 "Representational Image")
Iraq and Turkey on Sunday signed a new agreement that will see Turkish firms undertake water infrastructure projects in Iraq, financed through revenue from Iraqi oil sales to Turkey, a Turkish official said.
According to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s office, the two countries formalised an implementation mechanism for a water cooperation accord that was first signed last year, though specific details of the new mechanism were not disclosed.
Under the arrangement, Iraq’s government will set up a committee to oversee water infrastructure projects and invite bids from Turkish companies. Payments for these projects will come from proceeds of Iraqi oil exports to Turkey, the official added.
The first phase of the initiative is expected to include three water-harvesting dams and three land reclamation projects, an Iraqi water resources official said.
The original framework agreement, signed in April 2024 during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Baghdad, marked a renewed period of cooperation between the neighbours after years of strained relations.
Water scarcity has been a longstanding issue between the two nations, as roughly 70% of Iraq’s water resources originate from neighbouring countries, primarily through the Tigris and Euphrates rivers — both of which flow from Turkey.
With inputs from agencies