The Eighth Annual Sulaimani Forum

he Institute of Regional and International Studies (IRIS) at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS) hosted the eighth annual Sulaimani Forum on April 17 and 18, 2024. Officials and thought leaders from around the world convened to discuss the most pressing policy challenges facing Iraq and the wider region. Forum speakers included Iraqi and Kurdish leaders such as the President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Qubad Talabani, Ministers from the Government of Iraq, in addition to foreign representatives and think tank leaders from around the world. Additionally, researchers from across Iraq, the MENA region, and beyond participated in the discussion as speakers and panelists during the two-day event.

Overview of Agenda

Day 1 (April 17, 2024)

• Regional Politics: Shifting Alliances Amid Rising Instability (Panel)
• Security Dynamics & Cooperation in Iraq (Panel)
• Resurgence of Conflict Across the MENA (Panel)
• The State of Iraq's Economy Today (Panel)
• Iraq’s Three-Year Budget: Assessing National & Local Impacts (Roundtable)
• Strengthening Grassroots Environmental Action in Iraq (Roundtable)

Day 2 (April 18, 2024)

• How Can Iraq Prepare For Climate Change? (Panel)
• The Role of International Aid in an Era of Conflict (Panel)
• The Future of Iraq's Political System (Panel)
• Iraq & the MENA Region Amid Continuous Geopolitics (Panel)
• Enhancing Water & Environmental Governance in Iraq (Roundtable)
• Advancing Health Policy in Post-Conflict Settings (Roundtable)
• Responding to Transnational Conflicts in the MENA: Spotlight on Sinjar (Roundtable)