Market Entry: Getting Started
If you are interested in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq from a business perspective, we recommend you to take the following steps:
- Contact your local KRG Representation in Austria for start-up information and contacts. If you are operating in a neighboring country where no representation has been established (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia), the KRG Representation in Austria will gladly assist you.
- Talk to current investors in the Region and learn about their experiences. The Kurdistan Regional Government Representation will gladly establish the contact for you.
- As personal business relationships are important to start business in the Kurdistan Region, it is beneficial to take a personal trip or to join a business delegation to the Region. A visit to the annual Erbil International Fair is also very rewarding. The KRG Representation in Austria will advise you on how best to organize your trip and provide you with the necessary contacts.
- Contact the Board of Investment (BOI), which offers the following services:
- Guiding investors through the licencing process
- Providing legal information and assistance
- Establishing contacts between investors and local actors as well as institutions
- Helping investors with the compilation of their investment proposals and the necessary documents
You can also submit your investment proposal to the Board of Investment. Both, the BOI and the KRG Representation will assist you in preparing your proposal as well as the supplementary documents.
Legal Requirements
The internationally renowned consulting and auditing firm Deloitte has published a start-up guide for the Kurdistan Region. Deloitte is already present in Erbil with a branch office, and is now looking to assist other interested companies in seizing business opportunities in the Kurdistan Region. In its guide, Deloitte provides detailed information about the registration of new companies, taxation, funding, and accounting requirements.
Below you will find an overview of the contents of the guide, as well as links to the full versions of all chapters.
Choice of entity and legal business structure
As a general rule, a foreign company that is “carrying on business” in the Kurdistan Region is required to establish a legal presence in the Region (e.g. company, branch office, etc). While there is no specific definition as to what constitutes “carrying on business”, typically an obligation would arise when the company obtains premises (including rented premises) in the Kurdistan Region, or retains personnel on a more than temporary basis. Iraq’s Companies Law 21 (of 1997) as amended in 2004, which is adhered to in Kurdistan allows for several types of legal business structures. Principally these include joint stock companies, limited liability companies, joint liability companies, sole proprietorships, and branch offices.
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Taxation
As a semi-autonomous Region, the Kurdistan Region has introduced certain tax laws and practices that diverge from the position in Federal Iraq. This section discusses corporate income tax; including issues such as compliance, income tax rate, and loss carry forwards. Transfer pricing, capital gains, withholding tax, employment tax, social security contributions, VAT/sales tax and import, export and customs duties are also discussed.
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Investment Law
Law No 4 of 2006, Law of Investment in the Kurdistan Region (the “Investment Law”) provides for tax incentives and exemptions for foreign investors in the Kurdistan Region who are involved in certain qualifying projects. The Investment Law sets out specific sectors which are considered to fall within the scope of the Investment Law. In general, projects involving vital sectors, such as electricity, agriculture, health and environment, infrastructure and education, etc qualify as eligible projects.
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Local Statutory Accounting and Auditing Requirements
There is a requirement for Iraqi entities to submit annual audited financial statements to the Companies Registrar and General Commission for Taxation. The financial statements must be in Arabic and in accordance with Iraq’s Unified Accounting System “IUAS”. Strictly, Iraqi corporate law requires that Iraqi entities maintain Arabic accounting books and records inside Iraq.
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The most important Contacts
Representation of the Kurdistan Regional Government-Iraq in Austria
Canovagasse 7/ Top 6
1010 Vienna
Telephone: +43 (0) 1/ 505 02 07-0
Email: representation@at.krg.org
Kurdistan Board of Investment
Beside the Ministry of Culture and Youth
60″m circle street
Erbil (Iraq)
Telephone: +964 66 2531559
Email: info@boi.gov.krd
Deloitte Office Erbil
42 Vital Village
Erbil (Iraq) 1065/32
Telephone: +964 66 257 6200