Washington, DC, USA (us.gov.krd) – In a series of productive meetings held in August 2023, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representative to the United States, Treefa Aziz, and Delovan Barwari, Director of Public and Academic Affairs, bolstered partnerships with key U.S. academic institutions and think tanks, with a specific focus on collaborative initiatives.

Representative Aziz engaged in a discussion with Dr. Howard Shatz, a Senior Economist at the RAND Corporation. During this meeting, Rep. Aziz provided insights into the current priorities of the KRG and explored potential areas for cooperation. She also met with Jessica Diez, the Director of Academic Programs at the Middle East Policy Council, to explore potential collaborations in educational exchange and research.

The KRG delegation also convened with senior faculty members from the Institute of World Politics (IWP), including Ambassador Aldona Z. Woś, the President. The primary focus of the IWP meeting was to discuss and gain a deeper understanding of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) established earlier this year between IWP and the University of Duhok, with the aim of facilitating future collaboration.

Additionally, the KRG Mission welcomed a distinguished scholar from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) to discuss multifaceted collaboration in various medical fields, facilitated by the KRG Mission. The dialogue included discussions on ongoing collaborative efforts and the exploration of other opportunities.

These engagements exemplify the KRG Mission's commitment to strengthening ties with U.S. academic and policy institutions and promoting cooperation for mutual growth and development.