By Anton Lutter.
Three weeks after the fall of Halbe Zijlstra, last Wednesday Stef Blok was sworn in as Minister of Foreign Affairs by H.M. King Willem-Alexander.
Mr. Blok is a well-known and experienced politician from the VVD party. 53 years old Mr. Blok studied business at University of Groningen, after which he served in different positions at ABN AMRO bank until 1998.
He then entered the Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (parliament). In parliament, he was chair of both the finance and public health committees. During the parliamentary elections of 2010, he was his party’s campaign chair.
In 2010 and 2012 he became the leader of the VVD-group in parliament during which time the political leader of the VVD Mr. Mark Rutte was Minister-President.
H.E. Mr. Stef Blok, new Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs.
He entered the Cabinet Rutte II as Minister without portfolio responsible for Housing and Public Services (Rijksdienst) from 2012 until 2017, when he became Minister of Security and Justice after minister Ard van Steur had stepped down.
He served in that position until October 2017. Blok is known as a hardworking and dependable person with a small ego, qualities which will be much appreciated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Having little experience in foreign affairs, his first challenge will be chairing the United Nations Security Council meetings in March, of which The Netherlands will be a member for the coming six months.
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Source photo: www.ad.nl
Minister Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner, Sir Sebastian Wood and Premier Armin Laschet – Picture by Land NRW, W. Meyer.
Tuesday, 27 February 2018, Düsseldorf, Government House (Landeshaus): Premier of North Rhine-Westphalia Armin Laschet and Minister for European, Federal and International Affairs, Dr. Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner received the British Ambassador, Sir Sebastian Wood for bilateral talks.
Premier Laschet and Minister Dr. Holthoff-Pförtner emphasised the necessity to maintain excellent commercial relations after Brexit. In fact, the NRW State Government appointed in 2017 legal expert, Dr. Friedrich Merz, as Special Envoy for Brexit and transatlantic relations.
During the conversation the NRW Government put forward their disappointment over the fact that the British Government is not pursuing a customs union vis-à-vis the EU as NRW fears trade hindrances, should the free movement of goods and people be impaired. There is a commercial trade worth 22,3 billion Euros since 2016 between NRW and the United Kingdom. In fact, the UK is the fourth largest EU trade partner for NRW. One thousand five hundred British companies are headquartered in NRW, that is, almost one quarter of all settled or represented in Germany indeed.
Historically the UK played a crucial role in the formation of NRW back in 1946, reason whereby HRH The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was guest of honour at the 70 years celebrations for NRW in 2016.
Currently there are just over 26,000 Britons registered in NRW, albeit the number shall decrease as British troops are due to depart in 2020 altogether from NRW and Germany.
There are 130 city and town partnerships between NRW and the UK, for instance between Cologne and Liverpool, Münster and York or Bochum and Sheffield. Sir Sebastian Wood, who is fluent in Mandarin, and an expert on Asian affairs, has been ambassador to Germany since 28 September 2015.
Ambassador Takeshi Yagi and NRW Premier Armin Laschet – Picture by Land NRW, R. Pfeil, 26. Januar 2018.
Friday, 26 January 2018, Düsseldorf, North Rhine Westphalia: Premier of NRW Armin Laschet welcomed for a presentation meeting His Excellency Ambassador Takeshi Yagi, Head of Mission of Japan to Germany, at the “Landeshaus” or Government House in Düsseldorf.
Japan is amongst the most prominent non-European commercial partners for NRW. In fact there are more than six hundred Nipponese companies based in NRW, making it the investment hub for the Japanese in Germany par excellence. NRW by consequence boasts the largest Nipponese population in the whole of Germany, just as Amstelveen in The Netherlands does for the neighbouring Benelux countries.
Currently the Prefecture Fukushima maintains with the State Government a scientific cooperation concerning medical technology and renewable energies. It is intended to intensify the cooperation in 2018.
