ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Representing Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, Prime Ministers Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Masrour Barzani are set to travel to Switzerland next week and take part in the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The Iraqi and Kurdish Prime Ministers will arrive in Davos early next week as the 2024 World Economic Forum, better known as the Davos Economic Forum, is set to start on January 15 and continue until January 19.

The Kurdistan Region’s plan for Davos is different this year.

Last year, PM Barzani attended the forum and following the event said that their meetings during the forum with global leaders had been productive.

“We have a range of reforms—from exporting agricultural produce to banking. So I'm hoping that in the very near future, we will have some good results,” he said at the time.

This year, the Kurdistan Regional Government will be meeting attendees of Davos through the Kurdish House initiative.

Join us this year at #WEF24 for stimulating discussions on business and politics over a cup of Kurdish tea! #KurdistanAtDavos #davos pic.twitter.com/bbjxS31plh

— Kurdish House Davos (@KurdistanDavos) January 7, 2024

“The Kurdish House in Davos, through its scheduled meetings and proactive initiatives, embodies the essence of Kurdish hospitality while showcasing the untapped potential and cultural richness of the region. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience Kurdish tea and engage in various cultural activities throughout the forum,” read a press release from the Kurdish House.

Both premiers are set to meet with different global leaders and “jointly engage in discussions, underlining their commitment to economic growth in the region and Iraq,” according to the Kurdish House press release.

The 54th annual meeting at Davos will be carried out under the theme of “Rebuilding Trust” and it comes at a time of global and regional instability with the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, tensions between Iran and the US which turned Iraq into a battleground, and increasing global temperatures. 

“The meeting aims to restore collective agency, and reinforce the fundamental principles of transparency, consistency and accountability among leaders,” according to the Forum’s website.

Prime Minister Barzani’s role at Davos this year would not only be in a bid to guarantee the Region’s safety and security in light of recent escalations in the Middle East, but it will also be “cultivating international relations, facilitating trade, and laying the groundwork for enhanced developmental opportunities across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq,” which will be facilitated through the Kurdish House initiative.