Kurdistan Region of Iraq Builds Governance and Transparency

ERBIL, Iraq, July 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a bold move to build both
international and domestic confidence in the governing ability of the
Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG), Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani
announced on July 12 a good governance and transparency strategy, developed in
coordination with global consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Compliant
with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, this move puts the KRG
ahead of every regional government in the world and even several major
democracies.

"The benefits of this strategy are clear and vital for our future. It will
help to ensure that public funds are used properly, and make government more
efficient and more effective. It will improve the delivery of services to the
people of the Kurdistan Region. And it will help improve international and
domestic confidence and increase investment and job development, while helping
to raise the living standards of our Region," Prime Minster Barzani said at
Council of Ministers Building in Erbil.

The Prime Minister spoke before a large crowd that included the Deputy Prime
Minister, senior members of the Cabinet, key members of parliament, the top
United States official in the region, and numerous members of the
international press. Representatives from PwC also attended.

PwC Project Director George Prokop commented: "We congratulate the KRG on its
bold efforts to strengthen and enhance existing measures as well as implement
new reforms that put the KRG on a path to improving governance and
transparency throughout government." PwC has worked with more than 150
countries, including almost every Middle East nation, advising governments and
private sector clients.

The strategy announced today is based on four principles:

1. Adherence to the Rule of Law is Critical: To ensure that no one in
government, regardless of position, is above the law.

2. Every KRG Official is Accountable: Officials must recognize that they have
a legal duty and are accountable to act in the interests of the Kurdistan
Region and its citizens, and will promote those interests above their own,
their family or political party.

3. Transparent Government Promotes Kurdistan: To provide citizens with access
to information on the operations of government, which is indispensable to
ensuring that KRG officials remain accountable to the voters.

4. Public Funds Must Always Be Used for Their Intended Purpose: The
fundamental principle of economy and efficiency in government requires that
public funds should only be used for the purposes for which they are
appropriately and lawfully allocated.

The KRG hired PwC, the leading global professional services firm, to review
current government structures and build the strategy. The more than 600-page
strategy is believed to be the first that a regional government has undertaken
to comply with the United Nations Conference Against Corruption. These efforts
go beyond other emerging economies to strengthen and enhance existing measure
as well as implementing new reforms that put the region on path to improving
governance and attracting foreign investment.

For more information, please visit www.krg.org.

This has been distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC on behalf of the
Kurdistan Regional Government. More information is available at the US
Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

SOURCE Kurdistan Regional Government

Renate Geerlings, +1-202-255-2744, rgeerlings@qorvis.com, for the Kurdistan
Regional Government