ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with a delegation from the Iraqi diaspora in the United States at his Erbil headquarters on Monday, where discussions centered on investment and economic cooperation.
President Barzani “acknowledged the significant contributions of the Iraqi diaspora in fostering relationships between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and the global community, as well as driving economic growth,” read a statement by the Kurdistan Region Presidency. He emphasized “the need to preserve the Iraqi national identity and [the country’s] cultural and religious diversity.”
Moreover, President Barzani reaffirmed “the Kurdistan Region's commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence and tolerance among all communities” and expressed readiness to support investment opportunities in the Region.
The delegation was notably led by President of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, Martin Manna. Its members “expressed their gratitude for the culture of acceptance, coexistence, and tolerance that characterizes the Kurdistan Region,” as noted in the Kurdistan Region’s statement.
Additionally, the delegation called for enhanced collaboration with the Region, particularly in economic and investment initiatives involving the Iraqi diaspora, and presented proposals for projects in the Kurdistan Region and the Nineveh Plains.
Iraq’s Christian community has faced immense challenges over the past two decades. The US-led invasion in 2003, followed by sectarian violence and the rise of the Islamic State (IS) in 2014, forced many from Iraq’s Christian denominations to flee. Their numbers have dwindled from 1.5 million before 2003 to fewer than 300,000 Christians today.
In May 2023, Manna stated that the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce was considering investing in the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq, a region that saw extensive destruction during the ISIS attacks.
