KRIB: Over $80 Billion In Investments Attracted Since 2006 With 1,767 Projects
Ninth Cabinet alone attracted over $27 billion across 926 projects in tourism, industry, and housing, with foreign and domestic investment exceeding $14 billion and the board identifying agriculture, tourism, technology, and updated legal frameworks as the future investment priorities.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - The Kurdistan Region Investment Board (KRIB) announced that more than $80 billion in investments have been attracted to the Kurdistan Region since 2006, covering 1,767 investment projects across the Region’s economic sectors, with the Ninth Cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government alone responsible for attracting more than $27 billion across 926 projects, and the board’s chairman Dr. Mohammed Shukri confirming that 161,000 private sector jobs were created in 2025 alone.
The $80 billion figure, confirmed by Invest Kurdistan, includes approximately $14 billion in foreign direct investment and joint ventures, with the remaining investment coming from domestic sources. Approximately 23 percent of the total investment volume consists of foreign or joint international investments, while more than 77 percent comes from domestic investment projects.
The Ninth Cabinet’s Detailed Investment Record
The Kurdistan Region’s investment portfolio under the Ninth Cabinet illustrates an approach that spreads capital across sectors viewed as essential to economic modernization. Housing has emerged as the largest recipient of investment, accounting for 102 projects valued at more than $8.5 billion. Tourism represents the second-largest area of investment, with 118 projects valued at nearly $7.9 billion.
A significant number of factories and industrial projects, totaling 205 projects with a combined investment of $4,959,147,597, have been licensed and received investment, helping to strengthen domestic production and reduce import dependence. The trade sector attracted the largest number of projects at 246, valued at $1,901,806,111, energising and revitalising Kurdistan Region markets.
Additional sectors under the Ninth Cabinet include 73 education and training projects worth $551,014,405, 47 major healthcare and hospital projects worth $451,621,722, 30 strategic agricultural projects worth $638,312,954, 19 sports projects worth $150,552,124, 10 services projects worth $105,473,482, three arts projects worth $76,355,538, and three banking projects worth $22,169,784 to strengthen the Region’s financial infrastructure.
Agriculture’s Growing Share
Kurdistan Region Agriculture Minister Begard Talabani announced in December 2025 that agricultural investment increased from less than 2 percent to nearly 10 percent under the KRG’s Ninth Cabinet policies, driven by projects related to smart farming, water management, livestock, food processing, and agricultural modernization. The Investment Board signed contracts for several agricultural projects with Dutch producers as part of the board’s international engagement strategy.
Geographic Distribution
The geographic distribution of investment projects under the Ninth Cabinet shows Erbil leading with 174 projects, Sulaimani with 90 projects, Duhok with 80 projects, Garmian Administration with 23 projects, and Zakho, Raperin, and other areas with 39 projects.
International Investment
Germany has invested nearly $887 million in the Kurdistan Region since 2006, representing approximately 1.91 percent of total foreign investment, including projects in industry, energy, engineering, and development sectors. The board received hundreds of foreign trade and global economic delegations in 2025 seeking to benefit from production opportunities within the Region, with engagements at Davos, European capitals, and the Gulf.
Jobs and the Private Sector
KRG Investment Board Chairman Mohammed Shukri reported 161,000 private sector jobs created in 2025, highlighting major industrial projects and international partnerships. Capital is increasingly directed toward productive sectors such as manufacturing, food processing, and tourism, rather than being concentrated primarily in real estate. Since 2020, the Kurdistan Board of Investment has continued to license hundreds of new projects, reflecting sustained investor confidence.
First Half of 2025
The Kurdistan Region attracted more than $1.254 billion in new investments across 79 licensed projects in the first half of 2025. The breakdown includes industry at 17 projects worth $441,023,015, housing at 10 projects worth $519,221,753, commerce at 28 projects worth $220,471,330, tourism at 8 projects worth $15,696,768, and education at 6 projects worth $10,515,925.
Strategic Priorities
Four sectors have been identified as strategic priorities for foreign direct investment: agrifood, manufacturing, tourism, and renewable energy. Renewable energy represents a forward-looking pillar of the Region’s economic strategy. With more than 300 sunny days per year, the Kurdistan Region offers ideal conditions for solar power generation, supporting both energy diversification and long-term sustainability goals. The Development Road project is also expected to play a major role in expanding trade routes, logistics networks, and industrial investment across the Region in the coming decades.