Duhok will soon host a major sugar factory under a new $110 million investment project designed to support agriculture, create jobs, and improve food security.
The General Directorate of Investment in Duhok announced the project. Officials selected the Qasrok area in the Shekhan district as the site for the factory.
Dr. Haval Sadiq, Director General of Investment in Duhok, said that authorities already approved the project. The team is now completing land allocation procedures before issuing the final investment license.
Sadiq described the factory as one of the most important industrial projects in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He said the plant will use locally grown sugar beet and sugar cane as its main raw materials.
The project aims to connect farmers directly with the industrial sector. Farmers will sign contracts to supply crops to the factory, giving them a stable market and encouraging more agricultural production.
Officials believe the factory will strengthen food security by producing 100 percent natural sugar. Local production could reduce dependence on imported sugar and artificial alternatives.
The investment authority expects the project to create between 300 and 400 direct jobs. It will also support thousands of indirect jobs in farming, transportation, logistics, and related services.
Officials plan to distribute the factory’s products across Duhok, the Kurdistan Region, and other Iraqi provinces. The company may also target export markets in neighboring countries.
The sugar factory reflects the Kurdistan Regional Government’s wider economic strategy. Authorities continue to encourage large-scale investment projects that expand domestic production and reduce import dependence.
Recent growth in agriculture and industry has pushed the region toward greater economic diversification. Officials say projects like the Duhok sugar factory can strengthen long-term economic resilience while creating new opportunities for local communities.
The factory will also help build stronger links between agricultural output and industrial development, making local supply chains more efficient and sustainable.
