Turkey is deepening its plans to settle in the Federal Kurdistan Region with commerce and education as well as military bases, according to the Mesopotamia Agency. The 49 schools left over from the supporters of Fethullah Gulen are used to teach Turkish language education under the supervision of the MIT. Military bases and educational institutes are followed by at least 390 Turkish companies, and they have a not insignificant hold on Kurdistan’s economy.

TURKISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN GULEN’S SCHOOLS

The schools left from the Gulen movement are active in Zaxo, Berwariye, Soran, Amadiya, the Ranya district of Sulaymaniyah and Salahaddin region of Hewler.

COMPANIES SUPERVISED BY THE MIT

On top of the military and educational siege, commercial dependence is also rising. 390 Turkish companies, with 26 of them known to be directly under the MIT, continue to operate in Sulaymaniyah and Hewler. The companies in question are starting to play a determining role in the economy and politics of the region. Partnerships in these commercial operations is handled by the Barzani family directly. Many of the companies have Federal Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani or President Nechirvan Barzani as a partner.

SUMMIT HEADED BY BARZANI

A “Commerce and Investment Summit” was held in Hewler on June 30-July 1 between Turkey and the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government. The summit was headed by Masrour Barzani. Southern officials and Turkish Deputy Commerce Minister Riza Tuna Turagay, Turkey’s Erbil Consul Hakan Karacay and former Commerce and Customs Minister of Turkey Bulent Tufekci also attended the summit.