Peace Process Boosts Trade Between Diyarbakir and Kurdistan Region
Diyarbakir's exports to Kurdistan Region surge 26% amid peace process, business leaders report. Half of its $165M in exports go to the region, with potential to reach $1B with lasting peace.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Exports from Diyarbakir in Southeast Turkey (Northern Kurdistan) to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have seen a significant surge this year, with business leaders linking the growth directly to the ongoing peace process.
According to figures released by the Turkish Exporters Assembly, Diyarbakir’s exports reached nearly $165 million during the first seven months of 2025, compared to $136 million in the same period last year. The sharp rise underscores the positive impact of political stability on regional economic activity.
Şehmus Nakaş, head of the Diyarbakir Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (DİSİDER), emphasized that half of Diyarbakir’s total exports are bound for the Kurdistan Region. He expressed optimism that trade volumes would continue to expand in tandem with the stability of the peace process.
“Diyarbakir’s exports recorded a 26 percent increase, while Turkey’s overall exports grew by only 3 percent. This is a very important indicator,” Nakaş told Kurdistan24.
He added that DİSİDER has submitted a formal memorandum to parliamentary committees declaring its support for the peace process, highlighting the business community’s commitment to sustaining stability.
Business circles across Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeast have echoed strong backing for reconciliation, stressing its direct effect on commerce and livelihoods.
Entrepreneur Nurgor Mehmet Dinçoglu underscored the close link between peace and prosperity. “It is clear that reaching a settlement strengthens all aspects of life, including the economy,” he told Kurdistan24.
“We hope that all actors, both large and small, will support this political process for a better future,” Dinçoglu added.
Several traders noted that a lasting solution to the Kurdish question could unlock unprecedented levels of economic activity. They believe Diyarbakir’s annual exports to the Kurdistan Region could potentially reach $1 billion if peace is firmly consolidated.
“This is an opportunity that should not be missed,” Nakaş stressed, reflecting widespread sentiment among the region’s business leaders that peace is not only a political imperative but also the foundation of economic revival.
What’s Happening between Diyarbakir and The Kurdistan Region?
— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) August 23, 2025
Diyarbakir's exports to the Kurdistan Region surge 26%, hitting $165M. Business leaders credit the peace process for the boom, predicting billion-dollar trade with lasting stability. pic.twitter.com/x1mGXGN9Fq