For further information:
Embassy of Japan in Germany (HE Ambassador Takeshi Yagi): http://www.de.emb-japan.go.jp NRW State Government: https://www.land.nrw/de/pressemitteilung/ministerpraesident-laschet-empfaengt-den-botschafter-von-japan
HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein – Picture by World Government Summit.
11 February 2018, Emirate of Dubai, UAE: HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, Chairperson of the International Humanitarian, announced the launch of the “Humanitarian Logistics Data Bank” during her allocution at the World Government Summit held in Dubai.
The database ought to provide specialised information to help affected individuals, and ultimately assist in the struggle to end world hunger.
“The Humanitarian Logistics Data Bank will facilitate the real-time collection of data for the deployment of aid in impacted regions,” she uttered during her intervention. “Realisation of the humanitarian logistics data bank’s incredible potential will depend on dedication, determination and drive, not only of the organisations within the humanitarian sector, but of individuals. One of the individuals whose support will be the wind beneath the wings of its success, is David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP),” she added further.
The WFP assists 80 million people in around 80 countries annually by means of delving food assistance and improving nutrition in communities.
Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of HH The Amir of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, is also the daughter of the late King Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Likewise she is chairperson of the International Humanitarian City (IHC), a non-profit, independent free zone created by Amir Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum back in 2003. Its members include UN agencies, non-profit organisations, intergovernmental organisations and commercial companies
For further information:
Allocution by HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, Chairperson of the IHC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPvqKwLUn3I
Official website of HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussain, First Lady of Dubai: http://princesshaya.net/english/
International Humanitarian City (IHC): http://www.ihc.ae
World Food Programme: http://www1.wfp.org
Prince Maximilian and Princess Lilly zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Bvlgari Brand Ambassador, Baron Henri Estramant and Richard Getz. Photography by Bvlgari.Bvlgari celebrated its annual party on the occasion of the Berlin film festival – Berlinale – under the motto “Rvle your night”; VIP guests included Her Serene Highness Princess Lilly zu Sayn Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Bvlgari Brand Ambassador, her son and princely beau, HSH Hereditary Prince Donatus zu Schaumburg-Lippe, Liev Schreiber, Lottie Moss, Toni Garrn, Alicia von Rittberg, Marie Bäumer and Tim Oliver Schultz. Berlin, Thursday, 15 February 2018 – For the opening night of the 68th Berlin film festival, Bvlgari hosted its exclusive “Rvle your night” party, welcoming celebrities and VIPs to enjoy a sparkling night at the Berlin SoHo House.
Bvlgari brand ambassador Princess Lilly zu Sayn Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Bvlgari Managing Director Bart De Boever invited the guests to celebrate the legendary design of the Bvlgari B.Zero1 ring under the motto “Rvle your night”.
Bvlgari stands for the typical Roman extravagance and the B.Zero1 design reflects exactly this energy. Glamorous, sensual and bold, Bvlgari’s style is unconventional and exquisite. Asserting the strong character of Italian design, Bvlgari is as the Romans do. With brazen authenticity, the vivacious Roman jeweller is larger than life.
A masterpiece that unites scale, vision and dynamism, the B.Zero1 design is unmistakably distinctive, bold and reflects the typical Roman notion of a magnificent beauty. The perfect contrast of tradition and modernity.
Romans embody the individual sense of style, opulent exuberance and the shameless authenticity of their city. This is precisely the Bvlgari attitude, presented with the spirited – and above all legendary – design claim.
Invitees were chauffeured by Audi in a luxurious cars to the venue. DJane Natalia Escobar and Djane Niki Pauls provided the perfect music for a rushing party mood.
Bvlgari was founded as a Roman jewellery store in 1884, and today is part of the LVMH Group. Bvlgari has become an international name of luxury design, creating magnificent pieces with artisanal Italian craftmanship. As a diversified luxury goods producer with stores in the most exclusive shopping areas in the world, Bvlgari´s portfolio ranges from jewellery and watches to accessories, fragrances and hotels.https://www.bulgari.com/en-qa/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt9nCg-nV2QIVhxwbCh1LmggREAAYASAAEgK5EvD_BwE
Tuesday, 20 February 2018, German Ambassador’s Residence, London, UK: Chargé d’affaires at the German Embassy to the United Kingdom, Baroness Tania von Uslar-Gleichen and Ms Christiane Arp, President of the Fashion Council Germany, organised a bespoke event for more than two hundred invited guests from the fashion industry in the framework of London Fashion week, winter 2018.
