At a Glance

• The Slemani Economic Summit runs September 17-18 at the Grand Millennium Hotel, bringing together government officials, investors and business representatives.
• Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani is scheduled to attend and address participants at the opening.
• Discussions focus on banking, real estate, investment, industry, capital markets and private-sector development.
• The summit comes amid continuing concerns over banking access, investor confidence and economic disputes between Erbil and Baghdad.

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The Slemani Economic Summit opens Thursday, bringing together senior officials, investors, banks and business leaders for two days of discussions on investment, banking, real estate and economic development. Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani is scheduled to attend and deliver an opening address.

Summit Agenda

The summit's program covers investment and capital markets, real estate, banking, and the links between banking, investment and industry. Organizers say the event is intended to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors and identify new investment opportunities.

Preparatory discussions have also focused on obstacles facing investors and businesses, barriers to major banks entering the Kurdistan Region, property ownership issues and measures to restore public confidence in the banking sector.

Erbil-Baghdad Economic Dimension

The summit also provides a forum for discussing the economic relationship between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government in Baghdad. Organizers have identified political and economic disputes between Erbil and Baghdad as among the issues affecting investment and private-sector development.

The emphasis on banking and investment comes as the Kurdistan Region seeks greater integration of its financial sector and improved access to capital. Preparatory consultations have specifically highlighted the need for stronger banking services, financing facilities and more predictable conditions for investors.

Data Table

Issue	Details
Event	Slemani Economic Summit
Dates	September 17-18, 2026
Location	Grand Millennium Hotel, Slemani
Main sectors	Banking, real estate, investment, industry
Participants	Government officials, investors, business leaders and financial institutions
Key regional issue	Erbil-Baghdad economic relations
Investment focus	Capital flows, private-sector development and new projects
Banking focus	Investor access, financial services and public confidence

FYI

The summit comes at a time when banking reform, private-sector expansion and investment conditions remain closely connected to the broader economic relationship between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region. Preparatory consultations for the summit identified disputes between the two sides, limited access to major banks and weak investor confidence as obstacles requiring policy attention.

The event also reflects a broader effort to move the Kurdistan Region's economy beyond reliance on public-sector activity by connecting banks, investors, industry and government institutions. Its practical significance will depend on whether discussions translate into concrete investment agreements, improved financial access and measures that reduce uncertainty for businesses. The summit's organizers have positioned public-private cooperation and investment opportunities as central objectives.

At the federal level, Iraq has also been seeking to attract investment and expand private-sector participation. The National Investment Commission reported in February that the country's investment portfolio had reached $104 billion and that 65 investment opportunities had been presented at a Baghdad business forum, underscoring the wider push to mobilize capital beyond the public sector.

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