Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Council of Ministers yesterday held its ordinary meeting, chaired by Kurdistan Region Government, KRG, Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani.

On behalf of the Council of Ministers, Prime Minister Barzani expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of last Friday’s blast in Ainkawa district of Erbil. He stressed that the investigation in this crime has been progressed very well and reassured that the plans behind this crime will be revealed and all the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

Kurdistan areas outside the Kurdistan Region administration

The Head of the General Board of Kurdistan Areas outside the Kurdistan Region Administration, Nasraddin Sa’id, presented the report of the board, prepared with the view to be submitted to the Committee for the Implementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi federal Constitution. The Council of Ministers discussed the report and highlighted the legal and administrative problems in those areas. The Council of Ministers decided to hold a meeting with Kurdistan Region representatives in Iraqi Parliament and Iraqi Government to discuss the conditions of the Kurdistan areas outside the Region administration, and take decisions accordingly.

Electricity

KRG Minister of Electricity, Salahaddin Babakir, shed light on the measures that have been taken by his ministry to improve electricity supply. Regarding budgetary issues, it was decided to that the Ministry of Electricity, Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Region’s Oil and Gas Council continue their meetings and discussions. It was also decided to change the source of the Kurdistan Region’s power stations into natural gas.

Agricultural production increased

KRG Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Abdul-Sattar Majid, presented the plans of his ministry to improve the agriculture sector, and outlined the challenges that face the agriculture sector in the Kurdistan Region. The ministry’s ultimate goal, which is guaranteeing food and water security, was also discussed.

According to the report of the KRG Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, there has been clear increase in agricultural production, compared to the past years. He pointed out that some products’ production has reached a level above the internal demand, such as potato with 153% increase, and wheat with 103% increase. Other products, like chicken egg, with 95% increase, and vegetables with 93% increase, have reached close to the level of internal demand.

KRG Council of Ministers also decided to hold a special meeting, to be attended also by the Kurdistan Region governors, to discuss the abuse of agricultural lands that have been used for other purposes than agriculture.

Prime Minister Barzani reaffirmed that all the ministries should take serious steps toward reform, cut their expenses and increase their incomes, and expressed the full support of the presidency of the Council of Ministers to all the ministries in this regard.

Regarding the reactions to the KRG decision to relocated all the Islamic studies under the supervision and authority of both the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Council of Ministers maintained its decision, emphasizing that it was taken by KRG in agreement with all the ministries and parties.