Netherlands assists KRG's agricultural reforms
A European official said on Sunday that his country is investigating the possibilities of increasing economic cooperation with the Kurdistan Region in the field of agriculture.
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – A European official said on Sunday that his country is considering an increase in agricultural cooperation with the Kurdistan Region.
In an interview with the official website of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Erbil Johannes Van der Zande pointed out that the Netherlands is a leader in exporting agricultural technology and will take steps to contribute to the Kurdistan Region economic reforms.
"We have met with the Deputy Prime Minister of the KRG and the Minister of Agriculture to discuss ways to assist the KRG to innovate and boost the agricultural sector in the Kurdistan Region," Van der Zande stated.
He further emphasized that his country will continue investing in the academic arena in the Region that began in 2015.
"Our MSP (MENA Scholarship Programme), which offers short courses in the Netherlands, is already available to professionals who are under 45-years of age and are working in one of the MENA-specified study fields," Van der Zande said.
He also highlighted that his country launched business visa services through an external service provider called VFS in 2015. Located in the annex of Ster Tower, VFS was meant to facilitate the application of business permits in Erbil as a step toward enhancing trade between the Netherlands and the Kurdistan Region.
Van der Zande emphasized that his country’s cooperation with the KRG continues to focus on the political, humanitarian, and military challenges in 2016.
"The humanitarian support by the Netherlands to Iraq since mid-2014 until today has been more than €50 million," he revealed.
Regarding the military support, The Dutch Consulate General underlined that not only does the Netherlands take part in the airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) in Iraq but it also has 100 dedicated military trainers in the Kurdistan Region who are providing training to the Peshmerga as well as 30 military trainers based in Iraq.
Additionally, Van der Zande said that his country has also provided non-lethal assistance such as helmets, bullet-proof vests, mine-clearing equipment and communication sets.
According to the Netherlands' Consulate General, his country is also trying to "achieve de-escalation and renew the dialogue” among the Kurdish political parties.
Reporting by Gulala Khaled
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany and Ava Homa