H.E. Mr. Roman Buzek, the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic awarded the overall winner of the competition, the startup Threatmark from the Czech Republic.

By Tereza Neuwirthova.

On 28th May 2019, the Embassy of the Slovak Republic together with the company AXS Capital Markets Amsterdam and the Czech Dutch Chamber of Commerce held a business matchmaking event under the name “V4 Startups in the Netherlands”, which was organised as a part of the programme of its presidency in the Visegrad Group, represented by Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

During this event, which took place at one of Europe’s leading centres for entrepreneurship- the Erasmus Centre of Entrepreneurship in Rotterdam, 25 entrepreneurs form the V4 countries as well as The Netherlands introduced their startups to the audience consisting of investors, representatives of trade chambers, as well as corporate, government, and diplomatic officials. 

The event initiated with a speech by H.E. Mr. Roman Buzek, the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, in which he stressed the need for exploring the great innovative and creative potential of the startups from the V4 countries to the fullest, as there is still a great amount of hidden potential among the entrepreneurs from these countries that can be transformed into profitable business opportunities. 

Thereupon followed a lecture by the keynote speaker, Mr. Vlado Kysucky, who addressed topics such as venture capital industry in Central Europe, private equity in relation to the world, as well as the great potential of Central European countries that is driven by efficient market infrastructure and operational practices.

Thereafter, the entrepreneurs presented their startups from the sector of information and communication technologies (ICT) in a pitch competition, in which the winning prize for the best startup was a direct access to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit taking place at the World Forum in The Hague this June.

A panel discussion chaired by the moderator of V4 Startups in the Netherlands 2019, Keith Wallace from De Investeerders Club followed afterwards.The representatives from Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, as well as The Netherlands outlined the entrepreneurial and startup environment in their respective countries. Furthermore, they highlighted the ways the startup field is expanding through cross-border investment in the Visegrad Group countries, while stressing the cooperation and simultaneously a friendly competition between them. 

The main aims of this event  –to promote and explore the innovative entrepreneurship from the Visegrad Group countries in The Netherlands, to facilitate the raising of investments for ambitious startups,  as well as to provide insight into the numerous opportunities in venture capital– were within the framework of economic diplomacy that is a part of the project scheme of Slovakia’s presidency of the V4. 

During the last part of the event, H.E. Mr. Roman Buzek announced and awarded the overall winner of the competition, the startup Threatmark from the Czech Republic, which deals with cyber security issues. 

Moreover, the judges also chose the most promising startup form each country, whereas each of these was awarded a prize consisting of an investment workshop as well as free office spaces for a month, provided by the sponsors of the event Andersen Tax & Legal and NIBC. 

Following the awards, a networking session accompanied by refreshments ensued, during which the entrepreneurs, investors, and officials were given the space to informally discuss business opportunities and cooperation, as well as partnerships between the Visegrad Group countries and The Netherlands. This business matchmaking event was a great success not only for the winning startup, but also for all the attendees as it provided insights into the fast-growing but overlooked economies of the V4, and furthered the economic as well as diplomatic ties between the countries.

Photography by Andrea Bartosova.

A distilled spirits tasting experience, where Embassies came together and celebrated as well as showcase their respective wine industries.

The soiree, which had been organized by Diplomat magazine was held at the Hotel Crowne Plaza on Monday 13 May 2019. The evening was a reception-style event with 18 tasting stations where guests were able to sample the different types of wine and spirits.

The countries that were featured at the show were: Armenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Georgia, Greece, India, Kosovo, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mexico, Republic of Moldova, Noth Macedonia, Peru, Portugal, Russia, South Africa and Uruguay. Many of the invitees were able to appreciate and savour wines and spirits from countries both ancient and modern.

For instance, think of sampling the wine culture of Lebanon or Armenia both being very old civilisations compared to offerings of the so-called “new kids on the block” such as India and Ecuador. 

Key Grape varieties producing fine selections of both reds and whites, not only afforded those in attendance the opportunity to relax and enjoy great company, but it also proved to be an educational experience. They were able to learn about the different regions’ viticulture, understanding how to taste, enjoy and evaluate the different varieties of wine.

