- January 22 from 17.30 pm â 22.00 pm
- Okura hotel, Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, 1072 LH Amsterdam
- Attending the conference is free of charge / Please subscribe our website
President Varela will launch 2018 Panama Invest and Panamafest in Amsterdam
H.E. Mr. Shujjat Ali Rathore, Ambassador of Pakistan
H.E. Shujjat Ali Rathore, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Born on April 17, 1964 in Lahore, Pakistan
Holds B.Sc. (Hons) in Marine Science from the University of Karachi
Joined Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1992
Served at Headquarters as:
- Section Officer (Middle East), (1994-1995)
- Staff Officer to the Foreign Minister, (1999-2001)
- Director (Finance), (2007-2009)
- Director General (Headquarters, Finance & Special Projects) 2015-2017
- Director General (Foreign Minister Office) 2017
Held various diplomatic assignments in the following Pakistan Missions abroad:
- Second Secretary (Political Affairs), Embassy of Pakistan, Damascus (1995-1999)
- Consul, Consulate of Pakistan, Birmingham (2001-2004)
- Counsellor (Political Affairs), Embassy of Pakistan, Jakarta (2004-2007)
- Minister (Political), Embassy of Pakistan, Washington (2009-2013)
- Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Pakistan, Beijing (2013-2015)
Married and has two daughters
H.E. Mr. Peter Hoekstra, Ambassador of the USA

On Wednesday, January 10, H.E. Peter Hoekstra presented his credentials to King Willem-Alexander to officially become the 67th U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands. Ambassador Hoekstra was driven to Paleis Noordeinde in a ceremonial state coach accompanied by his wife Diane. Upon arrival at the palace, the Ambassador inspected the Koninklijke Militaire Kapel Johan Wilem Friso, which played the U.S. National Anthem, and a Guard of Honor.Peter Hoekstra, was born in Groningen and immigrated with his family to the United States. He became a prominent politician and business executive with a long history of public service.
The Ambassador served as a Member of Congress for eighteen years (1993-2011) representing Michiganâs 2nd District. He was the founding chairman of the Congressional Caucus on the Netherlands and active throughout his tenure in promoting Dutch-American ties. He was also the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence or ranking Republican on the Committee from 2004-2011.
During this time, he was responsible for leading Congressional oversight of U.S. intelligence during its modernization to confront the threats of the 21st century and restructuring following the 9-11 Commission report. During the 2016 Presidential election, he served as Co-Chair of the Trump/Pence campaign in Michigan and was a campaign National Security Advisor focusing on intelligence, cyber, and other security issues.
Prior to his election to Congress, Ambassador Hoekstra enjoyed a successful 15-year career at Herman Miller, Inc. of Zeeland, Michigan, where he rose to become Vice President of Marketing. After Congress he was a distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a Shillman Senior Fellow at the Investigative Project on Terrorism. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Gentex Corporation.
Ambassador Hoekstra was a member of the Executive Committee of the Netherlands American Foundation. He has written on issues of international affairs, intelligence, and security including the book, âArchitects of Disaster: The Destruction of Libyaâ in 2015. He has a Bachelorâs degree in Political Science from Hope College, an MBA from the University of Michigan, and an Honorary Doctorate from Grand Valley State University. His awards include the Order of the House of Orange from the Netherlands, the âNational Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medalâ, the CIA âAgency Seal Medal,â and the Hope College Distinguished Alumni Award.
The Ambassador and his wife, Diane, have three adult children: Erin, Allison, Bryan, as well as daughter-in-law Rebecca and a new grandchild, Elam.
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Hong Kong feast straight out of a martial arts classic
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The 2017 guide references 49 different cuisines and 61 starred-restaurants, including six awarded three stars, a rich offering indeed for a territory 30 times smaller than Belgium. Only a selected few food fanatics would be zealous and bold enough to attempt recreating in real life the fanciful and extravagant dishes that existed only in fiction, and this has never been done outside Hong Kong. When the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) decided to crown its 2017 celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with a martial arts-themed gala dinner, with dishes inspired by Jin Yongâs classic, The Legend of the Eagle-Shooting Heroes, Hong Kongâs Chinese Culinary Institute (CCI) was quick to accept the challenge. Founded in the year 2000, the CCI is the biggest educational institution in Hong Kong, offering programmes for both beginners and for professionals wishing to upgrade their skills. They can learn the main Chinese regional styles of cooking, each with its dedicated kitchen and served in the instituteâs own restaurant. Particular emphasis, of course, is placed on Hong Kongâs own Cantonese cuisine, renowned for its delicious and endlessly varied dim sum dumplings. Such is the instituteâs reputation for excellence that once they graduate, students are quickly snapped up by restaurants and hotels in Hong Kong and the region – the CCI boasts a 96% employment rate. With its practice of encouraging a creative approach and a modern interpretation of classic dishes, the CCI was excited rather than daunted by the challenge of turning the gastronomic fantasies of Jin Yongâs masterpiece into reality. CCI chefs, assisted by their students, used their skills and talent to create and cook an eight-course feast of aromatic dishes with poetic references, served at two gala dinners hosted by HKETO, Brussels, one in Paris on 19 October and the other in Brussels on 24 October 2017. This is how one of these culinary delights, so delicious that it earned its name from a line of a Tang poem â âTwenty-four Bridges of Moonlightâ, is made. Twenty-four holes are scooped out of a Jinhua ham, which are then artfully filled with 24 little spheres skillfully carved from a piece of tofu. Bound and steamed, the ham produces a wonderful, savoury taste, absorbed by the tofu. Having served its purpose, the ham is then discarded, and the 24 white moon-like spheres can be served. This was just one of the dishes cooked by the bookâs heroine, Huang Rong, for renowned martial arts master Hong Qiqong. Knowing he was a gourmet in constant pursuit of sensual enjoyment, she used her remarkable cooking talents to tempt him to agree to teach her lover Guo Jing the 18 powerful kung fu moves known as âThe Art of Taming Dragonsâ. The story is as familiar to Hong Kong and other Chinese people, growing up reading Jin Yongâs books and watching the many television series and films derived from them, as the tales of King Arthur and the Round Table are to people in the West. The enjoyment of guests at the gala dinners was further enhanced by the expert performances of martial arts athletes from the Hong Kong Wushu Union, all gold medallists in various competitions. Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Lam, introduced some of Hong Kongâs achievements over the past 20 years. She told guests, who included members of the diplomatic corps, the European institutions, the Belgian government, business people, academics and the media, that Hong Kong enjoys a unique advantage under âone country, two systemsâ. âWe benefit greatly from strong links with the Mainland of China and, at the same time, we retain our separate legal, financial and economic systems. We have used our experience and skills in doing business with the outside world for over half a century. Our international outlook and connectivity and the high degree of autonomy we enjoy has given us an edgeâ. Ms Lam said that the best is yet to come for Hong Kong, as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government continues to strive to make the city even more competitive and connected. âOur Chief Executive Mrs Carrie Lam, in her first Policy Address delivered on 11 October, outlined a full range of proposals to promote and facilitate Hong Kong to be an ideal place for companies to expand their business, and also a more liveable and smarter city for our people and visitors.â Ms Lam also spoke about the new measures to make the tax system even more business friendly, the Governmentâs strategy to boost innovation and technology development, mega infrastructural projects that are underway and the unique opportunities Hong Kong will enjoy under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development. ———– More information at www.hongkong-eu.org Â