Kurdistan Investment Chief Pledges Support for Women Entrepreneurs

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Kurdistan Region Board of Investment will expand support and facilitation for women seeking to establish or develop businesses, Chairman of the Kurdistan Region Investment Board Mohammed Shukri said Monday, arguing that greater female participation is essential to economic growth.

Speaking at an Economic Policy Dialogue held under the theme "From Commitment to Action" on Aug. 24, Shukri said the board was prepared to assist investors who already operate businesses as well as those seeking to launch new projects.

"It is encouraging that those who own shops or businesses in the marketplace are managing economic projects in the best possible way," Shukri said.

He placed particular emphasis on women entrepreneurs, describing their participation as indispensable to a productive economy.

Shukri said excluding women from economic activity would effectively leave half of society's productive potential unused, arguing that greater participation contributes directly to national economic output.

"Such an important segment of society cannot be excluded from the economy, because women's participation directly contributes to increasing a country's gross domestic product," he said.

His remarks framed women's economic participation not only as a question of social inclusion but as an investment and development issue for the Kurdistan Region.

The Board of Investment serves as a central institution for facilitating investment projects in the Region, and Shukri said it would seek to reduce obstacles facing women who want to enter the marketplace or expand existing businesses.

"We will open every door to them and provide them with every possible facilitation so that they can implement their projects and stand on their own feet," he said.

The commitment could include women who already manage shops and commercial enterprises as well as prospective entrepreneurs seeking to move from business ideas toward formal investment projects.

Shukri said the policy had support from Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the Kurdistan Region's wider political leadership, which he described as united behind efforts to strengthen women’s role in economic development.

The discussion comes as the Kurdistan Region seeks to broaden private-sector activity and encourage entrepreneurship alongside more traditional forms of employment.

For Shukri, bringing more women into that process is central to expanding the Region's economic capacity.

His message at Monday's dialogue was that commitments to women's participation should now be translated into practical access to investment opportunities, institutional support and viable businesses.