Many persons were quite impressed by the quality and variety of the wines and spirits offered such as the Red Lebanon and the Ecuadorian Crespo Gin. The occasion also created fine opportunities to network and buildup new potential partnerships.   

Admission to the Diplomat Wine and Spirits Extravaganza was exclusively by invitation. Entertainment was provided by a jazz band which helped to create a convivial atmosphere at the well-attended evening. It is estimated that attendance of the event was approximately 250 to 300 people including many diplomats, importers, sommeliers, wine bars and shops, restaurants and members of the press.

One visitor observed that it had been a pleasure to attend the Diplomat Extravaganza Wines & Spirts tasting and purchasing evening. The wide selection that was available, the elegant décor, the programme and staff, whose professionalism and attention to detail were beyond compare making the evening a great success with high notes of praise from all.

Photography by Roy Strik.

On the 22nd of April 1944, during World War II, the Consulaire Corps Curaçao was born. The 75th anniversary of the Corps was celebrated with a reception on 23 May 2019. The Governor of Curaçao, the Prime Minister, members of the Corps and many other dignitaries were present. Speeches were given by Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath and by the Dean of the Corps, Karel Frielink.

The fact that there is a Corps Consulaire in which more than 30 countries are represented, shows that Curacao, although a small island, is part of a large and important network. And fortunately, this network is being used more and more. For Curacao, it is important to export, and so good international relations, including trade relations, are of great importance.

As far as individual consuls are concerned, they are a friendly face in an unfamiliar place. Quite frequently, they are dealing with citizens from the country they represent who have found themselves in unfortunate situations on the island, a lost or stolen passport, victims of a robbery or hospitalization. Assisting them and connecting them to the right people can matter so much, and may help to ensure that, despite their negative experiences, they eventually have a positive feeling about their visit.

————————–

Photo credit: Charlotte Van Belleghem

People from the Indian community came in large numbers to the Gandhi center in The Hague, answering the call of the Ambassador of India, H.E. Venu Rajamony. The Ambassador had invited Indian citizens and other guests for a discussion on India’s democracy, the largest in the world, and specifically on the spectacular results of the May 2019 General Elections.

Against the expectations, incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party won the national elections by a large margin, securing 303 of the 542 seats available in the lower parliamentary chamber. Over thirty parties participated in the elections, which were assisted by electronic voting technology and featured a historic turnout of 67%.

This election showed that the charisma and popularity of Modi are an undeniable fact: with a clear vision and a strong party line, Modi is steadily increasing his degree of popularity. The incumbent Prime Minister received a new mandate from his people, in order to transform India for five more years, making further steps on the path of development. During the previous term as Prime Minister, Modi has worked on enhancing Hindu traditions, and he has invested in technology and infrastructures. He has also created a vast program of social benefits that reached the immense population of India. Moreover, he has promoted education among India’s youth and has made significant steps towards modernising India.

During the meeting in The Hague, H.E. Venu Rajamony sent conciliatory messages. He applauded India for this great exercise of democracy, also confirming that the opposition presented its congratulations to Prime Minister Modi. Many leaders in the world also congratulated the winner. The Ambassador read messages from the Presidents of many countries including the Netherlands, China, Russia, USA, United Kingdom, Nepal, Kazakhstan, France, Singapore, Tanzania, Uganda, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Namibia and many more. 

Ambassador Rajamony went on by commenting on India’s domestic issues. “In terms of domestic economic policy in India, according to the IMF and World Bank, growth has been 7.3 percent and it is expected that we will continue to maintain this speed of growth in the coming years. With a young population and a connected world, thanks to the internet, technology and mobile phones, but also due to the growing demand and upstanding talent in terms of entrepreneurship, science and technology, innovation and IT, we can be confident that the economy will also continue to grow, enhancing the wellbeing of our people. As PM Modi said, we want each Indian to create an income, instead of looking for a job. Concerning the economy, we can be proud on what India has achieved, but we still have a long way to go. We have many challenges that need to be addressed.”

