The Raparin Regional Development Agency (RRDA) was officially launched on Sunday in Ranya, Sulaymaniyah. The new initiative focuses on expanding the local economy and delivering projects that generate jobs for young people, ultimately reducing emigration rates from the region.

Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, and UK Consul General Andrew Bizley, along with numerous domestic and international guests, attended the opening of the agency today. The project is funded by the UK government and will be under the supervision and oversight of Talabani.

Agency Focuses on Local Industries and Credit Access 

Designed to drive economic revitalization, the agency supports the development of local industries and entrepreneurship. Key initiatives include establishing a favorable environment for emerging business owners and facilitating access to credit and loans.

The inaugural projects are expected to commence in the Pishdar region, with the primary objective of mitigating youth emigration, as a significant number of young people leave the area annually.

Talabani to Channel8: New Agency Aims to ‘Restore Hope’ for Youth

Speaking to Channel8, Talabani stated that the region is an agricultural area with vast natural resources and significant tourism potential, adding that development in these sectors requires close cooperation with the local government.

“We believe the main reason for the migration of young people from the Kurdistan Region is hopelessness and the lack of diverse opportunities for the region's economic development,” he stressed.

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that a primary objective of the organization is to “restore hope” and formulate new regional development policies.

“We hope to transfer this model to other regions of the Kurdistan Region,” he added.

UK Consul General: Over $1M Spent to Boost Jobs, Fight Smuggling Disinformation 

Andrew Bizley, who also participated in the inauguration of the Agency, told reporters that the UK has spent over a million dollars over the past year to establish the agency and design strategic plans for the region's economic development.

“Ultimately we recognize that in this area in particular there's a lack of hope sometimes amongst particularly the youth,” he remarked.

He highlighted that youth have “a legitimate aspiration” to build a prosperous life, noting that the agency aims to create local opportunities so they can stay and thrive rather than emigrating to the UK. “Because the alternative is something that is being exploited by smuggling gangs.”

He warned that smuggling gangs spread a narrative that is "essentially not true of a very safe journey to Europe," when in reality, the passage is highly hazardous. To counter these operations, the UK government is implementing targeted initiatives to challenge "this disinformation" and expose the harsh realities faced by those who enter the country illegally.

“We work with law enforcement authorities as well to try and keep the communities here in the Kurdistan region safe,” he added.

UK Partners with Iraq to Tackle Irregular Kurdish Youth Migration

To address irregular Kurdish migration, the United Kingdom began intensifying enforcement measures in mid-2023 by forming security pacts with the Iraqi government to counter human smuggling networks.

This cooperation culminated in the formal implementation of accelerated repatriation processes and targeted joint operations throughout 2024 and 2025.

These bilateral agreements establish formal, accelerated repatriation processes for individuals who enter the UK through unauthorized channels and are subsequently denied asylum status.

This migration trend among Kurdish youth is linked to economic stagnation and unemployment in the Kurdistan Region, leading thousands of young individuals to seek alternative opportunities abroad through irregular channels annually.