Washington DC, USA (us.gov.krd) – The US Chamber of Commerce, with the assistance of the Kurdistan Regional Government Representation, arranged a visit to Kurdistan from June 18 to 22 by American companies that work in agriculture and food industries in an ongoing and successful endeavor to broaden the US-Kurdistan economic ties.

On June 19, the ‘farm to fork’ delegation, which was led by Steve Lutes, President of the US-Iraq Business Council and Vice President of Middle East Affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce, was received by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. Accompanied by Irvin Hicks, the US Consul General in Erbil, the meeting was attended by over 20 executives representing more than a dozen American companies.

Prime Minister Barzani conveyed his gratitude for the United States' dedication to fostering stronger relations with the Kurdistan Region through the private sector. He emphasized that the KRG is prioritizing reforms focusing on economic diversification, agricultural development, modernizing the banking system, and digitalizing public services.
Prime Minister Barzani outlined the agricultural sector’s vital role. He expressed his government's steadfast commitment to transforming the Kurdistan Region into a thriving agricultural and commercial hub, ensuring long-term food security and sustainability.

The delegation and Consul General Hicks also met with Begard Talabani, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, where they discussed the potential for agricultural deployment, the export of Kurdish products and various factory projects.

The delegation was received by Mohammed Shukri, Chairman of the Kurdistan Board of Investment, who offered his full support to American companies wanting to operate in the region, especially with regards to honey exports and dam construction.

Mr. Lutes was invited to deliver remarks at the Investment Board’s launch of its new platform, Invest Kurdistan, dedicated to trade promotion and ease of business.They also met with Umed Sabah, President of the Diwan at the Council of Ministers, Ano Abdoka, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Haval Abubakir, the Governor of Slemani, and Mala Majeed Surchi, Sirwan Mahmood, Ayad Abdulhaleem, and Haji Peshawa Ahmed, presidents of the Erbil, Slemani, Duhok and Halabja chambers of commerce respectively.

In addition to meeting with KRG officials, the delegation met private sector companies and toured the Dlba Dairy factory, DAS Food Industries, which is an Erbil-based wheat production company, Burger King, the headquarters of Qaiwan Group, and greenhouses in Slemani.