On October 27, Ambassador Dr. Hisham Al Alawi, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Planning in Iraq, met with Ms. Janet Alberda, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Iraq, to talk about a few things that both countries care about.
The following are the main points of the meeting between the Netherlands’ Foreign Ministry and Iraq’s:
Cooperation between Agriculture and Water Resources: The official partnership that resulted in the creation of the “Iraqi-Dutch Council for Agriculture and Water” aims to capitalize on Dutch expertise in sustainable agriculture and water management, two essential economic sectors for Iraq. Dutch companies that specialize in agritech, water infrastructure, and resource management might be able to interact with Iraq through this council.
Ports and transportation investments: In keeping with Iraq’s plans to improve its infrastructure, Dutch companies have expressed an interest in the development of the transportation and port sectors there. Dutch companies with expertise in port management, construction, and logistics stand to benefit greatly from the Development Road Project and the Al Faw Grand Port.
Partnerships between Academics and Higher Education: The Netherlands have laid the groundwork for innovation and knowledge transfer by supporting Iraqi delegations and academic partnerships with Dutch universities. This may foster long-term ties, particularly in management, engineering, and technology fields that are essential to Iraq’s development goals.
Collaboration in Security: The Dutch military advisors’ presence in Iraq could help maintain stability and indirectly encourage foreign investment by improving security, which is a major concern for international businesses operating in Iraq.
Establishment of a Joint Committee of Higher Ministers: The goal of the proposed Joint Higher Ministerial Committee is to formalize cooperation between business and politics. Dutch businesses would be able to enter the Iraqi market and collaborate in areas of mutual interest if this committee were to be established. It would also facilitate smoother regulatory procedures.
The entire statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
On October 27, 2024, Ambassador Dr. Hisham Al Alawi, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Planning, received Ms. Janet Alberda, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Iraq, to talk about a few things that both countries care about.
Undersecretary Al Alawi emphasized the significance of the close ties that exist between the two nations and the notable progress that has been made in recent years, particularly since the Prime Minister paid a visit to The Hague in February. He also praised the Iraqi Embassy’s efforts to strengthen this cooperation by arranging meetings with Dutch counterpart institutions and organizing visits by Iraqi delegations at ministerial level. He also mentioned the productive cooperation across various fields, particularly agriculture and water resources. He explained that the “Iraqi-Dutch Council for Agriculture and Water” was formed as a result of these efforts, as well as the improvement of political relations and the exchange of visits by officials and high-level delegations.
The Undersecretary also talked about cooperation in higher education, saying that the Netherlands received delegations from Iraqi universities to improve academic cooperation with prestigious Dutch universities, which resulted in the formation of productive academic partnerships.
The two parties talked about ways to expand their economic cooperation, with the goal of getting Dutch businesses to invest in Iraq. Due to their extensive experience in this field, Ambassador Alberda mentioned that some Dutch companies might be interested in investing in the transportation and ports industries. The Undersecretary explained that the Iraqi government wants to develop ports, especially with Al Faw Grand Port’s upcoming opening and the Development Road Project’s implementation.
Ambassador Alberda also spoke about security cooperation, noting that the coalition forces employ approximately 300 Dutch military advisors and trainers.
The Undersecretary noted that a large number of Iraqi diplomats participated in Dutch diplomatic courses funded by the Dutch Foreign Ministry, which contributed to their development of diplomatic skills, and expressed his desire to enhance academic cooperation between the two countries’ foreign ministries.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Ambassador gave Undersecretary Al Alawi a draft memorandum of understanding for the formation of a Joint Higher Ministerial Committee between the two countries. She said that she hoped she would sign it soon to set up the first committee meeting soon.