Over the last term, the Modi government has installed a program to clean the great rivers, as well as a program to provide housing to the homeless, sanitation, clean water, health and education. “Not a single person will be left behind – Ambassador Rajamony said – We are celebrating the pluralism and the social harmony among all, and we should all contribute from inside the country, but also from abroad to maintain a united India. The government will dedicate itself to bringing development to every corner of the country, providing jobs, making sure that inflation remains in control and making sure that education, health and welfare structures will reach every corner of our country.”

Moreover, the Ambassador also touched upon his country’s foreign policy. “On foreign policy, we stand engaged to solve the world’s concerns. We remain global in our look, and we believe in cooperation to address the common challenges that confront humanity. Moreover, we believe in the peaceful resolution of all disputes, including those with our neighbours, some of whom we have had a difficult relationship with”. 

The speech of Ambassador Rajamony was followed by a big applause. Former Dutch Ambassador to India Fons Stoelinga then addressed the public with a detailed speech on India elections, followed by a remarkable intervention of Dr. Vikas Chaturvedi, Chairman of ASSOCHAM, about India’s economy, progress and challenges. Lastly, an animated section of questions and answer took place, thanks to the input of the engaged attendees. 

On the occasion of the 2nd Canada’s Ambassador of the Year&Public Diplomacy Awards 2019, the Faculty of Civil and Common Law of the University of Ottawa, in collaboration with the Deanship of the Diplomatic Corps of Canada and the International Public Diplomacy Council by Diplomat Magazine, celebrated in March its Awards Ceremony, that was followed by a reception. 

The Award consisted in a Canadian Inukshuk sculpture, and it was presented by the Deans of the Faculties of Law and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. 

Twelve prizes went to heads of diplomatic missions from twelve geographical regions.  to 12 award-winning ambassadors. Moreover, four special awards and recognitions were handed to organizations working closely with the foreign missions present in Canada. Special prizes also went to distinguished individuals, including a High Special Diplomatic Recognition to H.E. Constant Horace, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps of Canada and Ambassador of Madagascar to Canada.

The 2019 Awards ceremony also featured the farewell to Ambassador Constant, who will be returning to his country, after serving thirteen years in Canada. Mr. Pierre Thibault, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Civil Law, offered him a gift on behalf of the faculty.

By Roy Lie Atjam.

Wassenaar 25 April 2019, the South African Mission in The Hague organized a reception to celebrate Freedom Day 2019. A host of South Africans, friends, Ambassadors and many well-wishers gathered in response to H.E. Ambassador Bruce Koloane’s invitation to come and join him in celebrating what took place on the memorable day of  27 April  1994. Freedom Day marks the day on which racial discrimination formally came to an end in South Africa.

After the welcome remarks by Ambassador Koloane a reception and gorgeous dinner followed. There was also a free flow of Soweto Beer

Mr. Robert-Jan Siegert,  Deputy Director, Sub Saharan Africa Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs also addressed the gathering. Many could not resist, got up and swing to the south African vibes.

Here follows a resume of Ambassador Kolone’s remarks:

“It is my honour, on behalf of the South African Government, to address you on the occasion of our Freedom Day celebrations. Twenty-five years ago, we were able for the first time in our lives to exercise our democratic right to vote as equals before the law – for a government of our choice marking our country’s historic transition from the dark period of apartheid, to a free and equal society. 

27 April 1994 marks the day on which racial discrimination formally came to an end in South Africa. On that day, we took our rightful place as a people deserving of respect and our dignity was restored. With our then interim democratic Constitution embracing equal rights and opportunities for all, we ceased to be pariahs in the land of our birth. We had, at last, an opportunity to build a new and better life for all our people.

