Winners of the 2025 Kurda Award for Economics joined a ceremony on October 1 to celebrate their achievements, together with a large crowd including government officials and business leaders in Rawanduz, Kurdistan Region.

The Kurda Award for Economics was officially launched in July this year by the Kurdistan Organization for Development (KOD) in collaboration with the Consulate of South Korea, Kurdistan Chronicle, and Shingelbana Resort. The goal of the award is to promote academic engagement and innovative thinking among university students.

During the ceremony, Hazem Kurda, founder of Shingelbana Resort, reminded the students that through education and hard work, individuals can contribute to the development of their country. He also pledged to continue to support top students and young graduates to achieve their goals and help their communities grow.

The award is named after Hazem Kurda, a prominent Kurdish entrepreneur who, after scoring remarkable successes around the world, returned to his hometown to elevate the living conditions of his people.

In his speech at the event, Halgord Shekh Najib, Head of Soran Independent Administration, commended Kurda for his role in not only supporting the development of tourism and the economy in Soran, but also building human capacities through scholarships and financial awards granted to students.

South Korea’s Consul General in Erbil Seungcheol Lim also highlighted the role of all parties involved in regulating the essay competition and organizing the award ceremony, noting that collaboration made the first round of the award a remarkable success. He later pledged to continue the collaboration next year.

The award recognizes outstanding young scholars for their innovative contributions to economic research and policymaking in the Kurdistan Region.

The winners of 2025 Kurda Award for Economics are as follows:

First Place

Name: Abdukarim Manhal – Salahaddin University

Topic: Rural Development and Economic Resilience in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI)

Second Place

(1) Name: Mahi Abdulrahman – American University of Iraq-Sulaymaniyah (AUIS)

Topic: The Nightmare of Navigating the Tangled Mess of Licensing Requirements

(2) Name: Rosa Hiwa – AUIS

Topic: Challenges and Opportunities for Economic Growth in the KRI

Third Place

(1) Name: Sobhan Ali – AUIS

Topic: The Impact of International Aid and NGOs on Kurdistan

(2) Name Tara Mohammed – American University of Kurdistan

Topic: Youth Unemployment in the Kurdistan Region: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

(3) Name: Somaya Khalil – Zakho University

Topic: Diversifying the KRI Economy: Which Sectors Hold the Most Potential?