The Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to cooperate on development aid.
During her visit to the UAE, Lilianne Ploumen, the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, met with H.E. Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, the UAE Minister of International Cooperation and Development, whose ministry is the first of its kind in the Gulf.
‘In a short space of time the UAE has become one of the world’s major donors. It has established an impressive development programme that has a lot in common with our own aid agenda,’ said Ms Ploumen. ‘We want to compare ideas and see where we can work together.’
The UAE’s Ministry of International Cooperation and Development was established in 2013 and oversees a development cooperation budget of over €4 billion – 1.33 per cent of the UAE’s national income. The UAE is especially keen to benefit from Dutch knowledge and expertise in the area of humanitarian aid. ‘The Netherlands is at the forefront of emergency aid innovation,’ remarked Ms Ploumen. ‘This aid is greatly needed in countries like Syria, where the humanitarian system is falling apart. For us, it’s important to work with a partner who knows the region well.’
Ms Ploumen also sees opportunities for the Netherlands and the UAE to cooperate on water, women’s rights and renewable energy. She has invited her counterpart to The Hague for further discussions on these areas
Energy
Dutch companies and knowledge institutions are currently working with UAE partners on gas technology. For her part, Ms Ploumen wishes to see even more energy cooperation between the two countries. While in Abu Dhabi, Ms Ploumen agreed with the UAE’s energy minister to organise a workshop in late April on increasing energy sustainability and reducing energy consumption.
‘The UAE government is looking ahead and wants to ensure transition from an energy-intensive economy to one based on sustainable and efficient energy use,’ said Ms Ploumen. ‘Innovative technologies from the Netherlands can help do this.’
During her visit, Ms Ploumen also travelled to Masdar City, a sustainable city currently under construction. In this pedestrian-friendly environment, renewable energy technologies are being developed. The city is also investing in global sustainable energy projects. ‘Masdar City offers a glimpse of the future,’ noted the minister. ‘It aligns well with the goal of creating a greener Abu Dhabi and Dubai. They aim to obtain respectively 7% and 15% of its energy from sustainable resources by 2030. Dutch businesses and knowledge institutions can not only provide inspiration, they can also help the UAE achieve these goals.’
Trade mission
Representatives from 33 Dutch businesses and the Mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb, accompanied Ms Ploumen on her visit. The businesses primarily operate in the gas technology, sustainable energy, waste processing and airport development sectors. One destination for the delegates was Abu Dhabi airport, where billions are being invested to increase the airport’s capacity to 40 million passengers a year.
The UAE’s desire to diversify its economy also offers opportunities for Dutch businesses. There are currently 230 Dutch firms active in the UAE in a wide range of sectors, from infrastructure to innovative agriculture. Trade between the Netherlands and the UAE amounts to €3.3 billion, with 40% of Dutch exports to the Gulf region destined for the UAE. UAE companies also invest hundreds of millions of euros in the Netherlands, including in the Maasvlakte 2 and the Bergermeer Gas Storage projects.
The meetings was attended by H.E. Mr Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for International Development, H.E. Ms Najlaa Al Kaabi, Assistant Undersecretary for International Cooperation and H.E. Jennes de Mol, Netherlands Ambassador to the UAE.
Minister Ploumen invited Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi to continue the talks in Den Haag in the near future.
For more information:
UAE Ministry of International Cooperation and Development:
Royal Dutch Embassy in Abu Dhabi: http://vae.nlambassade.org/locaties/ambassade-in-abu-dhabi.html
Embassy of the UAE in Den Haag: http://www.uae-embassy.ae/embassies/nl
Picture at Ministry of International Cooperation and Development (UAE)
