In Erbil … A meeting was held to promote connections and closer collaboration between agricultural and food companies from the Kurdistan Region and Poland
On Sunday night, November 24, 2024 A special meeting was held in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, with the participation of Omed Khoshnaw, Governor of Erbil; Marik Mazur, Governor of the Polish city of Lodz; the Director-General of Agriculture in Erbil; the President of the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry; 30 Polish agricultural and food companies; and several other companies, traders, and business figures from the Kurdistan Region. The meeting aimed to foster connections and closer collaboration between agricultural and food companies from the Kurdistan Region and Poland, strengthen economic and trade relations, and allow both sides to benefit from each other’s expertise. The event was organized by the Polish Agricultural Developers Association in coordination with the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
During the meeting, the Governor of Erbil, in a speech, while welcoming the guests and participants of the event, expressed his appreciation to the organizers and emphasized strengthening relations between the Kurdistan Region and Poland, also reaffirming all support and assistance from Erbil Governorate for the success of their work and the event, then highlighted the Kurdistan Regional Government's strategy in diversifying income and paying attention to all sectors and fields, and in this regard, indicated that within Erbil Governorate's boundaries, in line with the government's strategy, they are advancing their relations with regional and European countries.
Later, the Polish companies presented their companies' capabilities and operations, along with several issues and topics related to the agricultural and food sectors, demonstrating the advancements achieved in these fields in their country to the attendees.
Finally, both the Governor of Erbil and the Governor of Lodz city held a joint press conference for media channels, where they reaffirmed their commitment to advancing economic and trade relations between them.
The Governor of Lodz began by stating: "Poland is a country that places importance on all industrial and agricultural products, and due to our country's geographical location, we can produce various types of products."
He also said: “We have extensive experience working with European Union countries, aiming for similar coordination and cooperation in the field of agriculture with the Kurdistan Region. We are the top producer of food and agricultural products in Europe and rank third globally. Poland is an advanced country and can benefit from many sectors in our country, such as ceramics, construction materials, and dairy products.”
The Governor of Erbil later stated: “Within the framework of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s strategies to diversify revenue sources and give equal importance to all sectors and fields, we are aligned with the ongoing efforts at all levels of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Within the borders of Erbil Governorate, we will continue to strengthen our relations with neighboring countries and Europe in line with these strategies.”
He continued : “We are pleased that a Polish trade delegation, under the supervision of the Governorate of Lodz, is visiting Erbil for two days. Tomorrow, Polish companies will actively participate in the Erbil exhibition. We hope their visit and participation in the exhibition will contribute to strengthening the ties between the Kurdistan Region and Poland.”
The Governor of Erbil also said: “Poland is a leader in agriculture, crops, grains, and advancements in the agricultural sector. We aim to benefit from their expertise while encouraging them to explore investment opportunities in the Kurdistan Region. In certain areas, such as crop production, poultry, and fish farming, as well as potato cultivation, not only can we meet domestic needs, but the Kurdistan Region can also export these products to other parts of Iraq and beyond.”
