Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, arrived in Switzerland on Monday to lead the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) delegation at the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF). The high-profile gathering, which runs until January 23, brings together over 1,000 heads of state, business leaders, and officials to address urgent global issues.

In an official statement, the KRG outlined the Prime Minister’s objectives, which center on high-level diplomacy and economic advocacy. Barzani’s schedule includes meetings with presidents, senior government figures, and executives of major international corporations.

A key focus of these discussions will be the recent political and security developments in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the wider Middle East. The Prime Minister also aims to spotlight the KRG’s domestic reform agenda, particularly its efforts to build a robust economic infrastructure—a theme that aligns directly with the forum’s emphasis on fostering growth and resilience.

This year’s WEF is structured around five central themes reflecting complex global challenges:

Fostering Cooperation in a Competitive World: The forum seeks to bridge divides amid intensifying geopolitical rivalry, promoting collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society.

Securing New Economic Growth: With trade hampered by uncertainty and conflict, discussions will explore resilient strategies for growth as economic policies are increasingly weaponized.

Navigating the AI Revolution: A major agenda item addresses the dual challenge of harnessing Artificial Intelligence to enhance human capabilities while mitigating its risks, including significant predicted disruptions to the global job market.

Driving Responsible Innovation: This theme focuses on scaling technological innovation safely, amid growing calls for regulations to protect privacy and security from rapid AI advancement.

Ensuring Planetary Sustainability: The final track examines how to achieve economic prosperity within Earth’s ecological boundaries, emphasizing climate-resilient solutions for food systems, infrastructure, and ecosystems.