Iraq: Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources on Tuesday signed a cooperation agreement with Chinese state-owned company ELINC CHINA to develop water resource management through the use of satellite technology and artificial intelligence.

According to Iraqi News Agency, Minister of Water Resources Muthanna Al-Tamimi received Chinese Ambassador to Baghdad Xiang Bo and his accompanying delegation. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and partnership in the water sector and benefit from China’s technical and technological capabilities.

The meeting underscored the importance of continuing to exchange expertise and organizing specialized training courses in water resource management, contributing to the development of national capabilities and supporting the implementation of water projects using the latest methods and technologies, the statement said.

Under the agreement, signed by the ministry, represented by Al-Tamimi, the two sides will cooperate on using satellite technology to monitor and manage water resources through the establishment of a national platform for dynamic management. The initiative is intended to enhance Iraq’s capabilities in monitoring, analysis and decision-making related to water resources.

The cooperation will also include establishing a unified national water data registry and developing a digital platform for real-time monitoring and dynamic management. The platform will provide accurate, continuous tracking of water resources and an integrated database to support sustainable planning and management.

The agreement also provides for the use of AI-powered geospatial analysis, remote-sensing systems and multispectral satellite data, alongside field verification and calibration at key sites and monitoring points to ensure data accuracy and improve the reliability of monitoring and analysis results.

It further includes the preparation of an initial roadmap for cooperation, defining implementation mechanisms and the required technical infrastructure in line with Iraq’s applicable laws and regulations. The framework is also intended to pave the way for expanding cooperation in the future with China’s Ministry of Water Resources.

The ministry said the cooperation comes as part of the government program’s efforts to modernize Iraq’s water management system, expand the use of advanced technologies and digital data in managing national resources, improve monitoring and planning efficiency, and support decision-making toward more efficient and sustainable management of Iraq’s water resources.