Curated by President Christiane Arp, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Germany, German designers exhibited included Agnes Nordenholz, Benu Berlin, Damir Doma, Esther Perbandt, Gembalies, Horror Vacui, I’VR Isabel Vollrath, Ottolinger, Philomena Zanetti, Rianna + Nina, Steinrohner, Stiebich & Rieth, William Fan, Working Title as well as Zazi Vintage Highlights.
The Fashion Council Germany is the umbrella organisation for fashion “made and designed in Germany”. It was set up in 2015 in Berlin upon the initiative of national fashion experts to provide a boost to fashion design as an economic and cultural good of Germany.
For further information:
German Fashion Council: http://www.fashion-council-germany.org
President of the German Fashion Council, Christiane Arp: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiane_ArpVogue Germany: http://www.vogue.de/tag/christiane-arp
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Picture by Fashion Council Germany
Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Trade and Development Minister, H.E. Ms. Sigrid Kaag, Agriculture Minister, H.E. Ms. Carola Schouten, Healthcare Minister, H.E. Mr. Bruno Bruins and the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management Stientje van Veldhoven will all travel to China on an economic mission from 8 to 13 April 2018.
They will be accompanied by a business delegation led by Mr. Hans de Boer, chair of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers. The delegation will include representatives of businesses and knowledge institutions in the sectors of logistics and e-commerce, agri-food, horticulture and propagation materials, life sciences and health, waste management and circular economy, and smart and green transport mobility. A separate programme will be drawn up for each sector.
With 1.4 billion inhabitants, China is the world’s most populous country. In the last 30 years, China’s economy has grown at an average rate of 10% a year, making it the world’s second largest economy and the leading trading nation. China is working to tighten its trading and investment relationship with the rest of the Eurasian continent through its highly ambitious ‘belt and road’ initiative. This also opens up opportunities for Dutch companies, which will be explored in greater detail during the economic mission.
By Roy Lie A Tjam.The theme of this year’s Independence Day ceremony is “One Nation”.
On February 4th,the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, celebrated her 70th birthday. It was on this day in 1948 that the British(1796) formally granted independence. In 1972 Cylon became Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, the President H.E. President Maithripala Sirisena opened the Independence Day celebrations with hoisting the National Flag and commemorated the patriots who had sacrificed their lives: Junius Jayawardene, Dudley Senanayake, Anagarika Dharmapala and others.
In The Hague, the celebration of independence was conducted by H.E. Ambassador Adam Sadiq. He had invited colleagues, officials, friends and compatriots to mark this significant milestone with him. The ride has not always been smooth. However, Sri Lankan resiliency always brought the situation back on track. Sri Lanka has good reason to look at the future with confidence.
The function was held at the newly acquired premises of the Sri Lankan Embassy at Javastraat The Hague on the winter evening of 27 February 2018. What a joyous occasion.
2 March 2018, Tokyo, Japan: Ms. Teiko Kudo, a managing executive officer at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, shall join Toyota’s board as an outside director, pending shareholder approval due to be obtained through a ballot to take place in June 2018. If so, she shall become the first woman to sit on Toyota’s board
Ms Kudo is known for breaking the glass ceiling in Japan’s male-dominated banking industry, becoming the first woman to hold the title of executive officer at Sumitomo Mitsui back in 2014.
She is also involved in a fund Toyota set up with Tokyo-based hedge fund Sparx in 2015, which mainly invests in artificial intelligence, robotics and hydrogen-related technologies. As part of the board reshuffle, Toyota said Philip Craven, former president of the International Paralympic Committee, will also join as an outside director.
