The UK and German consuls general in the Kurdistan Region attending the 11th Halabja Pomegranate and Autumn Festival commended the city’s lively display of Kurdish culture and its renowned local produce, particularly the region’s pomegranates.

Bizley Calls Festival a ‘Real Celebration of Kurdish Culture’

Andrew Bizley, the UK Consul General, told Channel8 that it is the second year he has visited the city for the event and that it was "one of my favorite things I did last year."

Bizley praised the governor for its efforts in organizing the festival, saying, “Nuxsha [Nasih] should be congratulated on putting something together, bringing so many people together.”

“It is a real celebration of both Kurdish culture and incredible produce that you can find around here," he remarked.

The Consul General pointed out that if people in the UK could taste Halabja’s pomegranates, “that’s all they would want to buy.” 

German Consul General Highlights Festival’s Relaxed Atmosphere

German Consul General Albrecht von Wittke also joined the festival, noting that he was ‘"very happy to see this wonderful and relaxed atmosphere."

“Halabja is not only celebrating becoming the 19th province of Iraq but also its agricultural prowess and its wonderful products like pomegranate.”

He added that the produce is very tasty, “a nice combination of sour and sweet, and a little bitter, but it has a very refreshing taste.”

Festival Draws Large Crowds and International Attention

The festival attracts large crowds from Halabja, other cities in the Kurdistan Region, and across Iraq. Foreign diplomats, including the Dutch Consul General and the Chargé d’Affaires of the UAE Consulate General, also participated.

The event features a wide variety of pomegranates, with 630 booths set up to display the produce. According to the Director of Agriculture, this year’s pomegranate yield is expected to range between 20,000 and 30,000 tons.

Efforts to Internationalize the Festival

Speaking to Channel8, Governor Nuxsha Nasih emphasizes that “this year, we are working to internationalize the festival with the aim of attracting foreign buyers and tourists” and stressed that finding markets for farmers' products is the duty of all parties.