New directive strengthens construction quality, safety regulations, and investment oversight across infrastructure projects..
The Kurdistan Region continues to expand its economic base as part of broader efforts by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to reduce reliance on oil revenues and build a more diversified economy.
The construction and investment sector has seen significant growth in recent years, with numerous projects underway across major cities. Officials and industry experts say this progress has been supported by policies from the Board of Investment that aim to raise standards and improve project execution.
Based on a recommendation from Masrour Barzani, the Council of Ministers has approved a major policy shift to strengthen construction quality across all investment projects.
Under the new regulation, no investment project will receive a license unless it complies with American Concrete Institute (ACI) standards. The decision is intended to align the region’s construction sector with internationally recognized engineering practices, enhance public safety, and protect long-term infrastructure investments.
Speaking on the decision, the spokesperson for the KRG Board of Investment, Bergesht Akreyi, said the region had previously followed the Iraqi construction code. He explained that the shift to the ACI standards was made to improve safety, particularly in response to risks such as earthquakes, and to adopt one of the world’s most widely respected frameworks for durable construction.
He added that the new standards are expected to raise overall building quality while also streamlining the licensing process, as the criteria are now more clearly defined and strictly enforced.