Early this morning, a delegation, including the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Iraq, the Head of the German Consulate in Erbil, the GIZ Country Director in Iraq, the Senior Portfolio Manager, and representatives from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), visited Rwanga Foundation's forest project in Dilopa, Kasnazan, Erbil, where the Rwanga Foundation team warmly welcomed them.
During the visit, both sides discussed the progress and the environmental, economic, and social achievements of the olive plantation project. They also explored opportunities for expanding future cooperation in sustainable agriculture and environmental initiatives, alongside the exchange of expertise and knowledge.
The Dilopa Olive Plantation project features 20,000 Spanish olive trees spanning 55 dunams of land in Kasnazan, Erbil. It yields approximately 400 tons of olives and 120 tons of olive oil annually, while providing nearly 5 million liters of oxygen daily for the residents of Erbil. Furthermore, the project has created employment opportunities for 255 individuals, including women, youth, and people with disabilities.
The project was implemented in coordination with GIZ, with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources. Rwanga Foundation has continued to sustain and invest annually in the project through its own initiatives.
