Erbil Plans New Factories and Heavy-Industry Zone to Boost Investment

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Authorities in Erbil are preparing to implement 38 industrial and investment projects, including new factories and a designated heavy-industry zone, as part of efforts to expand manufacturing, attract private investment and generate employment opportunities across the province.

Mohammed Shukri, Chairman of the Kurdistan Region's Board of Investment, told Kurdistan24 that preparations are underway to identify suitable locations and determine the industrial activities that will be developed under the initiative.

The projects are intended to broaden Erbil's industrial capacity by establishing manufacturing facilities in designated areas, while creating opportunities for investors interested in expanding their operations in the province.

Among the planned developments is a factory producing household goods, electronic equipment and electrical products. According to Shukri, the facility will be established along the Kani Qirzhala-Kalak road, one of the locations identified for industrial development.

The Board of Investment is also working to allocate land in the Timar area for several factories, while preparations include establishing a separate zone dedicated to heavy industries.

The proposed industrial areas form part of a broader approach to organizing manufacturing activities in Erbil, with specific locations being identified for different categories of production.

Erbil Governor Omed Xoshnaw told Kurdistan24 that the projects fall within the administrative powers delegated to provincial authorities and independent administrations by the Kurdistan Regional Government's Council of Ministers.

Under the arrangement, a council chaired by the governor is responsible for overseeing the relevant procedures and advancing the proposed developments within the authority granted to local administrations.

Xoshnaw said the initiative encompasses 38 industrial and investment projects, including various manufacturing facilities and larger investment developments.

He explained that the industrial projects are planned for the Timar industrial area, where preparations are being made to accommodate factories once the necessary approvals are secured.

The governor's remarks indicate that the planned developments are progressing through administrative and approval procedures, with implementation expected to follow the completion of those requirements.

The initiative brings together industrial planning and investment development, with the Board of Investment responsible for identifying project categories and locations, while provincial authorities work through the administrative mechanisms established by the Council of Ministers.

The proposed household goods and electrical products facility represents one component of the industrial expansion, alongside the planned factories in Timar and the establishment of an area specifically designated for heavy manufacturing.

Authorities expect the projects to support the local economy by increasing industrial activity and providing additional employment opportunities for Erbil residents.

Xoshnaw said attracting more investors is another central objective, with the new facilities expected to encourage further economic development and expand the range of investment activities undertaken in the province.

The planned projects also reflect efforts to coordinate industrial development through designated production areas rather than treating each proposed facility as an isolated investment.

Although officials have outlined the number of projects, their proposed locations and their anticipated economic benefits, the announcement did not specify the total investment value, construction schedules or the number of jobs expected to be created.

Further details concerning individual projects and implementation arrangements have yet to be announced.

For now, the immediate priority is completing the required approvals and preparing the identified industrial sites, particularly in Timar, before the proposed factories and other investment developments can proceed.