The Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Iraq, Mr. Christoph Prommersberger, visited the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussain in Karbala in a visit that carried both cultural and economic dimensions. The visit aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the legacy of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) and to explore opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Iraq and the Netherlands in key sectors such as agriculture, water management, and infrastructure.

In a statement to Karbala Now News Agency, Mr. Prommersberger said, “The primary reason for our visit is to learn more about the story of Imam Hussain. We are deeply interested in understanding this inspiring story and learning from its lessons. The second objective is to explore opportunities for economic cooperation between Iraq and the Netherlands, particularly in the agricultural sector.”

He noted that the Netherlands has observed remarkable progress across several Iraqi sectors, adding that his country is the leading EU trading partner with Iraq, with an annual trade volume of approximately five billion dollars. Mr. Prommersberger emphasized the Netherlands’ commitment to further expanding investment and economic collaboration in the near future.

He explained that the Dutch government places strong emphasis on climate-smart agriculture, water resource management, and port and infrastructure development, noting that these areas represent key priorities for joint cooperation with Iraq.

Mr. Prommersberger also highlighted the important role of the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine in supporting and strengthening economic relations, revealing that the Dutch Embassy will extend an official invitation to a representative of the Shrine to participate in an economic visit to the Netherlands next November. The initiative aims to deepen mutual understanding and exchange in both cultural and economic fields.

He further announced that a delegation of Dutch companies interested in investing in the Iraqi market will visit Iraq next April, marking the first such visit in thirty years and reflecting the growing confidence of Dutch businesses in Iraq’s economic stability and promising investment opportunities.

Emad Bao