After the official kickoff of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the first full conference day was opened with inspiring speeches by Queen Máxima, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and the Chair of GES 2019, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag.
After the official kickoff of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the first full conference day was opened with inspiring speeches by Queen Máxima, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and the Chair of GES 2019, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag.
At the opening, 2,000 participants witnessed a spectacular drum battle between a human drummer and the robot drummer ‘StickBoy’. Both perfectly symbolized the theme of the ninth edition of the GES: The Future Now.
Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands addressed the participants of the Summit in both her capacity as a member of the Dutch Committee for Entrepreneurship and as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. In her speech, she asked, “How can we create partnerships within the private sector, across industries and with the NGOs to design products that can improve lives of so many that need it?” The Queen also took the opportunity to highlight the importance of female entrepreneurship and access to financial services for women.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship and the role of partnerships. “By working closely with stakeholders in the private sector, state and local governments, academia, and emerging entrepreneurs, America continues to develop and implement revolutionary new technologies… Stronger innovation contributes to job growth, national security, economic prosperity, and increasing standard of living for everyone.” She also highlighted some of the pro-growth approaches and programs that the U.S. government is implementing to advance technological innovation.
“Technology is a game changer,” said GES 2019 Chair Minister Sigrid Kaag in her speech. “It can seriously speed up sustainable development for all – a true digital revolution.” Kaag continued: “If one looks around, one realizes the power present in this room. Collective brain power, purchasing power, networking power from knowledge institutions, investors, government officials, non-governmental organizations. All present here to help ensure that we can create opportunities, generate transformation through business and solve problems.”
The U.S. Government announced substantial commitments to drive women’s economic empowerment in developing markets. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced $500,000 in funding and $100,000 in technical assistance to the Women’s World Banking Asset Management (WAM) blended-finance fund. Joining USAID, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) announced its intent to provide $25 million in financing to the fund. The financing will help mobilize commercial investment to benefit low-income women in Africa, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific.
In addition, the Dutch Government announced a new startup policy today: TechLeap.NL. The policy comprises an extra investment of €65 million to help startups grow into scale-ups and unicorns. The focus will include improving access to investment and working permits for specialized professionals from abroad. The new policy will also benefit foreign startups that want to establish operations in the Netherlands.
Original news item at: https://www.ges2019.org/newsroom/news/2019/06/04/queen-maxima-secretary-chao-minister-kaag-open-ges-2019
