Erbil, Kurdistan Region - On Saturday, Rebar Ahmad, the Kurdistan Region’s Minister of Interior, participated in the Youth Training Graduation Ceremony in Erbil, where he reaffirmed the government's unwavering commitment to youth support, job creation, and tackling key regional issues.

In his address to the first cohort of the youth training program, Minister Ahmad emphasized the critical role of youth in the region's progress. He highlighted that since the inception of the ninth cabinet, supporting youth and developing their abilities has been a top priority for the government. Ahmad stated, "We have demonstrated this commitment in practice. Despite the crises we have faced, we have never hesitated to support any project, including financial initiatives that aid the youth of the Kurdistan Region in their development."

Minister Ahmad encouraged the youth to remain resilient and proactive despite challenges. "The youth of the Kurdistan Region should be the driving force behind our successes and should never allow themselves to be disheartened or ignore their achievements," he said. He acknowledged the issues within the region but urged the youth not to succumb to negative narratives about Kurdistan.

The Minister also addressed the employment landscape, asserting that stability, job opportunities, and development prospects in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cities are better than in many other cities in the region. "We issue about 100 visas annually to foreign workers, so there is no justification for claiming a lack of job opportunities in the Kurdistan Region," he stated. He encouraged young people to find job opportunities, prove themselves, and secure a brighter future.

Discussing the broader economic context, Ahmad remarked, "Iraq is rich in natural resources, but real progress will only come through good governance of these resources." He emphasized the government's support for the private sector and small businesses to ensure that talented youth have more job opportunities and better incomes without solely relying on government employment.

The graduation ceremony, held under the auspices of Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, celebrated over 4,200 young people from the Kurdistan Region who completed the initial phase of the Kurdistan Region’s Youth Training course. The six-month training program, supervised by the Initiatives and Strategic Communications office in the Prime Minister’s Office, aimed to educate participants and enhance their sense of national pride.

A memorandum of understanding with the Qatar Foundation was also signed during the event, further solidifying the partnership. This agreement focuses on developing the skills of the Kurdistan Region’s youth, supporting university and college students, and launching several other projects.

The event underscored the Kurdistan Region's ongoing efforts to empower its youth and foster a vibrant, resilient, and progressive society.