The Kurdistan Region recently completed a successful diplomatic visit to Spain. On Wednesday, the Chairman of the Kurdistan Region Investment Board outlined several key sectors for expanding bilateral trade and investment. Mohammad Shukri spoke during the Joint Economic Forum, which the Spanish region of Murcia hosted.
Shukri identified tourism, higher education, agriculture, and industrial development as the primary areas for mutual growth. He said the Kurdistan Regional Government seeks Spanish expertise to modernize local infrastructure and strengthen long-term economic resilience.
According to Shukri, the strategic partnership focuses not only on attracting direct investment from Spanish companies but also on promoting knowledge transfer. He also highlighted heritage tourism as one of the region’s most promising sectors because of the Kurdistan Region’s rich historical and cultural legacy.
Through closer cooperation with foreign firms, the government aims to enhance the skills of its domestic workforce. Improved training, he said, will help local tourism operators attract a greater number of international visitors each year.
Academic cooperation represents another important pillar of the growing relationship between the Kurdistan Region and Spain. Many Kurdish students currently pursue master’s and doctoral degrees at leading Spanish universities.
The Investment Board hopes to expand these educational exchanges, allowing more students to study in Spain and learn European languages. At the same time, the board invited Spanish researchers to conduct academic and field research at universities across the Kurdistan Region.
Addressing food security, Shukri said agriculture offers significant opportunities for joint ventures and industrial partnerships. He noted that Spanish expertise could introduce advanced agricultural and food-processing technologies, helping accelerate local food production and improve efficiency.
The economic forum began on Monday and brought together more than 80 companies from both the Kurdistan Region and Spain. During the opening session, Kurdish officials showcased the region’s competitive investment environment to Spanish business leaders.
Their presentation highlighted government incentives, legal protections, tax exemptions, and administrative support available to foreign investors. As a result, several companies expect to sign memorandums of understanding in the near future.
The forum reflects the growing diplomatic and economic ties between the Kurdistan Region and Spain. A Spanish consulate in Erbil and a Kurdistan Regional Government representative office in Madrid currently support these diplomatic relations.