Zom Dairy project celebrates 1st anniversary with prestigious awards, economic impact
The Zom factory received the 2024 award for social responsibility from the Iraqi National Business Forum and three international certificates from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Zom Dairy Products Project celebrated its first year of operation with a ceremony on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in the Barzan region, marking its success with three international awards and one Iraqi award.
Mullah Mustafa Barzani, representing President Barzani, attended the event.
The Zom factory received the 2024 award for social responsibility from the Iraqi National Business Forum and three international certificates from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Begard Talabani, Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), praised the ninth cabinet's success in agriculture.
She highlighted Prime Minister Masrour Barzani's continuous support for the sector, especially in promoting local products in livestock and agriculture, which has led to the establishment of several factories in various fields.
At the anniversary ceremony, Mohammed Shukri, Chairman of the Kurdistan Investment Board, noted that the Zom project has significantly boosted the income and economy of the local population.
He emphasized that the factory aligns with Prime Minister Barzani's vision of diversifying income and fostering self-reliance among the people, as well as President Barzani's principle of teaching people to work.
Shukri also highlighted the Zom factory's contribution to the Kurdistan Region's reputation, noting that its 100% natural products play an important role in enhancing the region's trade profile.
The Zom Dairy Factory, which received its legal license from the Investment Board on November 21, 2022, was inaugurated on May 30, 2023, in Zhazhuk village, Barzan region, in the presence of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.
The project spans 13,046 square meters, equipped with state-of-the-art stainless steel equipment, and has a daily production capacity of 20 tons, scalable to 50 tons.
The factory prioritizes product health, featuring an in-house laboratory to test incoming milk and finished products.
Over the past year, the factory has employed an average of 80 people daily and plans to create an additional 300 jobs in the next phase, benefiting over 2,700 local families.
Zom factory products include:
- Natural and domestic yogurt (regular and low-fat)
- Natural and domestic white cheese (regular and low-fat)
- Natural and domestic Kaymak
- Natural and domestic Mastaw (liquid yogurt / Ayran)
Objectives of the Zom Dairy Project:
- Provide sustainable income to villagers and livestock farmers by purchasing milk from their animals, collected from 20 newly built collection stations.
- Encourage cattle breeding, with the potential to benefit over 27,000 partners when operating at full capacity by purchasing fresh milk from local farmers.
- Create direct employment for 100 local citizens, with plans to increase job opportunities, and indirectly support over 2,700 livestock farmers.
- Positively impact domestic capital circulation by reducing reliance on imports, contributing to the country's economic recovery.
To minimize milk transportation costs, the Zom factory has established 20 milk collection centers.
Farmers deliver fresh milk to these centers daily, which is then inspected and transported to the factory for further processing and production.
The Zom Dairy Project's success over the past year highlights its role in promoting economic growth, enhancing local agricultural practices, and ensuring sustainable development in the Kurdistan Region.
