List of all articles filed under “kurdistan-interviews” category.
Kamaran N. Bakr, CEO of Civelec, a company specialized in civil and electrical projects in Kurdistan and a leading supplier of electrical materials in the region, gives an overview of Civelec and mentions some of its upcoming projects and success stories. He also discusses international reach and talks about his wish to attract investors.
The role of tourism has been, is and will continue to be very important. When I first arrived in Kurdistan two years ago, there were not nearly as many hotels and brands with their eyes focused on Kurdistan as there are today. The role of the tourism industry is continuously increasing here.
North Bank is the leading and largest bank in Iraq (Private). Mr Al-Jaff provides his latest overview of the banking sector in Iraq and he also discusses North Bank’s performance throughout 2013, current expansion plans for Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan, and a project with Asiacell (Asiaviolet)―among others.
Empire World’s Marriott Hotel will be a unique hotel catering for needs of all visitors of Erbil, including business travelers. Peshraw Majid Agha has a positive outlook for the real estate in Erbil, which is now one of the most important cities in Iraq for businesses. The prices in Erbil are increasing and investments are flowing into the region at a substantial rate. Peshraw Majid Agha also discusses the other divisions of Falcon Group: Falcon Oil & Gas and Falcon Security.
Falcon Oil and Gas (Falcon Group) began its operations in early 2013. The company provides specialized rental equipment and warehousing facilities to the major oil and gas companies and also service companies that are working in Iraqi Kurdistan. Falcon Oil and Gas aims to attract more international companies to the region through various joint ventures.
Falcon Security was established in 2003 as one of the first companies to be registered not only in Iraq but also as a local company. Falcon Security, a part of Falcon Group, is currently employing 540 local people and about 75 expats. Their main business is in the oil service; providing security services for the executives and employees as they move back and forth to the oil fields. Falcon Security operates all over Iraq; from Basra to Baghdad to Kirkuk to Erbil.
The idea of establishing a stock exchange in Iraqi Kurdistan dates back to 2007. Erbil Stock Exchange recently signed a new agreement with Nasdaq Omex, which will substantially facilitate companies participation whether they are local or foreign. All companies in Iraq, not only those in Erbil or other parts of Iraqi Kurdistan, will have the opportunity to be enlisted on Erbil Stock Exchange.
Repsol is an international oil company (originally from Spain) that has been working in Kurdistan since mid-2011. Repsol has ongoing explorations in two blocks in the region and hopes to follow the success route of oil discoveries in Iraqi Kurdistan.
$25 billion had been spent on the development of the Erbil governorate in between 2004 and 2012, resulting in profound changes in different sectors, including construction and infrastructure, which predisposed Erbil to become an important trade center not only for Iraqi Kurdistan but for all of Iraq; thus becoming, for some, the economic capital of Iraq. Accommodating 37 nationalities and 27 consulates, Erbil boasts with an unemployment rate of about 5% and was named the tourism capital of 2014.
A revival of the health care sector in Iraqi Kurdistan happened 6 or 7 years ago. Healthcare facilities in Erbil, including private hospitals, experienced an increased demand as, due to security concerns in Iraq, more and more patients from different regions of Iraq started to come for treatment. In that time, Zozik Group opened its Soran Hospital. At present, Soran Hospital has 50 beds, 6 operation rooms, an IVF section, and all the other specializations except for the open heart operations and brain surgeries.
