Foundation stone laid for $25 million tourism project in Zakho

ERBIL(Kurdistan 24) - The foundation stone for a major tourism project, "VIA PORT ZAKHO," valued at $25 million, was laid in Zakho on Monday.

The ceremony was held under the supervision of Gohdar Shekho, Supervisor of the Independent Administration of Zakho, and on the recommendation of Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.

Call for Investment

Guhdar Shekho, in his speech at the event, highlighted the significant development in sectors such as electricity, health, education, and roads since Zakho became an independent administration.

He urged investors and capitalists in Zakho and other cities of the Kurdistan Region to invest in various fields, assuring them of full support to strengthen Zakho’s economic infrastructure.

"We will provide all facilities for this purpose; to strengthen the economic infrastructure of Zakho," Shekho stated. He also emphasized the ongoing commitment to serving the people, as recommended by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.

Strategic Projects Announced

Mohammed Shukri, Chairman of the Kurdistan Board of Investment, also attended the ceremony.

He announced that in addition to the projects completed in the past two years, several other major and strategic projects are planned for the near future. Among these is the "Zakho Gate Project," which will cover an area of over 10,800 acres.

Shukri reiterated the commitment to providing all necessary facilities to investors for various projects in Zakho, attributing the current progress to the support of Prime Minister Barzani and the efforts of Guhdar Shekho.

Expansion of Administrative Powers

The establishment of the Independent Administration of Zakho on September 20, 2021, by the Council of Ministers of the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has led to significant administrative and developmental benefits for the region.

This move aimed to decentralize administrative powers, making decision-making more efficient and increasing prosperity in Zakho.

Since the establishment of the independent administration, 286 projects, costing over 230 billion dinars, have been implemented. Out of these, 218 projects have been completed, while 68 are currently underway.

The projects span various sectors, including:

- Municipal, Roads, and Bridges: 90 projects
- Education and Higher Education: 17 projects
- Water, Groundwater, and Agriculture: 45 projects
- Health: 20 projects
- Electricity: 33 projects
- Tourism and Archaeology: 16 projects
- Government Offices and Endowments: 54 projects

Significantly, 81 percent of Zakho's streets have been paved, with plans to complete the remaining areas soon.

Establishment of Public Directorates

Following the establishment of the independent administration, seven new general directorates, 17 bases and offices were upgraded to directorates, and 16 new directorates were established in Zakho.

The ongoing development in Zakho underscores the region’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its residents and attracting further investment to ensure sustained economic growth.

Additional reporting by Kurdistan24's correspondent Metin Karim Khan