Kurdistan Region waives years of unpaid chamber fees amid trade slowdown

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Region Union of Chambers of Commerce has approved a general waiver of outstanding fees from previous years for traders, industrialists and business owners across the region, with implementation beginning June 1.

Gellan Haji Saeed, head of the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told 964media Sunday that the decision was made in response to financial pressures facing the business community and would apply to traders, industrialists and professionals across various sectors. Under the measure, only fees from the last two years will be collected; charges from earlier years will be waived. The waiver runs until Nov. 30, 2026.

Saeed said the financial slowdown was linked to regional tensions stemming from the US-Israel conflict with Iran, including drone and missile attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region, repeated airspace closures, flight disruptions, temporary border restrictions and security concerns that have slowed trade and transportation. The measure also follows difficulties faced by some traders in renewing membership certificates because of the financial crisis.

Traders who do not visit the chambers to renew their certificates and confirm membership before Nov. 30 will lose membership rights under the chambers’ internal regulations. If more than four years have passed without renewal, membership cannot be restored for one year, and any previous outstanding fees will be collected upon reapplication.

The waiver does not currently cover real estate brokerage offices. Under Brokerage Law No. 58, the union lacks authority to grant such exemptions, though a special committee has been formed to identify a legal mechanism that would allow brokerages to benefit from similar measures.

Saeed urged traders to visit the chambers to renew their certificates, saying all necessary facilitation would be provided.