Dr. Sarwar Pedawi, a former refugee who rebuilt his life in the Netherlands, now leads NorthLight Holding with a focus on inclusion, talent, and technology. His journey illustrates disciplined risk-taking through projects that connect investors with communities.
Pedawi’s profile highlights resilience and technical expertise, along with early investments in underdeveloped markets. After resettling in the Netherlands, he pursued studies in telecommunications, avionics, and business administration while serving as a captain in the Dutch Army Corps of Engineers. Upon returning to Kurdistan in the late 1990s, he founded Kani Water to address basic needs before expanding into telecom and information communication technology (ICT) through TarinNet and KITS. His management philosophy emphasizes competitive pay, innovation incentives, and ongoing talent development to attract high performers and build trust with partners.
According to the Executive Bulletin, NorthLight’s inclusion strategy is linked to measurable commitments and pipeline strategy. The company has allocated $13 million for university dormitories in Kurdistan, positioning education as a key driver of prosperity and workforce development. Pedawi argues that fair compensation and training are essential for sustainable entrepreneurship. Planned initiatives focus on clean energy, waste recycling, and infrastructure—areas the firm believes can yield social returns while supporting long-term investment.
NorthLight operates around four core verticals—telecom, quality control, IT, and logistics—coordinated from Dubai with projects connecting international investors to local execution in Kurdistan and beyond. This structure diversifies risk across complementary revenue streams and enables integrated solutions such as connectivity, inspection services, digital systems, and logistics to be deployed together. Pedawi describes this approach as a practical engine for inclusive growth where commercially viable contracts can also provide public benefits like jobs, training opportunities, and durable infrastructure.
Pedawi is an entrepreneur originally from Kurdistan who resettled in the Netherlands before earning multiple academic degrees including a PhD in Business Administration. Prior to founding NorthLight Holding, he established Kani Water (later partnering with Coca-Cola) and contributed to early telecom/ICT ventures that shaped his approach of bridging Western technology with Middle Eastern markets. He advocates for inclusive growth based on rules-based frameworks focused on workforce development and community investment; he is also involved in higher-education governance within the region.
