ERBIL — Kurdistan Region PM Masrour Barzani and the World Bank’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Jean-Christophe Carret, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation between Erbil, Baghdad, and the World Bank.

Their discussions focused on advancing economic reforms, institutional modernization, and improving public services in the Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Barzani’s office said in a statement.

The collaboration aligns with the KRG’s broader efforts to modernize its economy and governance structures. In partnership with the World Bank, the KRG has adopted a roadmap for structural reform, prioritizing key areas such as:

• Institutional Modernization – Enhancing the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s capacity to lead fiscal policymaking and reform.

• Biometric Registration – Implementing biometric systems for government employees and beneficiaries to eliminate inefficiencies and ensure accurate benefit disbursement.

• Electricity Sector Reform – Improving service quality and financial sustainability in the power sector.

• Transparency Measures – Strengthening government transparency and public engagement to build trust in KRG programs.

• Social Protection Strategy – Promoting shared prosperity and reducing economic vulnerabilities over time.

The World Bank has been a key partner in these initiatives, including launching a social protection program in 2015 to support equity and economic resilience, as well as signing technical assistance agreements in 2014 to drive socio-economic development.