On Sunday, 5 May 2024, Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), attended the Higher Education Summit between the Kurdistan Region and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, held in Erbil. The summit was attended by senior representatives from the Ministry of Higher Education of Jordan and representatives from a number of universities from both Jordan and the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani delivered a speech at the summit. Here is the complete transcript of Prime Minister Barzani's speech:

“I welcome the delegation from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Kurdistan Region. I express my gratitude to the organisers of this important summit and wish them success.

“We are delighted to maintain a long-standing and amicable relationship with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, led by His Majesty King Abdullah II. His Majesty's cooperation and support have been invaluable to the Kurdistan Region over the years.

“The advancement and development of the education sector and academic institutions remain one of our top priorities. We aspire for our universities and academic centers to match the pace of rapid modern developments and to contribute to the enhancement of our economic infrastructure.

“We have faced many challenges in recent years, and we have managed to overcome many of them. Regardless, these challenges will never discourage us from advancing and improving our educational systems and universities.

“Our universities must play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges we are facing, finding solutions for them through scientific planning and roadmaps in development, and assisting the KRG to implement its vigorous reform agenda.

“We hope for peace and stability in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, the broader region, and the world at large. The Kurdistan Region has always taken on a constructive role in maintaining stability.

“It is only in a stable and secure environment that we can advance our society in various sectors, aspiring to reach the level of developed countries.

“We have an abundance of human and natural resources; however, we need a stable and secure environment, along with good, scientific, and creative governance, to achieve the modern development we aim for.”