Ms.  Halima Fonda Haga, Counsellor Embassy of Cameroon, Ms. Rose J. Sumbeiywo, Chargé d’affaires du Kenya, Mr. Amokrane Mourad, Chargé d’affaires Algeria, H.E. Ms. Vestine Nahimana, Ambassador of Burundi, H.E. Mr. Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Ambassador of Rwanda, H.E.  Ms. Irene Florence Mkwawa Kasyanju, Ambassador of Tanzania, The Ambassador of Morocco, Dean of the African Group,  H.E.  Mr. Abdelouahab Bellouki  and the Ambassador of South Africa, H.E. Bruce Koloane. By Roy Lie Atjam. 22 June 2018 – The African Group of Ambassadors in the Netherlands, hosted dignitaries, the African diaspora, and many other guests to the 55th anniversary of “Africa Day”,this in commemoration of the foundation on 25 May 1963 of the Organization of African Unity which is now known as the African Union since its name change on 25 May 2001. For memorable Marian van Noort’s pictures, please open the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157698357808664

The theme this year, “Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation” the messages of determination and resilience did not hamper an evening full of festive cheer, a wide range of national culinary tastes, and a spontaneous dance party ended the fabulous evening. More than 350 individuals joined in the celebration. Addressing the event, H.E. Mr. Abdelouahab Bellouki, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, expressed pleasure that the African countries are celebrating “Africa Day” 2018.

Furthermore, Ambassador Abdelouahab Bellouki mentioned the fact that the African Union is moving ahead. In March of this year more than 44 African countries, signed an agreement on establishing a Free Trade Zone. H.E. Mr. Abdelouahab Bellouki’s integral welcome remarks reads:on behalf of the Group of the African Ambassadors, it is a great honor and pleasure for me to welcome you all to this wonderful celebration of Africa Day 2018.

This year, the Group of the African Ambassadors decided to celebrate with a delay the Africa Day. This is because the date of the celebration of Africa Day, which is annually on May 25th, coincided this year with the Holy month of Ramadan. Africa Day is annually celebrated to commemorate the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963. This day is particularly special and significant in many aspects, as it marks the solidarity, unity in diversity and common strategy for the development of the African continent and the prosperity of its peoples.

In 1963, African leaders were committed to helping bring about change and freedom to many African countries and restore dignity of African peoples. It is therefore our responsibility to continue that pledge for the unity of the continent and for the political and economic emancipation of its peoples as well as cooperation among them. The celebration of Africa Day is very particular this year, declared the African Anti-corruption Year, as it focused on this important theme: “Winning the fight against corruption: A sustainable path to Africa’s transformation.” This theme was adopted by the Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the African Union, meeting at their 30th Ordinary Session on 28 January 2018, who decided to join efforts to speed up the fight against corruption.

As you know, there is an African Union Convention on preventing and combating corruption, adopted on 1st July 2003 and entered into force on 6th August 2006. Among its objectives: Promote and strengthen the development in Africa by each State Party of mechanisms required to prevent, detect, punish and eradicate corruption and related offences in the public and private sectors. Another objective is to promote, facilitate and regulate cooperation among the State Parties to ensure the effectiveness of measures and actions to prevent, detect, punish and eradicate corruption and related offences in Africa. Also, an African Union Advisory Board on Corruption was created. The focus on combating corruption comes at a critical juncture as African citizens consistently place corruption among their top concerns and priorities. This scourge is the most pressing governance and development challenge that most African countries are confronted today. The eradication of corruption in all its forms is equally important than the other challenges for the development of the African countries, as it is a powerful obstacle to sustainable economic development. A report issued by the United Nations Commission for Africa (UNECA), says that during the period 2000-2015, there was an annual illicit financial flows between Africa and the rest of the world average $73 Billion, from trade misinvoicing alone. This illicit financial leak could be reinvested in our countries, in our local firms if the corruption could be stopped. This important amount would provide jobs, relaunch our economy, and therefore reduce poverty. Corruption is a destroyer of human prosperity. We should endeavor constantly to eradicate this plague. Our role and duty, is also to change the vision that most people have on Africa, as being one of the most affected by corruption as the non-governmental organization Transparency International maintains it. The fight against corruption must be our priority, it has to be persistent, and we must not rest even if improvement is visible. The Africa Day’s theme of this year send a strong signal that Africans are convinced that the fight against corruption can actually be won and this provides a great hope for African citizens. There are many levers that we can use to gain the fight against corruption. First, we must strengthen the principles to fight corruption as a guarantee of transparency in the public account and public procurement contract. Similarly, the involvement of all the population, the responsibility as well as honesty must be the values shared amongst our populations and their leaders. Alongside these values and to render their expression easier, we have to implement efficiently our laws and make sure that no-one is above them. As we are educating our youth we have to make sure they will continue fighting this scourge that is corruption and be even wiser than we are by continuously raising their awareness. Profound and multidimensional changes are under way in our continent. Africa is 30 million square kilometers of opportunity. It has the youngest population on earth. By 2050, there will be 2.5 billion inhabitants on the Continent, half of whom will be under 25 years of age. These young people will constitute an enormous asset. Young Africans are a precious element in the achievement of development; through them, we have an incredible opportunity for emergence – one on which our Continent ought to capitalize.

