The bond between France and the Kurdish people dates back to the 1980s, when Danielle Mitterrand, then First Lady of France, became a vocal advocate for Kurds oppressed under the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Mitterand played an instrumental role in the establishment of the no-fly zone over the Kurdistan Region after the 1991 Gulf War, providing protection that enabled Kurds to establish autonomy.
She remains affectionately known as the 'Mother of the Kurds' and inaugurated the first Kurdish parliament in 1992.
France was also among the first nations to open a consulate in Erbil after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, and played a critical role in supporting Kurdish and Iraqi forces during the war against the Islamic State (ISIS) that began in 2014.
Solin Hamadamin contributed to this article.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

PKK changes disarmament plan over security reasons
PKK changes disarmament plan over security reasons

Rudaw Net

time38 minutes ago

  • Rudaw Net

PKK changes disarmament plan over security reasons

Also in Kurdistan PKK disarmament ceremony set for Friday in Sulaimani: DEM Party Around 60 French companies to invest in Kurdistan Region: Official Over 30 Westerners invited to PKK disarmament ceremony: Source Youth migration intensifies in Sulaimani town amid economic despair A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A highly anticipated ceremony in Sulaimani marking the first phase of disarmament by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has been significantly scaled back due to 'changed security situations,' organizers announced. The Kurdistan Community Union (KCK), an umbrella group that includes the PKK, had previously extended invitations to Kurdistan Region political parties and journalists to attend the event. However, in a statement, the KCK confirmed that the ceremony will proceed without live broadcast or press attendance. 'We are deeply sorry for this and kindly ask for your understanding,' said Cudi Serhat of the KCK press office in an email to Rudaw English. He added that video recordings of the event will be shown later on a nearby screen. 'This will be the only way we can keep you informed,' the statement read, acknowledging that some guests may choose not to attend due to the last-minute changes. The event comes amid a broader initiative led by Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) to resolve the four-decade-long conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state, which has claimed over 40,000 lives - mainly PKK fighters. In May, the PKK announced its dissolution, following a February appeal from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan to abandon armed struggle in favor of a political solution centered on Kurdish rights. Ankara has cautiously welcomed the announcement with Turkish officials have stressed the need for tangible steps to fully complete the disarmament process. For its part, the PKK is calling for democratic reforms and expanded cultural and political rights for Kurds as conditions for lasting peace. Last week, Rudaw learned that the first group of PKK fighters is expected to disarm in the Kurdistan Region, marking a significant milestone toward ending the longstanding conflict. A DEM Party official confirmed on Monday that the event is scheduled to take place on Friday, June 11, in the Region's eastern Sulaimani province. Earlier the same day, a well-informed source speaking to Rudaw on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, revealed that "nearly 50 political, intellectual, and public figures from northern Kurdistan [southeast Turkey] and Turkey have been invited" to the ceremony. The source also said that "more than 30 parliamentarians, academics, and political figures from Europe and the United States will participate," adding that major international media outlets had been invited as well. However, given the KCK's recent announcement, it remains unclear how many of the invited guests and dignitaries will attend the scaled-down event in person.

PM, Deputy Speaker of Parliament: It is important to secure the preparations for holding the elections
PM, Deputy Speaker of Parliament: It is important to secure the preparations for holding the elections

Iraqi News

time2 hours ago

  • Iraqi News

PM, Deputy Speaker of Parliament: It is important to secure the preparations for holding the elections

INA - BAGHDAD PM Muhammed S. Al-Sudani met on Monday with the First Deputy Speaker of the Council of the Parliament, Mohsen Ali Al-Mandalawi. The meeting included a review of the overall situation in the country and recent regional developments, with emphasis on the importance of unifying efforts and positions in light of the ongoing challenges and crises in the region, according to a statement by the PM Media Office - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA. They discussed the covered ways to enhance cooperation between the executive and legislative branches to pass legislation that supports the government's service-oriented and development-focused program. Both emphasized the need to ensure the necessary preparations and requirements for holding the upcoming parliamentary elections on schedule, while encouraging broad public participation to ensure the results genuinely reflect the will and choices of the Iraqi people in electing their representatives.

Iraq expands agricultural lands as Turkey increases water flows
Iraq expands agricultural lands as Turkey increases water flows

Iraqi News

time3 hours ago

  • Iraqi News

Iraq expands agricultural lands as Turkey increases water flows

Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture revealed on Saturday that increased water supplies from Turkey will allow for the expansion of agricultural areas in the country. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Mahdi Sahar, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that after receiving details about increasing water flows from Turkey, Iraq is waiting for water reserves to become larger so that it may add areas designated for the development of summer vegetable and fodder crops to assist agriculture and livestock production. During a meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to Iraq's request to increase the water delivery rate to 420 cubic meters per second to address the ongoing drought issue. The step will increase water flows along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, delivering water to all Iraqis, particularly in the southern parts of the country that are experiencing drought and water shortages. Since Turkey is the source of 90 percent of Iraq's water supplies, the two countries struck a strategic agreement on water management.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store