An eye on the alluring leaders, emerging sectors, leading companies, and rising trends shaping the future of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
KURDISTAN REVIEW Opportunities Unlimited
Special Edition
Diplomacy & Politics Economy Finance Human Capital Energy Construction Telecom Agriculture & Water Transport Health Education Tourism How to Start-up
INVEST IN GROUP AN EYE ON THE EMERGING WORLD
2 — Kurdistan Review
Invest in Group — 3
Falcon Group is a wholly owned and operated Iraqi corporation focused on the reconstruction of the Kurdistan region and maintenance of critical infrastructures. Falcon Group is comprised of several companies, including: • • • • • •
Falcon Security Falcon Construction Falcon Agriculture Falcon Oil & Gas Falcon Batch Plant Falcon Demining
• • • • • •
info@falconiraq.com +964 (0) 258 6008
Falcon German Trading Falcon Transportation Falcon Logistics Full Service Brayati Construction Quesco Turbo Machinery Services
www.falconiraq.com +964 (0) 258 6009
CONTENTS KURDISTAN REVIEW
Diplomacy & Politics 13 20 24 28 30 32 34 35 36 37 38 39
Overview: Commitment to Democracy & Rule of Law Farsighted Leadership — President Masoud Barzani Shaping the Future of the Kurdistan Region — Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani Establishing Stability — Dr. Fuad Hussein Securing a Rapidly Developing Society — Karim Sinjari Open Door Diplomacy — Falah Mustafa Bakir Insight: Expanding Trade Ties — Nick Baird Strong Relations — Hugh Evans The Partner of Choice — Alistair Burt Insight: Looking Ahead Kurdistan in the UK — Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman Developing European Partnerships — Delavar Ajgeiy
Economy 41 46 47 48 50
52 54 56 57 58 60 62 64
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Overview: Determined to Grow Broadening the Marketplace — Sinan Çelebi Planned Expansion — Nawzad Hadi Willingness to Overcome — Herish Muharam Invest in Kurdistan Chamber of Commerce: Forging Connections Erbil — Dara Jalil Al-Khayat Slemani — Serwan M. Mahmood Duhok — Ayad H. Abdulhalim Board of Investment: Simplifying Investment Hub for Industry — Farman Gharib Sa’eed An Open Door for Business — Bakhtiyar Ameen Thinking Ahead — Hawre Daro Noori Focus: UB Holding Expansion through Experience — Bayad Jamal Ali Success Story: Asia Insurance Analysis: Common Vision for the Future Security and Integrity — Harry Bucknall At the Forefront — Ayad Mirza
Finance 67 71 72 74 75
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Overview: Reform & Investment Modernity on the Horizon — Bayiz Talabani Tradition Builds Confidence — Bustam Al-Janabi A Wealth of Experience — Gavin Wishart Strong Credentials — Jean Abboud
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20 President Massoud Barzani “We warmly welcome the members of the global investment community, and want them to know that the future of the Kurdistan Region is bright and open to their involvement.”
Nechirvan Barzani “We have taken bold and creative steps in the area of energy development and foreign investment to ensure that international companies, including bluechips, establish a presence here and help us to develop our energy resources.”
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Invest in Group — 9
CONTENTS KURDISTAN REVIEW
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Human Capital 77 82 84 86 87
Overview: Investing in the Future Developing Experience — Nisar Talabany Training the Future — Haller Dleir Miran Focus: Kurdistan Works Expanding Human Capital — Yonghyon Kim
Energy 89 98 100 102 104 106 108 110 111 112 113 114
Overview: Reshaping Kurdistan's Regional and Global Footprint Developing the Structure — Dr. Ashti Hawrami Powering Growth — Yasin Sheikh Abu Bakir Muhammad Mawati An Ideal Destination — Donnie MacDonald Broadening the Horizon — Baz Karim Step-By-Step Innovation — Shakir Wajid Shakir Success Story: Gulf Keystone Petroleum High-level of Expertise — Dr. Adel Chaouch Analysis: Turkish Policies Empower the KRG's Independent Hydrocarbon Exports — Shwan Zulal Planning for the Future — Bill Jack Focus: MITAS Energy Analysis: Bold Results — Brad Camp
Construction 117 124 126 128 129
136 137 138
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Overview: Heads Up Success Story: Falcon Group Changing the Landscape — Seerwan H. Samad, Akif İlci Turkish Expertise — Sabri Özel Structured Development — Faxir Maraan
Telecom 131 135
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Overview: Plugging In Expanding Access & Promoting Regulation — Jonson S. Ayo Market Share Mine — Ghada Gebara Growing Rapidly — Wael Ghanayem Competitiveness through Innovation — Amer Al Sunna
10 — Kurdistan Review
98 Dr. Ashti Hawrami “Our current expectation is that, by 2019, the Region could be exporting around 2 million barrels per day, with an additional one million bpd going into the northern pipelines from fields in other areas in the northern part of Iraq.”
CONTENTS KURDISTAN REVIEW
Transport 141 145 146 148 150
Overview: Taking the Right Route Strategic Growth — Kamaran Ahmed Abdullah Focus: Erbil International Airport Focus: Slemani International Airport Inside Aviation — Dori F. Abouzeid
Agriculture & Water 153 158 160 163
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Overview: Restoring the Bread Basket Present Indicators — Prof. Serwan Baban Erbil Going Green — Dosty Mohamad Improving Local Production — Dr. Salah Bakir
Kamaran Ahmed Abdullah
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Higher Education
PAGE 167
Education 165 169 170 172 174 175
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Overview: Knowledge is Power Bright Future — Dr. Asmat Muhamad Khalid Open Minds — Dr. Ali Saeed Leading Thought and Discourse — Dr. Dawn Dekle Raising the Quality — Dr. Sherzad Najar Education and Civil Service Reform — Dr. Heja Sindi
Dr. Ali Saeed
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Invest in Group — 11
CONTENTS KURDISTAN REVIEW
Health 177 181 182
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Overview: On Track for Expansion Strategy and Progress — Dr. Rekawt H. Rashid Reinventing Iraqi Pharmaceuticals — Dr. Bahram Resul
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Tourism 185 190 192 193 194
Overview: Opening Up to the World Follow Us — Mawlawy Jabbar Wahab Renovating Erbil — Nihad Latif Qoja Pioneering Hospitality — Thomas Touma A Home Away from Home — Gökhan S. Aykan
HOW TO START-UP 197
Dr. Rekawt H. Rashid
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Doing Business in the Kurdistan Region
SUPPLEMENTS “The Guide: Kurdistan” helps you to experience the social and cultural life in the Kurdistan Region in order to better realize its dynamics. It details the premium hotels, restaurants, health clubs, luxury brands, and shopping centers of the Kurdistan Region.
12 — Kurdistan Review
“The Kurdistan Region Facts & Figures 2013” presents the most accurate and recently updated information on a number of critical sectors. The figures contained therein demonstrate the success of and growing interest in Kurdistan.