Turkish Business in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Abstract

In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) economic development and infrastructure recovery expanded at a monumental pace over the last decade. However the economic boom also had negative aftershocks including a significant rise in housing costs local workers struggling to find employment with foreign companies and the difficulties faced by the local private sector trying to operate in an emerging economy dominated by the public and oil sectors. In this article the author argues that ensuring Turkish companies hire a minimum percentage of local employees provide training opportunities as well as a minimum and fair wage safe working environments and make a social contribution in exchange for the rent-free use of land and access to sell products and services could enhance human security in the KRI.