At TEDx event, Kurdistan PM praises youth, small businesses

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani reiterated on Saturday his government’s support for youths and their efforts to start their own businesses and highlighted the start of “a new beginning” for entrepreneurial ambitions in the region.

“I’m here today at TEDxNishtiman to show my support, and that of my government, for the young people gathered here today and our youth in general, from Zakho to Khanaqin, whose ideas and optimism to improve the situation in Kurdistan I have personally witnessed in recent months,” Barzani said at the event.

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The prime minister told attendants he wants to “mark a new beginning between the Kurdistan Regional Government and you; to have a relationship, with the shared goal of improving the situation in Kurdistan on the one hand, and creating real opportunities for young people on the other.”

“This is an opportunity to bring us closer to each other… I know the obstacles before you are great, and some of them have been around for many generations. At the same time, I know the opportunities that exist now have been hard fought for,” he noted

“I am committed to providing meaningful change and opportunities for our youth. Of course, the government has an important role to play in creating a space for this, and it needs to determine the legal and economic framework to develop and encourage partnerships in the public and private sectors, as well as help employers and businesses grow.”

Private Sector Growth

Barzani explained, “we have a long way ahead of us, and it takes time to make these changes happen. And unfortunately, some have a vested interest in preventing reforms and slowing the process.”

“But we understand the need to build an economy that relies less on employment in the public sector; an economy that relies more on the partnership and cooperation between the public and private sectors, one that builds our economic infrastructure and supports small and medium-sized businesses.”

He assured listeners the coming years would witness a “turning point” in the Kurdistan Region, “from an economy dependent on unstable oil prices, toward a developed economy, one that shifts our consumer society to a more productive society.”

“I am eager to explore the benefits of green and renewable energy, and how we can advance our tech industry, tourism, innovations, and many other fields,” Barzani noted, adding that he believes the Kurdistan Region will become “an important economic and commercial hub in Iraq and the rest of the region.”

Digital Transformation

“I am particularly interested in launching Kurdistan and its public institutions into the digital age, a crucial step in progressing the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ninth Cabinet’s Reform Agenda. The reforms aim at forming a transparent and fair system for all of the government’s works.”

The prime minster pointed to Erbil’s new “digital system for the public finances,” developed by “a team of young employees within the government.”

“We have also leaned on our young developers to build other digital platforms, notably the Regional Government's portal and website which provide access to information regarding public services.”

“While these measures help increase transparency and overall performance in the public sector, it is also designed to assist you in delivering your ideas to the market and keeping records of your work, making it easier for companies to pay taxes,” Barzani added.

Hearing the Public

The prime minister stated: “We want you inside the tent; part of the dialogue aimed at making our home - Kurdistan - better and stronger. Doing so means you have to come together and organize yourselves at a grass-root level and join the political debate; bring in new ideas.”

“To that end, I intend to build a bridge for young people’s voices to be heard even more clearly by the government. This is crucial. I want to hear from you. I want my government to learn from you; and, more importantly, to work with you and take advantage of your abilities.”

He continued, “I have asked for the formation of a youth representative group to bring the concerns, demands, and ideas of young people directly to my office. I am glad my team is made up of so many talented young women and men, some of whom are here today working tirelessly to help achieve these goals.”

Editing by Khrush Najari