As we commemorate Africa Day, we can’t celebrate only the past or the present, but we also need to reflect upon the common challenges we face in a global environment and our aspirations for Africa we want to fulfil. Among these pressing challenges there is undoubtedly the achievement of the goals assigned in the Agenda 2063 established by the African Union. A decisive accomplishment took place recently. The creation by the African Leaders of the largest free trade area in the world, with the youngest population on the planet. It is a landmark event which attests to our shared determination to build a new Africa for the future. This initiative brings in new prospects, practices and solidarity mechanisms. A continental free trade area stimulates capacities and enhances knowledge and insight. More than anything else, however, it fulfils the desire and ambition of our young people to build a strong, integrated Africa. This initiative expands and builds on the countless measures taken by our respective countries to promote intra-African trade. It will boost investment, stimulate economic growth, enhance continental interconnectivity and inject fresh momentum into African integration. This is a pragmatic step towards an integrated, prosperous Africa which is attuned to international realities. These important goals remain at the heart of the aspirations of the African citizens. Indeed, what is more wonderful than a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development; an integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance.

What is more wonderful than an Africa of good governance, democracy, and respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law. What is more wonderful than a peaceful and secure Africa, an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics; an Africa where development is people-driven, unleashing the potential of its women and youth. In fact, none of our aspirations will be met if disease, poor health, armed conflicts, climate change or terrorism continue to affect millions of our citizens. Our commemoration of Africa Day reminds us, as Africans, that we have all the responsibility to succeed in developing a better Africa, and a better world. This must be our shared responsibility. This must be our vision. This must be the right thing to do. Before opening our celebration, I am very glad to see you all looking happy, and some dressed in wonderful colors representing our rich and diverse African cultural heritage. On behalf of the African Ambassadors, I would like to wish you all, a Happy Africa Day. God bless Africa, a continent we want to be prosperous and great always.    

H.E. Mr. Dilyor Khakimov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan. By Michael Bonté. As Uzbekistan further opens its doors to tourists from all over the world, the Uzbek Embassy in Brussels organized a tourism presentation and a walking dinner in The Hague. The event “Welcome in Uzbekistan,” organized in collaboration with Diplomat Magazine and Diplomatic Card, took place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel of The Hague, where the guests enjoyed presentations about Uzbekistan and the country’s hospitality. For additional Hester Dijkstra’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157698778605355

  H.E. Mr. Dilyor Khakimov opened the proceedings by welcoming all the guests. Although there is no Uzbek Embassy in The Hague, the Ambassador noted, Uzbekistan holds a special interest for the Netherlands, and it would like to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. In particular, he added, in this moment “Uzbekistan has entered a new stage of development not only in the political, socio-economic, cultural spheres, but also in the field of tourism,” thus providing one more relevant field for expanding cooperation. Tourists can find a wide array of reasons to visit Uzbekistan, including natural, cultural, and historical motives. The country was at the center of old civilizations and empires, such as that of Alexander the Great, and it was also part of the Great Silk Road.

As such, Uzbekistan has a rich historical and cultural heritage, centuries-old traditions, and unique architectural monuments of ancient cities of the Great Silk Road. For example, cities such as Bukhara, Khiva, and Samarkand, in the past capitals of powerful kingdoms for many centuries, are located in Uzbek territory, and they attract a significant amount of tourists from abroad.

In order to attract an increasing number of tourists, several projects have been set in motion recently. Among them, the “Three Cities” scheme in the capital Tashkent. This project is aimed at attracting both foreign and domestic visitors in the Uzbek capital, and it revolves around three themed areas.

• The first is the People’s Diplomatic City, which is set to host centers for exhibitions, meetings and conferences, as well as offices for national cultural centers. This project will also include a 5000 seats concert hall with cinemas, restaurants and a shopping mall. Moreover, there will be space for a Great Silk Road fragment, and streets for holding festivals, carnivals and other crowded events.
• The second theme will be represented by the Ethnic City. This City will feature replicas of historical streets (with artisan areas where craftsmen display their work), museums of costumes, traditional restaurants and cafes, and up to eight ethnically-themed hotels.
• Finally, the Cinema City will present production stages, office space, the Tashkent Film Academy, shopping areas, food and beverage outlets, hotels, and a cosmetologist treatment center. Tax breaks and other incentives will be also given to film production companies to exploit the potentialities arising from Cinema City.

