The Ninth Sulaymaniyah International Forum officially opened on Wednesday morning, drawing a large and diverse group of over 700 political leaders, academics, and thinkers from both within Iraq and abroad. Among the attendees was Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani, underscoring the significance of the event on the national stage.
The forum serves as a key gathering for in-depth discussion on a range of critical topics, including Iraq’s current political climate, the evolving relationship between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government, ongoing economic challenges, and the influence of regional and global developments on Iraq’s future. The event provides a rare space for open and candid dialogue, away from the constraints of everyday political pressures, with the hope that these exchanges will lead to actionable outcomes.
Speaking during the opening session, Barham Salih, Chairman of the University of Sulaimani’s Board of Directors and former President of Iraq, emphasized the role of the forum as a platform for progress and opportunity. He highlighted the importance of empowering youth and fostering a vision for a better future, stating, “Our goal is to help make Iraq and the broader region better than what was handed down to us.”
Salih also acknowledged the vital support of the regional government in enabling this forum to flourish, describing it as a crucial space for constructive dialogue and collective reflection on the shared history and future of the Iraqi people.
