Kurdistan, Dutch prime ministers talk strengthening bilateral ties

“The Netherlands is a close friend and partner of Kurdistan.”

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in the Hague, discussing investing in Kurdistan’s agricultural sector, as well as a range of other topics.

Prime Minister Barzani said in a tweet that he was “delighted” to meet Prime Minister Rutte. “We discussed how Dutch firms can invest in our agriculture sector, and explored further cooperation on security and migration,” Barzani added in his tweet.

 

“The Netherlands is a close friend and partner of Kurdistan.”

Kurdistan’s Planning Minister, Dara Rashid, and Investment Board chief, Mohammad Shukri, attended the gathering, a statement from Barzani’s office said.

The Dutch premier reiterated his country’s continued support for the Kurdistan Region in its ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, the statement added. He also said he urged Dutch investors to invest in the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the Netherlands for its continued support of the region. He highlighted the reform agenda of his cabinet, including efforts to diversify the Kurdistan Region’s economy, sources of income, and ways to overcome financial crises.

He stated: “The Kurdistan Region has a suitable opportunity to develop its infrastructure with the help of friendly countries, to become an important trading center in the region."

 

Following the meeting, Prime Minister Rutte briefly spoke with Kurdistan 24.

“We had a great meeting, we are great friends, and we met last time in Munich in February,” he said.

“We particularly discussed the economic development, the security situation in the region, and ways we can help in ecocultural affairs, and the general economy.”

Prime Minister Barzani arrived in the Netherlands earlier in the day, in a trip that includes a number of European countries.

Read More: PM Barzani begins his European visit by meeting with Prime Minister of the Netherlands

Editing by Khrush Najari