ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Turkish businesspeople have played an "essential" role in the development of the Kurdistan Region since its establishment, Turkey's consul general in Erbil said.
"For three decades, Turkish entrepreneurs have been active in the Kurdistan Region. They are an essential part of the development story, the success in the development story of this region," Turkish Consul General in Erbil Erman Topcu told Rudaw during a ceremony held in Erbil to celebrate the 102th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.
"Currently, the trade between Iraq and Türkiye is around 20 billion [US dollars]. And one third of it, we predict, is with the Kurdistan Region. There is much more room for potential development," he added.
The Kurdistan Region accounts for the majority of Turkish trade and investments in Iraq. Turkish companies make up more than half the foreign companies in the Kurdistan Region, where thousands of Turkish businessmen, investors and workers are doing business.
On October 9, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in Ankara. Following a request from President Barzani, Erdogan agreed to lift the flight ban on Sulaimani airport. The consul general said the visit was "timely to assess where we are and what the next step is."
Erman also highlighted the large number of visas his consulate issues.
"My consulate is [the] biggest consulate in our foreign service when it comes to the number of visas that are issued, actually. My friends are working day and night to cope with the enormous demand," he said.
The following is the full transcript of the interview with Turkish Consul General in Erbil Erman Topcu:
Congratulations for today. If you have anything to mention for this.
Erman Topcu: Thank you very much. First, I would like to greet all viewers of Rudaw News Network. This is our 102nd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye. It is our National Day. It is very unique and special to celebrate it in Erbil. And this is the 15th year of our consulate here. And it is a very special occasion. Even though it is just before the November 11th elections, there is a huge participation from all political parties, from all segments of society. We take pride in our republic. And I hope with our dear friends in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Iraq in general, we will walk together to a bright future of peace, stability, serenity, and strength. Therefore, I hope the new year of the republic will be witnessing much more positive and much brighter things in our region.
So, how do you assess or view the current relations between Türkiye and the Kurdistan Region? And what steps are being taken to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between the two?
Well, it is excellent. As you know, the President of the Kurdistan Region, His Excellency Mr. Necirvan Barzani, was in Ankara very recently. And he met with our president and our minister of foreign affairs. That meeting was very timely to assess where we are and what the next step is. Therefore, the future is bright. There are many areas that we should be working together. We are very strong in security. We are very strong in politics. We are very strong in economy. Now, actually, I think there is much more effort we should put in to even strengthen the human bond between our nations. It is actually our real strength. And as the consul general here in Erbil, that is what I am trying to do with cultural activities and art activities. So, I think in the next year, we will be witnessing more in that regard in Erbil.
What are the prospects for expanding trade relations between Turkey and Kurdistan?
For three decades, Turkish entrepreneurs have been active in the Kurdistan Region. They are an essential part of the development story, the success in the development story of this region. And also in Iraq, of course. Currently, the trade between Iraq and Türkiye is around 20 billion [US dollars]. And one third of it, we predict, is with the Kurdistan Region. There is much more room for potential development. And actually, by bilateral visits, by visits from businesspeople, we are looking into ways we can diversify it. And actually, if it can be realized with the Development Road project, there will be even much more potential to pursue in that regard.
What about the visa? People seek easier visa requirements.
My consulate is the biggest consulate in our foreign service when it comes to the number of visas that are issued, actually. My friends are working day and night to cope with the enormous demand. We are so happy when we see that interest from our dear brothers and sisters here. And actually, we are trying to make it as easy and quick as possible because we would like to see more of our friends visiting our country. And actually, to be honest, if you simply take Türkiye out of this geographical location and put another country in this security setting, I don't think any other country will be this flexible when it comes to continuing that interaction. If you, for instance, take into consideration the unfortunate timeframe when there was this conflict between Iran and Israel and the airspace was closed, Turkey was the country which opened its land to all Iraqi citizens, mostly from the Kurdistan Region, stranded abroad... So I think we take pride in this. We are very happy that lots of people are visiting Türkiye. And inshallah, it will be even more in the future.
