ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed MP Nadhim Zahawi as his new Under-Secretary for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Kurdish politician is optimistic that his past experience will benefit the business climate between the United Kingdom and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
"I was hoping for a role in Boris Johnson's government and I accepted it," he told Rudaw English by telephone on Friday.
Johnson faces the unenviable task of forming a government ahead of the deadline for Britain to leave the European Union (Brexit) by October 31 or postpone their decision to depart until April 12, 2020.
"The prime minister wants someone with business experience at a time when Britain is preparing to leave Europe by October 31. With my business background and experience before I entered politics, I'll be able to help businesses big or small; hopefully with a deal but if not we will leave the EU on the 31st of October," said Zahawi, reiterating the Tories' position.
A wonderful start to the new job with the brilliant SoS @andrealeadsom #workhasstarted pic.twitter.com/52riWTL6YZ
— Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) July 26, 2019
Zahawi, 52, was born in Baghdad and represents Stratford-on-Avon in the House of Commons as a Conservative. He served as the Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families in former PM Theresa May's cabinet.
President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani congratulated Zahawi on social media.
"I look forward to strengthening our close cooperation with him and the new UK government," Barzani tweeted.
Zahawi said the United Kingdom and Kurdistan Regional Government can forge closer relations.
“I'm humbled and also incredibly grateful for his lovely message and I look further to deeper cooperation between the United Kingdom and Kurdistan Regional Government. I will do everything in my power to increase that in the months and years and ahead," he said.
The Kurdistan Region formed a new cabinet this month with the approval of parliament of Masoud Barzani as prime minister and keeping Qubad Talabani as the deputy head of government.
“I wish success for the new government in the Kurdistan Region under President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and Deputy PM Qubad Talabani," Zahawi said.
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani congratulated Johnson on his election in parliament on Wednesday.
“I especially thank you for your support when you were the Mayor of London and later as Britain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. We as a friend and partner can depend on you," read a statement from Masrour Barzani's office obtained by Rudaw on Friday. “I hope we coordinate with each other closely in regional and international questions."
Migration and obtaining visas are major issues for people from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, even as the Islamic State (ISIS) is of little threat to major cities in the Kurdistan Region, additionally British companies have long-standing connections through the country.
"The position on immigration is with the Home Office. But the Prime Minister has made it very clear that the UK is open for business for the best and the brightest. He has already announced that he will this week look at Australia which has a points-based system for immigration," Zahawi detailed.
Speaking to Rudaw when he was in the Kurdistan Region to observe the referendum, Zahawi said that self-determination is a basic and universal right.
The Guardian described Zahawi in 2018 as “one of the richest MPs” noting he has ties with Gulf Keystone that operates in the Kurdistan Region's Shaikhan oil field.
Zahawi was also a co-founder of the market research company YouGov, which he cut ties with when he entered politics.
"I'm very happy. I've already started work today," he said. "I feel the business climate will improve under the government of Boris Johnson."
