Dutch to organize investment event in Zakho to promote business
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A Dutch delegation led by Dutch Ambassador to Iraq, Michel Rentenaar, visited Zakho on Thursday, and met with Guhdar Shekho, the new head of the administration in Zakho.
I feel so at home in the #KRI… Cold weather, grey clouds, rainy day, thick coats, old bridges and windmills. How #Zakho looks like the Netherlands. Thank you @ChiyaSharif for arranging the visit of Ambassador @MRentenaar and me to your amazing city! pic.twitter.com/F1Lf2iLsL7
— Hans Akerboom (@jtmakerboom) February 11, 2022
“We had a good meeting with the new head of the administration in Zakho,” Hans Akerboom, the Dutch Consul General of the Netherlands in Erbil, Kurdistan Region in Iraq, told Kurdistan 24. “We discussed opportunities for agriculture in the Zakho region and investment in infrastructure projects to attract more tourists to this region.”
“We will also organize an investment matchmaking event in conjunction with the administration, near the old bridge of Zakho. We will invite investors from and close to Zakho, as well as Dutch Kurds in the region. The Dutch Consulate will present opportunities for what we as the Netherlands can do for Zakho.”
Read More: Zakho, a Kurdish city with invisible wonders
“The event will be mainly focused on making connections between Dutch and Kurdish companies, especially in the agricultural sector, but also in other fields.”
Hundreds of Kurdish farmers in the Kurdistan Region are already planting Dutch potatoes as a result of the efforts of the Dutch Consulate in the Kurdistan Region. “In Zakho, there are no potatoes, but there was an interest for potatoes, and also for greenhouses.”
A concrete result from the Netherlands in #KRI: from Dutch potato seed to delicious crispy chips. This modern chips factory was build with Dutch financial support. Hundreds Kurdish farmers are now planting Dutch potatoes for this. Besides the many jobs that the factory provides. pic.twitter.com/GPBsjXrgIO
— Hans Akerboom (@jtmakerboom) February 10, 2022
The Netherlands wants to play a more active role not only in cities like in Erbil and Sulaimani, but also in smaller towns, like Zakho.”
ئەڤرۆ مە جوانی و دیرۆک و کەڤناریا زاخۆ، نیشا بالیۆزێ هولەندا ل عێراقێ و کونسلێ گشتی یێ هولەندا ل هەرێما کوردستانێ دا.
— Chiya Sharif (@ChiyaSharif) February 10, 2022
Evro me cwanî û dîrok û kevnarya zaxo, nîşa balyozê hollenda li iraqê û konsilê giştî yê Hollenda li herêma kurdistaně da@MRentenaar @jtmakerboom pic.twitter.com/unvWGccTb5
Chiya Sharif, a Dutch Kurd and a member of the Kurdistan Parliament, accompanied the delegation, and told Kurdistan 24 that the Dutch visit was very good.
“They (Zakho administration) hope that they can visit again and that they will increase the number of projects. The goal of the visit was to make introductions with more people from Zakho and to plan for a future event where Dutch businessmen can connect with Kurdish businessmen from Zakho.”
“A year ago we also had a conversation with the Dutch Consul Akerboom and Kurdish businessmen about starting projects here, but those negotiations are still going on. The meeting was very good, and the administration of Zakho was pleased with the visit.”
“The Dutch Consul and Ambassador also visited the Ibrahim Khalil border to assess the situation.”
Sharif told Kurdistan 24 that for more than 2 years it has been a personal project for him to bring more foreigners and diplomats to Zakho. “A vast majority of projects take place in Erbil and Sulaimani, so we are asking foreign consulates to bring more projects to Zakho so that we may increase job opportunities for the Kurdish youth in here.”