The Kurdish leadership on Sunday held a series of high-level meetings with delegations from the U.S. and the UK embassies to discuss post-election developments in Iraq, bilateral relations, and investment opportunities in the Kurdistan Region.
Kurdish President Masoud Barzani received UK Ambassador Irfan Siddiq in Pirmam. According to the presidency readout, the Ambassador congratulated Kurdish leaders on the Iraq election results.
He expressed hope that the post-election period would lead to the formation of an inclusive federal government representing all political forces.
President Masoud Barzani thanked the Ambassador and noted that, despite obstacles placed before the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the party achieved significant success thanks to the trust of the Kurdish people.
He described the post-election period as critical and emphasized the need for all parties to work sincerely to reform governance, implement the Iraqi constitution, and learn from past mistakes.
Furthermore, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also received Ambassador Siddiq in Erbil.
According to the KRG readout, the UK Ambassador congratulated the Prime Minister on the successful electoral process and expressed hope that the results would help stabilize Iraq, normalize political life, and improve public services.
Prime Minister Barzani stressed that, from the Kurdistan Region’s perspective, the key priority is the agenda of the next Iraqi government, particularly its commitment to upholding the constitution, honoring agreements, and resolving longstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad.
Prime Minister Barzani noted that a new political environment has emerged after the national elections, creating better conditions for forming the new KRG.
Moreover, Ambassador Siddiq also met with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani. In their discussions, both officials praised the strong relations between the UK, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region, and highlighted the importance of further strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors.
They described the successful conduct of the parliamentary elections as an important step forward for democracy and the broader political process in Iraq and discussed the next steps in forming the new federal government in Baghdad.
KRG Prime Minister Barzani on Sunday also received a delegation from the United States-Kurdistan Business Council (USKBC) and called for more U.S. investment in Kurdistan.
According to the KRG readout, Prime Minister Barzani outlined the reform agenda of the Ninth Cabinet across various sectors, particularly in energy and natural gas production. The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of expanding the role and investment of U.S. companies in the Kurdistan Region.
During the meeting, David Tafuri, President of the USKBC, congratulated the Prime Minister on the successful outcome of the Iraqi parliamentary elections. He also presented an overview of the purpose of the delegation’s visit and its members.
Read More: AmCham Hosts U.S. Companies to Expand Partnerships in Kurdistan
The Ninth Cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Barzani is prioritizing foreign investment and has eased the registration process for companies.
In September, representatives of 30 U.S. companies headed by Steve Lutes, the Executive Director of Middle East Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, also visited the Kurdistan Region.
During an official visit to the United States on May 19, Prime Minister Barzani oversaw the signing of two multi-billion-dollar agreements with U.S. energy companies HKN Energy and WesternZagros Resources at a formal ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.
