‘This Is Just the Beginning,’ PM Barzani Sees Cement Plant as Gateway to Broader Economic Growth

By Kamaran Aziz 

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday, delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Dabin Cement Factory and Power Station in Erbil, framing the project as a symbol of industrial ambition, environmental responsibility, and the Kurdistan Region's economic transformation.

Standing on the very site where the foundation stone had been laid less than two years ago, PM Barzani lauded the completion of the complex on schedule, crediting the combined efforts of local engineers and international partners for turning vision into reality. The project, a joint initiative between Dabin Group and Power China, is now one of the largest industrial installations in the region.

"It is truly commendable that work of this nature and quality has been completed so quickly," the Prime Minister declared. “It is a source of pride and honor to see local capabilities, together with the cooperation of our friends from abroad, able to establish the industrial sector in Kurdistan in this way."

With an annual production capacity exceeding two million tons of cement, the Dabin factory is expected to meet a significant share of both regional and Iraqi market demand. The adjacent 52-megawatt power station ensures energy self-sufficiency for the facility while contributing to the local power grid.

Barzani paid special tribute to the project's adherence to environmental standards, praising the installation of advanced smoke and gas filtration systems. “I commend the project implementers for considering environmental protection,” he said. “I hope that all other places will take this into consideration and make it a fundamental part of their work—how we respect our nature and protect our environment.”

Beyond industrial output, the project has already created over 1,200 jobs for local residents, aligning with the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) wider economic policy of supporting the private sector and expanding employment opportunities. “This is another part of the KRG’s promise,” Barzani said, “that, with the support of the private sector, we provide job opportunities for the people of the Kurdistan Region.”

Barzani’s speech also pointed to broader economic development plans, referencing the nearby Gomespan Dam tourism project as evidence of a multi-sectoral strategy encompassing agriculture, tourism, and industry. He emphasized that the KRG’s long-standing policy of revenue diversification and economic infrastructure development was proving both correct and necessary.

“These are the initial steps,” Barzani stated. “Kurdistan is very rich and there is more potential for us to focus on developing economic infrastructure in all other parts of Kurdistan, in every city and town.”

The Prime Minister also reiterated the importance of maintaining political stability and regional security as preconditions for sustained economic progress. “As long as stability and security continue in the region, Kurdistan will undoubtedly take more steps toward progress,” he said.

Barzani closed his address with a message of optimism and national pride, thanking Dabin Group and Power China for their contributions and expressing hope for more large-scale development projects across Kurdistan. “We look forward to similar projects being implemented in other parts of our beloved Kurdistan, God willing. May Kurdistan always prosper.”

The Dabin Cement and Power Plant:
• 2.1m tons of cement annually
• 52 MW electricity output
• 1,200+ jobs created

This is on the back of our diversification agenda — and we’re staying the course. pic.twitter.com/7rb1dsCP7Z

— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) May 12, 2025

You can read the transcript of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani's speech below:

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Distinguished attendees, honored guests, you are very welcome, and I am very pleased that today we are participating with you in the opening ceremony of this large company. It was at this site, two years ago, that we came and laid the foundation stone for the cement factory constructed by Dabin Group and Power China, who both designed and undertook the implementation.

Less than two years ago we were here, and now, on schedule, we see the results. It is truly commendable that work of this nature and quality has been completed so quickly. It is a source of pride and honor to see local capabilities, together with the cooperation of our friends from abroad, able to establish the industrial sector in Kurdistan in this way, marking the beginning of even greater steps in the future.

What is especially pleasing is seeing the great importance given to environmental protection here, with filters for all the smoke and gases that would otherwise become an environmental problem. This issue has been resolved. I commend the project implementers for considering environmental protection, and I hope that all other places will take this into consideration and make it a fundamental part of their work - how we respect our nature and protect our environment.

The production of this factory is more than two million and nearly 100,000 tons of cement annually, which will undoubtedly meet a large portion of the Kurdistan Region's needs and at the Iraqi level as well. There are several other similar projects in the Kurdistan Region. This indicates that Kurdistan is a suitable place for developing the industrial sector. We will continue to encourage, support, and back the private sector in implementing such projects that serve the people of Kurdistan.

What is gratifying, as we have heard again, is that more than 1,200 job opportunities have been created for the local people. This is another part of the Kurdistan Regional Government's promise that, with the support of the private sector, we provide job opportunities for the people of the Kurdistan Region. I commend you for the excellent work you are doing.

Right next to this project, there is another large tourism project, the Gomespan Dam. Therefore, the promises made by the Kurdistan Regional Government for developing the agricultural, industrial, and tourism sectors are gradually being realized, and many of them are being implemented. But this is just the beginning, these are the initial steps. Kurdistan is very rich and there is more potential for us to focus on developing economic infrastructure in all other parts of Kurdistan, in all other places, in every city and town. Where needed, we give importance to the industrial sector, and where needed, we focus on the tourism sector. As you know, for the agricultural sector as well, we have been investing considerably for some time and have encouraged our farmers to continue developing the agricultural sector.

All these sectors together remind us once again that the Kurdistan Regional Government's policy for diversifying and expanding the Kurdistan Region's revenue and developing economic infrastructure has been correct and legitimate. We will continue to enhance our relations with friendly and neighboring countries and abroad to further focus on Kurdistan's development, so that prosperity in Kurdistan continues to advance day by day. As long as stability and security continue in the region, Kurdistan will undoubtedly take more steps toward progress, and our hope is that our people, the people of Kurdistan, and those who visit Kurdistan, can live in peace, security, and confidence, looking toward a brighter future.

Once again, I commend the implementers of this major project. I commend Dabin Group and Power China, and I hope they will always be successful. We look forward to similar projects and other projects being implemented in other parts of our beloved Kurdistan, God willing.

Once again, well done, thank you for your attendance, and may you always be successful. May Kurdistan always prosper.