Gulf News, 25 September, 2012

Layelle Saad, GCC/Middle East Editor 

While Iraqi Kurdistan is reaping the benefits of massive oil reserves, estimated at 45 billion barrels, there has been a strategic push from its leaders to develop other sectors of the territory — specifically tourism, investment and infrastructure projects. While much of the country still lags behind in terms of modern infrastructure, there are visible indications of rapid development.

27 SEPTEMBER, 2012

L'essentiel des relations internationales has published a special report on the Kurdistan Region. Below are introductions to the articles in the special report.

DUHOK, September 26 2012

Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani today hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a new international airport in Duhok. Duhok International Airport will be the third airport in the Kurdistan Region. After its completion in 2015, travellers will have direct international access to each of the Region’s three provinces. 

ERBIL, 11-15 October

This year the 2nd World Kurdish Congress will be organized in partnership with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) October 11-15th in Erbil. The goal of the WKC 2012 is targeted and over-arching: to further discuss cutting edge scientific, economic, cultural and health programs that will provide a solid foundation for all future, professional and scientific expansion within Kurdistan.

ROME, September 25 2012

President Barzani met Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi in Rome yesterday to discuss bilateral relations between Italy and the Kurdistan Region and for consultation on the situation in Syria.

GRANADA, Spain, 18 September 2012

In early September in Granada, Spain, a three day seminar commenced with the aim of providing insights into legislative drafting techniques to the KRG Shura Council. The delegation that came from Kurdistan to Granada was led by Judge Shwan Mhyaadden Ali, president of the Shura Council. The seminar was organised by the Euro-Arab Institute for Education and Training Foundation (INSTEA) and the event was financed by the Kurdistan Regional Government, the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

WASHINGTON, 16 September 2012 ( krg.org )

A senior delegation from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq concluded a weeklong visit to Washington and New York today, highlighting the successes in Iraqi Kurdistan since Iraq's liberation, and calling on the US government to keep the Region in mind during the growing political crisis.

14 September,  2012 (iraq-businessnews.com)

The central government of Iraq has agreed to pay the oil companies operating in Kurdistan, the northern, semi-autonomous region of Iraq, and to raise oil production to 200,000 barrels per day.

ERBIL, September 14 2012 ( krg.org )

Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani joined the KRG Ministry of Health in announcing a new initiative with a British pharmaceutical quality control company yesterday to improve the quality of medicine available in the Kurdistan Region.

ERBIL, 9 September 2012 ( rudaw.net )

In a meeting with a delegation of U.S. senators who visited Erbil last week, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said that adherence to the constitution is “the only way to resolve Iraq’s political disputes.”