KRG High Representative meets with Edinburgh chambers and commerce officials

News : 2/6/2025

United Kingdom, Scotland , www.uk.gov.krd. Kurdistan Regional Government High Representative Karwan Jamal Tahir met with Mayan Grace, Director of Projects & International Trade Activities and Joanna Davidson, Director of Policy & Insights at the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. During the meeting, both sides discussed about how to develop and improve trade relations between Scotland and the Kurdistan Region as well as the economic and investment conditions in the region.

In addition to highlighting the investment opportunities in the Kurdistan Region and the laws and regulations for foreign investors and companies operating in Kurdistan, Mr Taher also discussed the region's economic growth, infrastructure development, and the KRG's strategy to diversify the Kurdistan Region's economy and wean itself off of reliance on oil and gas as its sole revenue source.
The aim of their visit, he said, was to talk about how to strengthen ties with the Edinburgh Chambers of Commerce and Scottish businesses and investors, link them with the Kurdistan Chambers of Commerce and local businesses, and increase trade between the two nations.
According to KRG UK High Representative, the Kurdistan Region is an emerging market with plenty of investment and employment prospects. In order to gain a thorough understanding of the investment prospects in both regions, he recommended that a joint economic and trade forum be organised in Erbil or Edinburgh with the cooperation of both regional governments for Scotland and Kurdistan.

Accordingly, he recommended that a formal delegation made up of representatives from the public and private sectors travel to Scotland, meet with their counterparts, and establish a solid rapport. In order to establish a strong economic and trade relationship between the two nations, the Edinburgh Chambers of Commerce expressed their gratitude for the meeting and reaffirmed their willingness to work in any capacity with the Kurdistan Chambers of Commerce, companies, and the Kurdistan Regional Government's Representation in the United Kingdom.

They said that because they are ranked second in the UK and among the top 10 cities worldwide for scientific and technological advancements, their chambers work extensively with nations and regions, particularly in emerging markets, and that their activities span all different sectors.

To develop a viewpoint on how to link economic relations and find investors and private businesses that can support the proposed forum, the Edinburgh Chambers of Commerce requested additional information during the meeting regarding the priorities of the sectors that the Kurdistan Region hopes to share and discuss with the Chamber's member companies and members.

Edinburgh, Scotland

February 7, 2025