Ladies and gentlemen, It was international solidarity that brought the apartheid regime to its knees. We recall the efforts of the international community, particularly our African brothers and sisters, who played an important role in the liberation of our country. It was through multilateralism and the role of the African Group at the UN in particular, that a number of resolutions denouncing apartheid were adopted; among others, UN General Assembly Resolution 1761; Security Council Resolution 181 which called on all UN states to stop the sale and shipment of arms, ammunition and military vehicles to South Africa; as well as the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid which came into force in 1976. Article 7 of the Rome Statute includes the crime of apartheid as a crime against humanity.

 Ours was a long and bitter struggle for freedom and equal enjoyment of human, civil and political rights. Today, there are a number of peoples who continue to be denied their right to self-determination in violation of international law. Our late former President Nelson Mandela said,

 “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians”.

South Africa on 25-26 March 2019 hosted the SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara. It was international solidarity that brought down the barbaric system of apartheid, and it is international solidarity that will see the realisation of the aspirations of both the Palestinian and Saharawi peoples.

Ladies and gentlemen, South Africa emerged from the ashes of apartheid as a strong proponent of multilateralism, the respect for international law, a commitment to human rights, inclusive dialogue and the pacific settlement of disputes. Our current term as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council is guided by these imperatives and by the Resolution of the AU to ‘Silence the Guns’ by 2020 in furtherance of Agenda 2063.

 We believe that peace cannot be achieved without the participation of women in peace negotiations, peacekeeping operations, post-conflict peacebuilding and governance. Moreover, we will use our term to prioritise gender-sensitive responses and programmes aimed at addressing the needs of women and girls who are victims of sexual violence.

We are saddened and convey our condolences to the Republic of Sri Lanka following terrorist bombings of several churches over the Easter Weekend that claimed the lives of over 300 people. South Africa will continue to use its non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council to prioritise the fight against terrorism and extremist groups across the world.

 We are determined to place South Africa’s economy more firmly on the path to recovery. We are on a path of renewal and are in the process of dealing with domestic challenges that have impeded our development in 6 recent years. We are on an ambitious drive to industrialise, to attract investment, and to create more jobs for our people. South Africa is open for business. To this end, President Ramaphosa has initiated an annual Investment Summit. As the most diversified African economy, with a host of unique comparative and competitive advantages, South Africa is an investment destination and reliable trade partner.

 The Summit aims to expose domestic and international businesses to a unique investment case, and portfolio of investment projects across several sectors. We remain a gateway to the rest of Africa and a magnificent tourism destination. We are determined to attract 100 billion USD in investments over the next five years. We are pleased that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement has been ratified by a number of African countries, including South Africa. 

We are grateful to the Kingdom of the Netherlands with which we enjoy long-standing relations. We continue to engage in ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in education, student exchange, tourism, trade and culture, as well as investments and skills exchange in the agro- 7 processing, chemicals, automotive, water management, ICT and the creative industry, among others.

In 2017, South Africa welcomed approximately 150 thousand Dutch tourists. South Africa has eight major gateway trading ports and harbours. Our coastline is approximately 3000 km with marine geographical presence on the eastern, southern and western seaboards.

 We have launched Operation Phakisa which is an innovative approach to translate detailed plans into concrete results in the oceans economy, through targeting priority growth areas, namely; marine manufacturing, marine transport, offshore oil and gas, marine protection and governance, and aquaculture. As a shipping Kingdom, there is potential for enhanced skills exchange, investment and cooperation with South Africa in these identified growth areas in the blue economy. 

South Africa and the Netherlands renewed the Memorandum of Understanding on Water and Sanitation in 2018 to facilitate cooperation on water management. The focus is on integrated water resource management, youth empowerment, water efficiency, re-use and climate change adaptation, which are important for our water-stressed country.

 We look forward to strengthening our cooperation in all of these areas.

In conclusion, we are pleased that you have joined us to celebrate our 25 years of freedom and we invite you to enjoy the evening with us” .

The Minister of Tourism of Cuba, Manuel Marrero Cruz, and the Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, during the ribbon cut of FITCuba 2019.

In May 2019, the government of Cuba and the Ministry of Tourism organized FITCuba 2019, the island’s 39^thInternational Tourism Fair. A large number of national and international tourism professionals and journalists attended the event, which was aimed at showcasing Cuba’s vast touristic potential. 

