The Kurdistan Foundation and Germany's GIZ have launched the Region's first Inclusive Employment and Business Forum, connecting job seekers with employers as the Kurdistan Regional Government accelerates efforts to strengthen the private sector and diversify the economy.

By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis

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Kurdistan Foundation and GIZ launch the first Inclusive Employment and Business Forum in Erbil, connecting job seekers with businesses and supporting private sector growth.

Kurdistan expands efforts to strengthen the private sector

The Kurdistan Foundation, in partnership with Germany's GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), has launched the first Kurdistan Inclusive Employment and Business Forum, marking another step in the Kurdistan Regional Government's strategy to expand private-sector employment and reduce dependence on the public sector.

Held in Erbil, the two-day forum brought together government officials, business leaders, international organisations, diplomatic representatives and civil society groups to promote employment opportunities while encouraging stronger cooperation between employers and skilled job seekers.

The initiative reflects a broader shift within the Kurdistan Region toward creating a more diversified economy capable of generating sustainable employment through private investment rather than public-sector hiring.

Connecting employers with skilled workers

One of the forum's principal objectives was to bridge the gap between businesses seeking qualified employees and job seekers searching for new opportunities.

More than 110 skilled job seekers and representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises participated in the event, where over 230 job vacancies offered by more than 50 companies were made available.

The forum also included entrepreneurship support, with three businesses receiving financial awards worth a combined 22 million Iraqi dinars to encourage business development and innovation.

For many participants, the event offered more than immediate employment opportunities.

Even those who did not secure a position were able to establish professional contacts and engage directly with companies actively recruiting across multiple sectors.

Building a more inclusive labour market

A central theme of the forum was expanding economic participation among groups that often face barriers to employment.

Discussions focused on creating greater opportunities for:

Women
Persons with disabilities
Refugees
Internally displaced persons (IDPs)
Young professionals entering the labour market

Officials emphasised that long-term economic development depends on ensuring that all segments of society have access to employment, vocational training and entrepreneurship programmes.

According to Zakia Said Salih, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, the ministry has already provided approximately 140,000 vocational training opportunities designed to equip participants with market-oriented skills.

Germany deepens economic partnership with Kurdistan

The participation of GIZ and the German Consulate General in Erbil highlights Germany's continuing role as one of the Kurdistan Region's most significant international development partners.

German officials praised the Region's human capital, describing Kurdistan as home to a young and increasingly well-educated population capable of supporting long-term economic transformation.

Germany has consistently supported programmes aimed at vocational education, institutional reform, entrepreneurship and labour market development throughout the Kurdistan Region.

The latest initiative reinforces that broader partnership by focusing on employment creation rather than humanitarian assistance alone.

SMEs remain central to economic diversification

The forum also underscored the growing importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kurdistan's economic strategy.

Unlike traditional public-sector employment, SMEs are viewed as engines of innovation, investment and long-term job creation.

To further support this objective, the Kurdistan Regional Government confirmed that a new phase of its Bloom Project will soon begin.

Under the programme, qualifying businesses will be eligible for financing of up to 150 million Iraqi dinars, providing entrepreneurs with greater access to capital for expansion and job creation.

The initiative forms part of wider government efforts to encourage domestic investment while strengthening private-sector resilience.

Analysis: Economic reform increasingly complements political stability

The employment forum reflects an important evolution in the Kurdistan Region's development priorities.

For many years, regional policy focused primarily on security, infrastructure and institutional building.

Today, policymakers increasingly recognise that sustainable political stability also depends on creating employment opportunities for Kurdistan's rapidly growing young population.

High youth unemployment remains one of the Region's most significant long-term challenges.

By connecting employers directly with job seekers while expanding support for entrepreneurs, the KRG is attempting to reduce pressure on public-sector employment and stimulate broader economic diversification.

International partnerships with organisations such as GIZ also enhance investor confidence by demonstrating continued foreign support for economic reform initiatives.

Although employment forums alone cannot resolve structural labour market challenges, they represent practical mechanisms for improving workforce participation and strengthening cooperation between government and the private sector.

Conclusion

The launch of the Kurdistan Inclusive Employment and Business Forum represents another step in the Kurdistan Region's transition toward a more diversified and inclusive economy.

By bringing together employers, entrepreneurs, government institutions and international partners, the initiative seeks to create new employment opportunities while strengthening the foundations of long-term private-sector growth.

As the Kurdistan Region continues to pursue economic diversification, programmes that connect skilled workers with expanding businesses are likely to become an increasingly important component of its broader development strategy.

Sources

Kurdistan24, "Kurdistan Foundation, GIZ Launch Inclusive Employment, Business Forum" (26 July 2026).
Kurdistan Foundation.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

#Kurdistan #Erbil #Economy #Employment #PrivateSector #GIZ #Germany #SMEs #Investment #EconomicDevelopment

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Pshtiwan FarajJuly 26, 2026 at 5:12 PM
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Kurdistan launches inclusive employment forum to boost private sector growth

The Kurdistan Foundation and Germany's GIZ have launched the Region's first Inclusive Employment and Business Forum, connecting job seekers with employers as the Kurdistan Regional Government accelerates efforts to strengthen the private sector and diversify the economy.

Meta Description

Connecting employers with skilled workers

Building a more inclusive labour market

Germany deepens economic partnership with Kurdistan

SMEs remain central to economic diversification

Analysis: Economic reform increasingly complements political stability

Conclusion

Sources

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