At a Glance

• The Kurdistan Region and Dubai launched a platform connecting local startups with UAE investors.
• The deal between DIFC and The Foundation Hub secures capital for high-growth enterprises.
• The initiative aims to scale businesses globally and establish Slemani as an innovation hub. 

Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani announced a landmark partnership agreement between Dubai’s DIFC Innovation Hub and The Foundation Hub, establishing a strategic platform to connect Kurdish startups with UAE investors and international markets.

Key Statement and Focus Area

• The Deputy Prime Minister stated that, “in Dubai, we opened a new corridor for innovation, entrepreneurship, and the empowerment of our youth.”
• The agreement secures UAE investment for high-growth startups, enabling Kurdish entrepreneurs to compete globally while establishing Slemani as a regional innovation hub.

Qubad Talabani said in a statement on Friday that the partnership agreement between business hubs “connects Kurdistan’s startups with Dubai.”

Talabani noted that through this collaboration, UAE investors and DIFC partners will provide support to companies driven by innovative ideas and high growth potential.

He further stressed that the partnership grants Kurdistan’s entrepreneurs and inventive youth a distinct advantage to advance their businesses “compete regionally and internationally, while strengthening Slemani’s position as a regional hub for innovation.”

FYI

The DIFC Innovation Hub operates as Dubai's largest ecosystem for financial technology and artificial intelligence, housing more than 1,000 growth-stage tech firms, digital labs, and venture capital networks.

The Dubai-based platform focuses primarily on nurturing future-oriented tech startups by providing them with direct access to capital, corporate mentorship, and global business licensing. 

Meanwhile, The Foundation Hub is a premier innovation and co-working center located in Slemani, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, that acts as a strategic launchpad for regional entrepreneurs. 

Backed officially by the Deputy Prime Minister, the hub removes traditional financial barriers by offering entirely free workspace, practical training programs, and extensive mentorship networks to scale innovative ideas into viable enterprises.

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