Erbil will host a major economic and investment forum with Turkey and Azerbaijan on September 20. The event will bring together hundreds of businessmen, investors, and company representatives.
The forum will focus on strengthening trade ties and creating new investment opportunities. In addition, organizers want to expand land-based trade between the three markets.
Ibrahim Agha Gardi, a member of the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said preparations for the event continue. He expects around 130 participants from the Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s central and southern provinces.
Meanwhile, about 150 businessmen and company owners from Turkey and Azerbaijan will attend the forum. Therefore, the event will create a large platform for businesses from different markets to connect.
Gardi said the Kurdistan Region wants to increase trade with Azerbaijan through land routes. He noted that the journey between the Kurdistan Region and Azerbaijan can take around seven hours.
Moreover, he believes businesses can expand trade along this route in the future. Better transport links could help companies move goods faster and reach new customers.
Economic relations between the Kurdistan Region and Azerbaijan have grown in recent years. Senior officials have also made several visits to Baku and held meetings with Azerbaijani leaders.
As a result, these diplomatic contacts have created more opportunities for commercial cooperation. Transportation, trade, logistics, and investment could become key areas for future partnerships.
Turkey, meanwhile, remains a major trading partner for both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. Bilateral trade between Turkey and Iraq reaches several billion dollars annually.
The upcoming forum will therefore give companies a chance to explore new business opportunities. Participants can discuss investment projects, trade partnerships, transportation, and logistics.
In addition, organizers expect the forum to strengthen commercial connections between the three markets. They also want businesses to develop long-term partnerships through direct meetings.
The event comes as the Kurdistan Region seeks to expand private-sector activity and attract more international investment. Stronger ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan could help local companies enter wider regional markets.
Overall, the September 20 forum could strengthen trade links and improve regional connectivity. It could also open new opportunities for businesses, investors, and companies across the region.
