(MENAFN- Iraq Business News)
By John Lee.
On Wednesday, the President of Iraq, Abdullatif Jamal Rashid met with the Turkish President's Special Envoy for Water Affairs, Mr. Veysel Eroglu, alongside a high-level delegation, including a group of Turkish experts and consultants specializing in the fields of water, dams, irrigation, agriculture, energy and environment.
A statement after the meeting emphasised the diplomatic efforts and mutual interest of Iraq and Turkey in collaborating to find solutions to their shared water challenges. Businesses that can contribute to water infrastructure development, technology transfer, and environmental projects might find opportunities for collaboration and growth in this context.
Bilateral Cooperation for Water Management and Crisis Mitigation: The meeting between the President of Iraq and the Turkish President's Special Envoy for Water Affairs underscores a strong desire for cooperation between the two nations in addressing their shared water challenges. Both countries are emphasizing the need for joint decision-making and implementing solutions that benefit their citizens' interests. This indicates a potential for collaboration on variwater-related projects.
Importance of Water Resources and Infrastructure: The presence of high-level officials, including ministers specializing in water resources and environment, underscores the significance of water-related matters for both Iraq and Turkey. Discussions center on operational plans, minimum water release amounts, and technical notes for the Tigris and Euphrates basins. This implies the potential for investment in infrastructure projects such as dams, irrigation systems, and water distribution networks.
Water Crisis Mitigation and Environmental Projects: The mention of climate change, drought, desertification, and declining rainfall highlights the urgency of addressing environmental challenges in the region. The detailed report presented by the Turkish Special Envoy suggests potential opportunities for joint ventures and projects in water crisis mitigation, desertification prevention, and modern irrigation systems. These areas might offer openings for collaboration and investment by businesses specializing in water technology, irrigation equipment, and environmental solutions.
Full statement from the Office of the Iraqi President:
On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, the President of the Republic of Iraq, Abdullatif Jamal Rashid met with the Turkish President's Special Envoy for Water Affairs, Mr. Veysel Eroglu alongside a high-level delegation, including a group of Turkish experts and consultants specializing in the fields of water, dams, irrigation, agriculture, energy and environment. The meeting was held at the Baghdad Palace.
The Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Aoun Diab Abdullah in addition to the Minister of Environment, Engineer Nizar Mohammed Saeed Amedi attended the meeting.
At the outset of the meeting, President Erdogan's greetings were brought by Turkey's Special Envoy to the Iraqi President. It was President Rashid's turn to reciprocate, as he asked Mr. Eroglu to convey his greetings to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his Turkish counterpart.
According to the President, there are deep and historical ties between the two countries. Furthermore, he pointed out that the water situation is not an intractable or insurmountable challenge to be resolved, but rather the two countries must make seridecisions that are in their best interests and work toward implementing them.
Iraq- Turkey friendship relations were discussed during the meeting, with a foon the importance of developing and strengthening the bilateral ties, particularly regarding the water crisis, in addition to updating common understandings and agreements in a way that would most serve both nations' citizens.
His Excellency emphasized that Iraq should be familiar with Turkey's operational plan regarding the water situation, as part of his remarks.
Additionally, it is important to know the minimum amount of water that will be released into the Tigris and Euphrates basins. To reach a final agreement, both parties need to exchange technical notes, HE, added.
Meanwhile, the President, underscored that a wide range of actions are being taken by the Iraqi government to promote and develop water management throughout the country.
Climate change and its serirepercussions of drought and desertification are causing a water crisis throughout the world, especially in the Middle East, President Rashid emphasized while noting that a great deal of trouble has been created regarding the water crisis and significant decline in rainfall and snow in Iraq, affecting all walks of life as well as agriculture, not to mention the fact that rivers and their tributaries flowing from neighboring countries, His Excellency said.
Currently, Iraq is preparing proposals for addressing the water crisis, following discussion and agreement with Turkey on a final plan to ensure adequate water distribution for all.
Turkish President's Special Envoy, Mr. Eroglu was delighted to meet President Rashid. He expressed thanks and gratitude for His Excellency's valuable remarks.
Furthermore, he stated that Turkey has an earnest desire to further productive collaboration with Iraq regarding the water situation to reach a positive understanding that would most serve both nations' ties.
A further point he made was that President Erdogan paid particular attention to Iraq's water needs.
A detailed report was included in the Special Envoy's presentation regarding the activities and projects that the Turkish government can undertake in cooperation with Iraq to address the water crisis and desertification as well as introduce modern irrigation systems and water management methods.
(Source: Office of the Iraqi President)