President Barzani’s statement on ‘the first phase of the Reform Program’

By Krg.org

A committee was established on Newroz Day (March 21) of this year to implement a broad-based reform program in the Kurdistan Region. President Barzani had pledged that the effects of this reform program would be felt within three to four months. In a statement on Tuesday the President announced some of the results of this ongoing reform program.

Land Allocation for Investment Projects

• An order was immediately issued to organize the process of land allocation and the granting of licenses for investment projects to increase transparency and fairness.
• All land allocations were ceased for a duration of two months, with the exception of current projects in the sectors of agriculture, industry and tourism.
• Granting of all licenses for investment projects were stopped for two months pending a review of the allocation process.
• Some 118 contracts were terminated, which included approximately 633 acres of land being returned to the government.
  A separate order was issued to terminate all land allocations to projects which had expired deadlines or whose implementation had not started.
• Investigations have been launched on 300 other projects.

Rule of Law

• In order to improve the judiciary in the Region, a judicial institute was established to enhance the training and recruitment process of new judges. Judges will no longer be hired according to the old system or by political appointments. Individuals within the judicial sector need to attend the institute before receiving positions as judges.
• Two separate pieces of legislation were enacted to unify the security forces in the Kurdistan Region.
• To support the youth, a fund has been established to provide grants to encourage new small business projects.
• Deliberations on new legislation to establish a Public Integrity Commission have begun in the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament.

Administrative Reforms

• In the past few months, a number of senior KRG officials have been dismissed. This is an ongoing process to ensure that only competent individuals will occupy positions within the KRG administration.
• The KRG Ministries of Peshmerga Affairs and Interior have been tasked to review the current arrangements and establish a suitable mechanism for providing security guards for KRG officials.
• We have also recommended the Council of Ministers establish a council for the consumer protection.
• A decree was issued to establish a fair and transparent mechanism for selecting candidates wishing to make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
• Work is underway to enact legislations to prevent market monopolies.