Over 7,500 professionals from the tourism sector, coming from more than 53 countries, and including directors of hotel chains, airlines, wholesales, and travel agencies working with Cuba; over 250 journalists, of which almost 200 coming from abroad; local and international high-rank government officials, including the Minister of Tourism of Cuba, Manuel Marrero Cruz, and the Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, Venezuela Stella Lugo and the Minister of Tourism of Nicaragua, Anasha Campbell. These were the attendees of FITCuba 2019, the 39^thedition of Cuba’s International Tourism Fair, held in the Caribbean island in May 2019 and organized in close cooperation with Spain, the most important foreign investor in the country.

The Fair started with an introductory ceremony and the ribbon cut at the colonial fortress complex of San Carlos de la Cabaña. The hundreds of guests attending the ceremony were then able to visit stands by the international partners of the Cuban tourist sector, as well as to attend conferences and ateliers. The program also featured large parties organized by famous Cuban hotel chains, such as Gaviota group, Iberostars and Melia hotels.

FITCuba 2019 was also an occasion to showcase the reconstruction project led by the historical office of La Habana and the celebre Dr. Eusebio Leal Spengler the historian of the city, which has now been extended to other cities in the country. This project entails the reconstruction of the enormous colonial heritage present in Cuba, notably aiming at creating new service-oriented building such as schools, social houses, hotels, restaurants, and stores.

The Fair was an important occasion to explore Cuba’s potential to attract tourists from all over the world. The large number of tourists that was expected to come from the United States in 2019 is currently decreasing, notably due to the new sanctions imposed by the US administration. As a result, Cuban tourism authorities will rely on both its traditional partners, such as the European and Canadian tourism markets, as well as on non-traditional partners, such as China and Russia. In particular, Russia will be the focus country for next year’s FITCuba 2020, which will be held in Varadero. 

H.E. Mrs. Brândușa Predescu, Ambassador of Romania and Wesley Troeger, composer One Minute Symphony dedicated to Romania. May 17, 2019.

With a full theatre, and the audience giving multiple stand up ovations, last Friday’s Romanian One Minute Symphony night at the Zuiderstrandtheater was a great success.

This extraordinary concert was presented to the Dutch public under the auspices of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Ambassador of Romania to the Netherlands, H.E. Mrs. Brândușa Predescu, and the CEO & Artistic Director of Residentie Orkest The Hague, Mr. Sven Arne Tepl. A special part of the concert was a One Minute Symphony composed by Wesley Troeger, which was inspired by a conversation with the Ambassador of Romania. 

During the reception that took place prior to the concert, Ambassador Predescu explained how she met with the young composer at her embassy and how after talking about art, jazz and Romanian sport, Troeger decided to write the One Minute Symphony dedicated to Romania. 

“ A Romanian inspired concert with a European content, represents a bit of my country inside Europe, and listening to the experienced classical musicians interpreting a young composer inspired by Romania; this concert was a great experience. I really appreciate that the Dutch audience came in such big numbers. Former Dutch ministers, my dear colleagues ambassadors, and the heads of international courts sitting in The Hague were among many other friends that came.” 

Not a seat was left unattended for this Romanian Friday night at the Zuiderstrandtheater. This truly European night concert brought to the audience Brahms concerto for piano No. 1, which was written by the great composer and inspired by Beethoven when he had just 25 years old. It was magistrally interpreted by pianist Hannes Minnaar who received several ovations from the public reclaiming him for an encore. His Chopin’s encore came out as a masterpiece again interpreted to perfection for more ovations received from an already captivated public.

After that, it was the time for Beethoven Symphony No. 7, perfectly interpreted by the Residentie Orkest, under the magistral and energized direction of Jan Willem de Vriend. What a fantastic evening, Beethoven never sounded so lively,  and this thought was undoubtedly shared as well by the public which adored maestro de Vriend’s direction. 

A sweeping night out, thanks Romania-EU!