ERBIL (Kurdistan Chronicle) — While attending the 2023 World Government Summit in Dubai, the Kurdistan Region Prime Minister met with several political leaders to discuss Erbil’s determination for greater partnership, especially in trade, investment, and good governance.

The event, a flagship conference of the United Arab Emirates, annually provides the opportunity for world leaders to meet and discuss the current and future challenges facing governance globally.

During a meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, Vice President, and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, PM Barzani expressed his appreciation for the “Emirates’ constant support for Kurdistan Region’s reformation plan, especially in the fields of trade and production” according to the official readout.

In a separate meeting, PM Barzani and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reiterated the importance of boosting bilateral ties in all areas of potential cooperation.

On the sidelines of the World Government Summit, PM Barzani also met with Jassim Muhammad Al-Budaiwi, the new Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), who invited the Kurdistan Region to the upcoming GCC meeting.

Our relationships across the region have never been stronger. #WGS23 pic.twitter.com/QqrCEeoFl4

— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) February 15, 2023

The visit to the UAE and meeting with the Gulf countries’ leaders came a few months after the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced its first non-oil export to five Gulf states, hoping to open a new trade route and a new source of revenue.

The KRG is also working with partners in the UAE to benefit from their experience in government efficiency, construction, and digital transformation, according to Kurdish officials.

The Kurdistan Region is hoping to become a food basket for Iraq and the wider region by developing its agriculture sector, enhancing investment in the food industry, and providing a variety of legal and administrative facilitations to create a new source of revenue besides oil.

PM Barzani has made it clear on multiple occasions that establishing trade partners and creating new markets for domestic goods remains at the top of his international objectives.