Successful visit of Minister of Agriculture of Iraqi Kurdistan to the Netherlands
Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources of Kurdistan region, Ms Begard Talabani, led from 27-29 May 2022 a governmental delegation to the Netherlands to enhance the two sides partnerships in the field of Agriculture.
On 27th of May, the delegation met with Guido Landheer, Deputy Vice Minister at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Netherlands. The two sides noted that the cooperation in agriculture between the two nations is already intensive, and they explored concrete opportunities for future cooperation in agriculture, water and food processing. Other topics on the agenda included KRG’s new Agricultural Policy Paper, adapting to drought and climate change, and aspects of the KRG new seed law. The ministries agreed to continue their cooperation in these areas as well.
During the two working-day visit, besides this bilateral official meeting, a number of business visits, information sessions and knowledge exchange meetings have been organized to provide minister Talabani and her delegation with a good picture of developments in Dutch agribusiness and its potentials to contribute to the agriculture development in Kurdistan region.
The delegation met with Potato Sector Representatives NAO, Agro-Plant, Schaap-Holland and HZPC, with seed specialist Rijkzwaan, with the Wageningen University and Research Center, and with the World Horti Center and its Iraqi partners. Furthermore, it visited the Floriade 2022.
“We have an important relationship and we see the Netherlands as a lead partner in developing the agriculture sector in Kurdistan region” Minister of Agriculture, Begard Talabani said.
Memorandum of understanding
Kurdistan region of Iraq and the Netherlands in July 25th, 2021 have signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) which aims to contribute to creating and implementing an overarching strategy for sustainable economic development of the agricultural sector in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, by providing advice on agricultural development.
Read More: Netherlands and Iraqi Kurdistan Sign Sustainable Development MoU
One of the outcomes of this MoU is the new joint KRG-Dutch agricultural sector policy paper for 2022-2026 to be published soon. Thus will provide a policy framework with objectives, priorities and overarching strategies on agricultural sector development in the region.