A delegation from the local administration in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, is on a four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia to enhance investment opportunities and promote trade.
Erbil has sought assistance from Riyadh in addressing the escalating water crisis that has emerged in recent years.
On Tuesday, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw led the delegation as it arrived in Saudi Arabia.
The delegation included the Director General of Water in the Kurdistan Region, the Director General of Water in Erbil, as well as a group of investors and businessmen.
As per a statement issued by the delegation, they held meetings with various Saudi officials and investors.
During their discussions with officials at the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) in Riyadh, they focused on the issue of water scarcity that the capital of the Kurdistan Region has been grappling with due to drought and the effects of climate change in the region.
According to an official statement, SFD’s Executive Director Sultan Abdulrahman received Khoshnaw and the accompanying delegation on Wednesday.
The delegation, as stated in the press release, aims to “discuss enhancing trade exchange and cooperation in investment projects, addressing the issue of drinking water shortage, and benefiting from Saudi expertise in various fields.”
After providing an explanation regarding the issue of climate change, Khoshnaw called on Saudi Arabia to “make an impact in assisting Erbil.”
“The need for clean water is growing every day, and Erbil, regardless of its population, is home to hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced people who have come seeking stability and security,” said Khoshnaw.
“Like any citizen in Erbil, they require access to clean water,” he added.
Moreover, the Erbil delegation discussed “details of implementing the clean water investment project” with the Saudi side.
Like most Iraqi provinces, Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, suffers from water scarcity, which has become more severe during the recent summers.
Last Sunday, Khoshnaw chaired an extensive meeting to address the issue of water scarcity in the province.
Several proposals were put forward to address the problem in certain neighborhoods of Erbil, as well as in districts, suburbs, villages, and other areas within the province.