The Uzbek authorities expect that up to one million people will visit the “Three Cities” park in the first three years after its inauguration, with projected revenues of up to USD 1 billion. While at the moment Uzbekistan attracts a little less than 3 million visitors, the country’s new focus on tourism is expected to boost such figures to almost the double. In order to do so, Uzbekistan is also set to loosen its visa requirements. This is happening both via bilateral visa-free regime accords (e.g. with Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, among the others) and via a simplified E-Visa system implemented from July 2018 (e.g. with most Western and Eastern European countries).

During the “Welcome in Uzbekistan” event, explanations of Uzbekistan’s richness were also accompanied by several video clips of the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Termez, which sparked great curiosity in the guests. The participant were many, and of a high profile.

Among the many attending the event, there were Russian Ambassador H.E. Mr. Alexander Shulgin, H.E. Mr. Abdel Sattar Issa, Ambassador of Lebanon, H.E. Fernando Bucheli, Ambassador of Ecuador, H.E. Mr. Yun Young Lee, Ambassador of Korea, H.E. Maria Teresa Infante, Ambassador of Chile, H.E. Soraya Alvarez, Ambassador of Cuba, H.E. Jose Bucarelo, Venezuela Alternate Ambassador to the OPCW, H.E. Philippe Couvreur, Registrar of the International Court of Justice, Mr Amokrane Mourad, Chargé d’affaires of Algeria, Argentina’s Chargé d’affaires, Mr. Pablo Pineiro Aramburu, as well as many other guests from the Dutch tourism and business sectors. The guests were also able to enjoy the hospitality of the Uzbek people and their culinary delights. Among the many dishes served in the Crowne Plaza’s meeting room, there were samsa, the baked meat buns; lagman, a soup with Uzbek noodles, vegetables, and lamb; and the plov, arguably the most famous Uzbek dish. In particular, the Samarkand version of plov was served, with the dish cooked in layers so that the meat juices are soaked up by the rice. The dish also includes other ingredients, such as carrots and sour red raisins. With the food and drinks served, the conversation flowed and the room transformed in an international/Uzbek community sharing warmth and conviviality. The presentation and the display of hospitality would certainly encourage people to make up some time for a visit to Uzbekistan: mission accomplished! Further information on touristic visas to Uzbekistan: https://uzbekmissiontoeu.blogactiv.eu/2018/07/06/uzbekistan-launching-e-visa-system-5-day-visa-free/        

By Guido Lanfranchi. On May 15^th, 2018, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Amsterdam hosted the launching event for the newly established Bilateral Chamber of Commerce of El Salvador and the Netherlands, which is set to play a pivotal role in enhancing business contacts between the two countries. Since May 15^th, 2018, businesses from El Salvador and the Netherlands willing to expand their activities in the other country are able to benefit from a new facilitating institution: the newly established Bilateral Chamber of Commerce of El Salvador and the Netherlands. During her opening speech, the  President and Honorary Consul of El Salvador in the Netherlands, Ms. Sonia Meijer  said: “It has not been an easy job to build this Chamber of Commerce because of the Dutch Privacy laws, but we managed to find 118 Dutch companies that have done and still have trade with El Salvador. Additionally we found 226 Salvadoran companies which could very well export to the Netherlands, but there are a lot more.” In the Chamber’s first newsletter,  Ms. Sonia Meijer expressed her gratitude to H.E. Mr. Agustín Vásquez Gómez, Ambassador of El Salvador to the Netherlands, and all the participants to the launching event, as well as to Ms. Sandra Morales, from the Salvadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and  Ms. Vanesa Bandak, representative of PROESA. In the newsletter there was also space for the successful experience of the Salvadorian company “Caposa Plants.” Only a few months after the Chamber’s establishment, Caposa’s Raquel Jean Diaz described how the Bilateral Chamber provided her company with additional opportunities for exporting Salvadorian plants to the Netherlands. Moreover, the Chamber’s staff announced an upcoming fair, Chocoa 2019, which will take place in Amsterdam in February 2019. In this venue, businesses involved in the chocolate supply chain will be able to gather, network, and discuss their strategy. The import of El Salvador from the Netherlands  in 2016 was $ 29.479.300 and the  export of El Salvador to the Netherlands was of $ 32 .869 .000 In the light of the many opportunities arising from this newly established institution, the staff is currently inviting companies to become members of the Chamber. The cost of membership is of 50 euros per year, and it comes with a wide list of services. Among the many opportunities, there is the possibility to meet and negotiate with the two country’s businessmen and experts in different sectors, participate to business fairs and events, as well as keeping contacts with other members of the Chamber and confront the companies’ inventories and needs.