Kawa Junad


Kawa Junad is an Iraqi-Kurdish entrepreneur and business executive known for his role in telecommunications and financial technology in Iraq. He is the founder and chairman of Newroz Telecom, a telecommunications provider in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and the founder of the First Iraqi Bank.

Career

Newroz Telecom

Junad founded Newroz Telecom in 2007 to develop telecommunications infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region. The company focused on laying fiber-optic cables, interconnecting cities, and providing broadband services. Newroz Telecom was the first Iraqi company to connect directly to the international fiber network via Turkey, reducing dependence on satellite connections.
Newroz Telecom has more than 2,600 employees. Newroz has transitioned from an ISP to a Digital Service Provider, and through its creation of FastLink it also offers the fastest broadband connection in Kurdistan.

Digital banking

Junad entered the fintech sector with the launch of the digital payments service FastPay.
He later founded the First Iraqi Bank. FIB enables users to conduct transactions directly from their devices. The bank includes payment services, including online payment and gateway services, in-store payments via POS machines and QR codes, and bank accounts with external transfer capabilities.

Public policy and ecosystem development

Junad has collaborated with the Central Bank of Iraq to develop regulations for digital finance, including mobile wallet licensing, identity verification protocols, and electronic salary disbursement. His companies have participated in government-led fintech pilots aimed at increasing access to secure, inclusive banking infrastructure and prevent criminals from money laundering. He also partnered with the Regional Government of Kurdistan on economic development and planning to ensure that Kurds had digital access to banking.

Recognition

In 2024, Junad was awarded Best Entrepreneur of the Year at the Murex D'or Awards, in recognition of his leadership in developing Iraq's fintech and telecom infrastructure. Also in 2024, as Chair of the First Iraqi Bank, The Global Economics Awards recognized his efforts when First Iraqi Bank was named the Leading Digital Bank for Cashless Economy.

Philanthropy

Junad supports digital literacy and financial education initiatives across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. His philanthropic efforts focus on increasing technological inclusion and empowering underserved communities to access banking and broadband services. He also supports youth programs in Kurdistan through FastLink initiatives.