In this Kurdistan Region of Iraq coverage, we put a spotlight on the Real Estate, Human Capital, ICT, and Agriculture & Water. We also talk to the leading companies on their success stories, future projects and doing business in Kurdistan.
ERBIL -- On April 26, 2014, Falcon Group held a mammoth gala to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Over three hundred business and civic leaders, government dignitaries, and international guests gathered at a dinner reception held in the luxurious Divan Hotel in Erbil.
Among the guests were Nawzad Hadi, Governor of Erbil province, who spoke on behalf of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechirvan Barzani, Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Interior, Karim Sinjari and US Consul General, Joseph Pennington.
Addressing the gala, Peshraw Majid Agha highlighted Falcon Group's largest real estate project in Iraq, Empire World, which was established in 2007 with a projected investment of US $2.7 billion. Empire World consists of 88 towers and 300 villas comprising residential apartments; business towers; leisure facilities; a mall; and the jewel in the crown of Empire World,the upgraded JW Marriott Five Star Hotel and Conference Center.
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A major feature of the event was the announcement of, and signing ceremony for,the upgrading of the Marriott Hotel, already under construction at Empire World, to the status of a Five Star JW Marriott Hotel, as well as announcing a new Courtyard by Marriott Hotel soon to be constructed by Falcon Group near Massif.
Both will be major boons to the recognition of Kurdistan and particularly the city of Erbil as a major business and tourist destination in the Middle East.
Of the upgraded JW Marriott Five Star Hotel to be part of Empire World, Peshraw Majid Agha, chairman of Falcon Group, predicted: "This will be one of the greatest hotels in the Middle East."
Addressing the gala, Peshraw Majid Agha highlighted Falcon Group's largest real estate project in Iraq, Empire World, which was established in 2007 with a projected investment of US $2.7 billion. Empire World consists of 88 towers and 300 villas comprising residential apartments; business towers; leisure facilities; a mall; and the jewel in the crown of Empire World,the upgraded JW Marriott Five Star Hotel and Conference Center.
Speaking of the project on behalf of Marriott International, Alex Kyriakidis, President of Middle East & Africa of Marriott International, praised the vision of Falcon Group's leadership, which made this project possible:
"Here you have a vision: a vision to create destination, not just a hotel, and there is a huge difference between the two. Imagine a destination of 45,000 square meter;s imagine a luxurious JW Marriott Hotel for transient and short stay guests; imagine next to it Marriott executive apartments for the long stay guest who wishes to stay for weeks, months here in Erbil working. Imagine also if you would a substantial conference facility, seven food and beverage outlets of different cuisines from around the world, a world-renowned spa, and residential complex; so what you have is a destination within Erbil. Now the economic activity that a project like this creates is huge… crucially putting Erbil on the global hospitality map. This is what this project will do; this is what the vision of our partner is all about".