On the sidelines of the Delphi Forum Slemani, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Qubad Talabani, met with a high-level Finnish trade and diplomatic delegation to explore strategic avenues for expanding bilateral economic ties and leveraging Finland’s structural economic models.

The Finnish delegation was led by Aki Kauppinen, Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Finland in Baghdad.

Strategic Economic Cooperation

The discussions primarily focused on accelerating economic growth within the Kurdistan Region, with a particular emphasis on the city of Sulaymaniyah. Central to the meeting was the exchange of commercial expertise and the transfer of technical knowledge from Finland's highly regarded business sector to local markets.

During the session, Deputy Prime Minister Talabani outlined the KRG’s broader fiscal strategies, emphasizing the administration's commitment to reducing its reliance on traditional oil revenues.

"We are determined to accelerate the economic development of the Kurdistan Region by drawing on the successful experiences of friendly nations, including Finland," Talabani stated.

The Deputy Prime Minister formally requested support from the Finnish government to facilitate the transfer of this successful economic template to both the wider Kurdistan Region and the local governance of Slemani.

Private Sector Engagement

Both parties expressed mutual satisfaction regarding the timing of the meeting, concluding that the Delphi Economic Forum Slemani serves as a vital strategic platform. They noted that the international forum offers key opportunities for identifying fresh investment prospects and establishing long-term, direct partnerships between the private sectors of Finland and the Kurdistan Region.