ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday reiterated the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) readiness to provide assistance to both foreign and domestic investors in the Kurdistan Region.

In a meeting with a US Chamber of Commerce delegation, headed by the Chamber’s Vice President for Middle East Affairs Steve Lutes and including representatives from several top American companies, the premier “expressed his gratitude for the cooperation and support of the United States. He highlighted the KRG’s reforms in economic diversification, particularly in energy, agriculture, banking, and digitalization of public services,” according to a statement from Barzani’s office.

The prime minister further reiterated the Kurdistan Region’s “readiness to provide all assistance to domestic and foreign investors,” after which Prime Minister Barzani and his Deputy Qubad Talabani answered questions from representatives of the companies, which included “Google, IBM, Visa, Pepsi, and Coca Cola,” according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The US delegation’s visit, which consists of 32 American companies in addition to officials from the US Chamber of Commerce, aims to expand investment in the Kurdistan Region. A May visit to the United States by Barzani has paved the way for the US companies’ perspectives, Lutes told The New Region on Monday.

The visit by the companies is with direct backing from the US Department of Commerce, said Lutes, adding that he hopes that the agreements that will be struck here will be approved by the US Commerce Department.

The companies aim to examine the investment environment in the Kurdistan Region, Lutes added, noting that the firms work in the sectors of gas production, technology, health, and agriculture.

Lutes thanked the KRG for “the warm welcome and said many American companies are ready to develop trade relations with the Kurdistan Region,” according to the PMO.

Speaking at an conference held with the US delegation on Monday, KRG Interior Minister Reber Ahmed emphasized Erbil's desire to enhance cooperation with US defense firms, highlighting the need to acquire additional air defense systems in light of a spate of drone attacks on the Region's energy infrastructure this summer.

“Hostile actors in Iraq are increasingly using drones to target infrastructure and civilians,” said the minister in a speech following the meeting, claiming that the attacks prompt the KRG to seek out partnership with the US companies to “strengthen our security infrastructure, anti-drone technology, modern security systems, and capacity building programs.”

"This is why we see such great value in working with American companies... We are actively seeking partnerships to strengthen our security infrastructure," Ahmed asserted.

The minister further asserted that such partnership between the US and the Region “will not only help protect Kurdistan” but would also safeguard the American “people,” “assets,” and “investments.”

The US Consulate General in Erbil hailed the economic and finanicial ties between the Kurdistan Region and the US, writing on X on Monday that the "commercial relationship is strong and [the Region is] open to American companies."