Launch of cooperation programme in Iraq

The water sector is one important area in order to improve the development of everyday life for Iraqi citizens. This cooperation programme offered by Swedish Trade Council and IVL in collaboration with the Ministry for Foreign affairs in Sweden, is focusing on development of municipality water supply and sanitation in Iraq.

 On August 2nd - 5th, two seminars were held in both Baghdad and Basra city to describe the objective to give tangible support to decision makers and key personnel, engaged in the work of rebuilding and developing water supply and sanitation systems, as well as encouraging the implementation of robust and durable water supply and sanitation systems in the country. The programme is also meant to strengthening cooperation and commercial relations between Iraq and Sweden at the same time.

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Important participants and the target group were Directors and Heads of water and sewage plants across Iraq, from Kirkuk, Sala Al Din, Diyala and Baghdad down to Babel, Karbala Missan, Najaf, Thi Qar and Basra.

The seminar was also followed by meetings with and visits by Iraqi dignitaries, such as Minister of Municipalities and Public Works: H.E Mr. Riyadh Abd al-Hamza Gharib, Minister of Environment: H.E. Ms. Narmin Othman, Mayor of Baghdad: H.E Mr. Saber al Essawi and the Governor of Basra: Mr. Shaltagh Abboud Al Mayyah, representatives from South Oil Company in Basra, UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq: Ms. Christine McNab, and several others. 

The up-coming training programme offered will be carried out in Sweden and in Iraq by Swedish Trade Council and IVL later this autumn. The cooperation programme as a whole will continue through 2010 and 2011 and is financed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Sweden.