Deputy PM Charts Vision for Regional Development with FAO

Deputy PM's Media

KRG Deputy PM Qubad Talabani's meeting with FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Qubad Talabani, received on Monday, 26 May 2025, Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to explore ways of enhancing cooperation and advancing the agricultural sector in the Region.

During the meeting, which was attended by Dr Dara Rashid, Minister of Planning, and Begard Talabani, Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Deputy PM Talabani expressed his gratitude to the FAO for its continued technical support and consultancy, particularly its role in establishing the Gene Bank to aid agricultural development. He voiced hope that cooperation between the FAO and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) would continue to grow, especially as the KRG is currently prioritising developing the agricultural sector.

Discussions also focused on regional development and the economic revitalisation of towns and villages. Both sides highlighted the importance of vocational training for farmers, access to modern agricultural technologies, and improving rural livelihoods as key foundations for sustainable development.

The meeting also touched on the Argo-Tourism initiative recently launched by the Deputy Prime Minister. The two sides agreed on the value of promoting tourism as a means to generate employment, support rural economies, and create synergies between the agriculture and tourism sectors, ultimately contributing to diversified revenue sources and broader regional growth.

On the development of local products and access to international markets, Deputy PM Talabani stressed the need to leverage FAO’s expertise. He called for deeper cooperation in strengthening the export potential of the Region’s agricultural goods.



PUKMEDIA