Peregraf
Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani emphasized the importance of innovation in governance, stating that the biometric system developed locally in the Kurdistan Region has been key to securing salary payments from Baghdad.
Speaking at the opening of the Second International Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum in Sulaymaniyah today, Talabani highlighted how the Region overcame a critical financial crisis following 2014.
“After the crisis, the government didn’t even have a list of employees to pay,” he said. “But within six months, using only our own capabilities and local IT companies, we registered 1.2 million employees in a biometric system. This is now what enables Baghdad to send salaries.”
He described the system as a product of homegrown innovation and a testament to the Region’s capacity for self-reliant solutions.
“We will continue to reform and digitize the government,” Talabani said, reiterating his support for innovative ideas and technological advancement.
The two-day forum gathers local and international experts to explore new ideas across sectors including technology, environment, industry, and economy. It also provides a platform for youth and professionals to present and discuss solutions for the future.