The India-Kurdistan Business Council (IKBC), led by Mohit Singla, was officially launched by the Trade Promotion Council of India and KRD Holding on Wednesday in the presence of Indian and Kurdish officials.
Kurdistan Regional Government Foreign Relations Head Safeen Dizayee welcomed the opening of the IKBC on X, hoping it would improve bilateral relations between the two nations.
The event was also attended by India’s Consul General in Erbil Madan Gopal, the Ambassador of India to Iraq Soumen Bagchi, Erbil’s Governor Omed Xoshnaw, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Sarwar Kamal Hawari, Senior Advisor to Prime Minister Barzani for Foreign Affairs Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, and business leaders from the Kurdistan Region and India.
India’s Consulate General in Erbil in a statement to Kurdistan Chronicle underlined that the IKBC is a visionary initiative designed to deepen and diversify the economic partnership between India and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
“The Council emerges as a timely platform to translate historic ties into future opportunities. Functioning as a dedicated conduit for dialogue, the Council aims to foster stronger ties between the business communities of both sides, encourage investment, facilitate joint ventures, and enhance mutual trust and information exchange.”
The Trade Promotion Council of India, led by Mr. Mohit Singla, launched the India-Kurdistan Business Council in partnership with Kurdistan Holdings. Graced by Ambassador of India to Iraq Mr. Soumen Bagchi and Consul General Mr. Madan Gopal@MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @EI_Baghdad pic.twitter.com/yH3ihzv7Oc
— IndiaInErbil (@IndiaInErbil) April 10, 2025
The Indian Consulate said that the IKBC will serve as a strategic link for policy-level engagement, collaborating closely with governments, chambers of commerce, and trade institutions.
“Aligned with Kurdistan’s vision for economic transformation – with a focus on transportation, healthcare, clean energy, digital infrastructure, education, and aviation – the Council will leverage India’s strengths in technology, manufacturing, and skilled human capital to unlock new sectors of cooperation. In addition to boosting trade, the IKBC has established a way of forging a resilient and inclusive economic bridge that aims to bring lasting value to both sides.”
A MoU was signed between the @TPCI_ and the Kurdistan Holding to boost trade and business ties between India and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, in a big step forward in strengthening economic cooperation.@IndianDiplomacy @MEAIndia @EI_Baghdad pic.twitter.com/LaMBkdSM6E
— IndiaInErbil (@IndiaInErbil) April 10, 2025
During the event, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Trade Promotion Council of India and KRD Holding to boost trade and business ties between India and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Read More: Indian Business Delegation Visits Kurdistan
India’s Consulate General in Erbil in June 2024 also organized a business delegation to the Kurdistan Region from the Federation of Indian Export Organizations for business-to-business meetings with Kurdish businessmen.
India opened its Consulate General in Erbil in 2016, prioritizing the enhancement of trade, cultural, and economic relations.
