A delegation of the International Cooperation Agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG International) including the mayor of Rheden, participated in a conference in Erbil this week.
The delegation attended the Local Economic Development Conference, which is part of the Sustainable Development through Improved Local Governance program. The five-year VNG program was launched in 2022 in the Kurdistan Region and is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Pleased to receive @VNGi and the mayor of Rheden. They are here for the Local Economic Development Conference which is a part of the Sustainable Development through improved Local Governance (SDLG) program. It is a 5 years VNG program started in 2022 in the KRI, funded by ?? MFA. pic.twitter.com/sIaPYc4dHN
— Netherlands in Kurdistan Region (@nlinkri) October 3, 2024
VNG International has supported the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in dealing with the influx of refugees and internally displaced persons caused by the Syrian Civil War and the rise of ISIS. Moreover, it has provided technical municipal aid.
On October 1, the KRG’s Ministry of Municipalities and Tourism said in a post on X that speeches were delivered by Municipalities and Tourism Minister Sasan Awni, the Dutch Consul General in Erbil Roelof Van Ees, and VNG International’s Director Pieter Jeroense.
They highlighted the importance of the conference and VNG International’s past efforts in supporting municipalities in Kurdistan.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Tourism underlined that the aim and significance of the conference were to enhance coordination between municipalities in Kurdistan and the Netherlands, in order to benefit from Dutch expertise in urban planning and governance, particularly in terms of local governance in cities, and exchange ideas and experiences.
هەولێر.. كۆنفرانسی بەهێزكردنی توانا خۆجێییەكانی شارەوانی
— Ministry of Municipality & Tourism/ KRG (@momt_krg) October 1, 2024
بە هاوبەشی وەزارەتی شارەوانی و ب.گ نەخشەدانانی ئاوەدانی و ڕێكخراوی VNGی هۆڵەندی و بە ئامادەبوونی @SasanAwni وەزیری شارەوانی و گەشتوگوزار، كۆنفرانسی "بەهێزكردنی توانا خۆجێییەكانی شارەوانی بۆ كوردستانێكی ئاوەدانتر" بەڕێوەچوو pic.twitter.com/EleF2bGZIb
In his speech, Minister Awni emphasized the importance of this conference in fostering cooperation and idea exchange, and how the experience and knowledge of VNG International can help develop and advance the capabilities of Kurdistan’s municipalities.
Minister Awni also thanked VNG International for its collaboration with the KRG in areas such as waste management, water project development, training courses, data collection, governance, and project management.
