Erbil, 8 October, 2012 – H.E. Dr. Ali Sindi, Minister of Planning of the Kurdistan Regional Government – Iraq, attended a workshop on public private partnerships (PPPs) hosted by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the KRG Ministry of Planning. The workshop followed discussions between the IFC and KRG on the IFC playing an advisory role as the KRG moves to expand and formalize PPP use in the Kurdistan Region.

In the presence of the KRG Minister of Reconstruction and Housing, Kamran Ahmed, and the Chairman of the KRG Board of Investment, Herish Muharam, H.E. Dr. Sindi delivered the workshop’s opening remarks. H.E. thanked representatives of the IFC, World Bank, and KRG for attending, and explained the KRG intends to expand the use of PPPs to accelerate the development of the Region’s infrastructure and to improve the provision of services for the Region’s inhabitants. H.E. noted that in line with recommendations from the IFC, the KRG has been examining the experiences of Turkey, India, and Jordan in PPP implementation and is currently working to develop a specific law to regulate all forms of PPP activity.

Following the Minister’s opening remarks, representatives from the IFC delivered a series of presentations detailing the IFC’s experience in Kurdistan and Iraq, background on PPPs, and how PPPs can be effectively utilized for the benefit the Region.