Washington, DC, USA (us.gov.krd) – Representative Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman and David Tafuri, President of the US Kurdistan Business Council (USKBC) jointly led a delegation of American companies to Erbil from May 7 to 10.

The delegation was welcomed by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, who outlined the KRG’s agreement with the Iraqi federal government on the resumption of oil exports and reiterated the Kurdistan Regional Government’s commitment to promoting commercial ties with the United States.

The delegation, which included companies working in oil and gas,  real estate, hospitality, security and logistics sectors,  also met with Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani who shared the KRG’s perspective on the oil agreement with the Iraqi federal government and detailed the Iraqi draft budget law.

They also met with Fawzi Hariri, the Chief-of-Staff of the Kurdistan Region Presidency, Minister of the Interior Rebar Ahmed, Minister of Natural Resources Kamal Mohammed, Minister of Agriculture Begard Talabani, Umed Sabah, President of the Diwan of Council of Ministers, Minister Safeen Dizayee who heads the Department of Foreign Relations, and Deputy Minister of Peshmerga Affairs.

Mr Tafuri, Representative Abdul Rahman and the company executives were hosted by Dara Jalil Khayat, head of the Erbil Chamber of Commerce, and members of the Chamber. They also met with SEED, an NGO that supports survivors of violence, and visited a peshmerga language center that has been partly supported by a USKBC member, the Spirit of America. The delegation also had a wide-ranging discussion with Zehra Bell, Deputy US Consul General in Erbil.

Throughout the meetings, representatives from the KRG and USKBC discussed various topics, including US-Kurdistan relations, the development of security forces in Kurdistan, strategies to foster the growth of the private sector, and how to resume the export of oil from Kurdistan.

The KRG Representation in the United States and the US-Kurdistan Business Council remain committed to furthering economic growth, bilateral partnerships, and strengthening the bond between the American and Kurdish business communities.