On the picture H.E Dr. Elías Azar, Ambassador of Mexico,  Mr. Paulo Carreño King, General Director of PROMEXICO and Mr. Ernst Noorman, CEO of The Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO. By Roy Lie A Tjam. The Embassy of Mexico in The Hague hosted a ceremony marking the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) between PROMEXICO and The Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO. Present at the ceremony was the Ambassador of Mexico H.E Dr. Elías Azar. The date was, 10 October 2017. ProMexico is the Mexican investment promotion agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investments into the country and seeks to increase the number of Mexican exporting companies in the foreign market. Its mandate is to promote Mexico as a business location abroad and to assist foreign investors to start business in Mexico and internationalize Mexican companies. Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO is part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Netherlands Enterprise Agency focuses on providing services to entrepreneurs. Netherlands Enterprise Agency helps with grants, finding business partners, know-how and compliance with laws and regulations, with main focus on sustainable, agrarian, innovative and international business.  For international business Netherlands Enterprise Agency is responsible for implementation of the Dutch trade and investment policies. Note what the Ambassador of Mexico in The Hague H.E Mr. Elías Azar had to say at the signing ceremony. Welcome to this little piece of Mexico in the Netherlands. It is my duty to start congratulating both parties for their initiative: PROMEXICO and RVO. This time, is the time for signing this Memorandum of Understanding. This is the precise moment in history and in circumstances, to strengthen the economical and the commercial relationship between the Netherlands and Mexico. Certainly, both countries have a long and steady relationship throughout the years; they have a history together, which is, mainly, an economical and commercial history. As a matter of fact, next year we will celebrate our 190^th anniversary of bilateral relationship, the Netherlands is one of the biggest investors in Mexico. President Peña Nieto, throughout his mandate, has driven the adoption and the implementation of several legal and political changes in our country. Among them, telecommunication, energy, financial and fiscal sectors, in labor market, Economic competition, transparency and education, among others. The memorandum of understanding will help without a doubt, to promote trade within Mexico and the Netherlands, it will help to launch new commercial projects as the new RVO office in Queretaro, or the new quality control office established in Mexico too. Signing the MOU should be seen as an equally beneficial relation between both: the Netherlands and Mexico, and as a great step for the economy and the market of both sides of the Atlantic. I am very proud and very pleased that this kind of agreements take place now, and that they take place here at the Embassy. I thank you all, and I wish you a lot of success and great achievements. Mr. Ernst Noorman, CEO of RVO; in his partly Spanish and English delivery, hailed the fruitful cooperation between the Netherlands and Mexico. Noorman indicted his wish to perpetuate working together with ProMexico.

Mr.Paulo Carreño King, General Director of PROMEXICO made the following remarks. I am pleased to be here to announce the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between ProMéxico and The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), in order to strengthen cooperation, boost trade and investment activities between our countries; with the firm desire to contribute to the design of favorable conditions for the sustainable growth of economic cooperation, and strengthen connections in the business sector. With shared visions and mutual interests, the collaboration we have fostered has already shown great results. This event is a clear reflection of our interest in continuing to create synergy. Mexico offers excellent investment opportunities to Dutch companies in segments such as: agriculture, infrastructure and logistics and health sciences. I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Ambassador Edgar Elías Azar for all the support and facilities that made possible the reopening of this OREX: The Hague. His commitment to continue opening roads to Mexico is admirable. Likewise, I would like to acknowledge the work of our Counselor Alfonso Mojica, who since the first of September has made the necessary arrangements so that ProMexico can function properly. Counselor, in you we have a worthy representative, thank you for your delivery in this process, which was certainly not a simple task. ———– Photography by the Embassy of Mexico in The Hague.        

In Malta, the 28 members of the European Union have announced an ambitious package of 36 EU-initiatives to foster healthier, cleaner, safer and more secure oceans. More than €6 billion have been committed by public and private actors at the EU-hosted “Our Ocean” conference 2017 in Malta on October 5-6, to better manage the oceans. On behalf of the EU, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella announced on October 5 over €550 million of EU-funded initiatives to tackle global oceans challenges. At the conference, First Vice-President Frans Timmermans announced that the European Commission would phase out by end 2017 all single-use plastic cups in water fountains and vending machines in its buildings in Brussels. Furthermore, Development Commissioner Neven Mimica reaffirmed on behalf of the EU and its African, Caribbean, and Pacific partners their commitment for sustainable ocean governance. Maltese host, Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat welcomed all attending guests and speakers. Prominent support from the cause was at hand with the participation of HM Queen Dowager Noor al-Hussein of Jordan, HRH The Prince of Wales and HSH The Sovereign Prince of Monaco. ———– For further information: https://ourocean2017.org ———– Picture by European Union, Matthew Mirabelli 2017    

The celebration of the National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan) was hosted by the Taipei Representative Office in the Netherlands on 4 October with a stylish reception in the Marriott Hotel in The Hague. The reception attracted plus three hundred guests, including dignitaries, Members of Parliament, residing Diplomats and the Taiwanese community in the Netherlands. After a hearty welcome, H.E. Ambassador Tom Chou revealed in his speech that Taiwan will invest about 14 billion Euros for the development of the wind power industry, setting the goal to cover 20% of Taiwan’s total energy need by renewable energy by 2025.

In the area of green energy, Taiwan will invest 14 billion euros for the development of its wind power. “I hope that we can find a strong European partner helping us to achieve our goal, of course my favorite partner is the Netherlands.” “In the past 70 years Taiwan encountered more challenges than averaged countries, including military threat, poverty and natural disasters. However, the adversities do not overshadow Taiwan, but make it stronger.” Said Amb. Chou. “It is the 18^th largest trading nation in the world and world’s leading manufacturer of  IC products. It ranks 20^th in purchasing power parity among 229 nations. Moreover, Taiwan has one of the most advanced technology in dealing with earthquakes and typhoons. It has donated US$6 billion for humanitarian aid to countries in need since 1996.” H.E. Chou concluded with lauding Taiwan for being listed as one of the top ten countries recommended by Rough Guide UK this year to tourists to visit for its beautiful landscape, rich cultures, delicious food and friendly people. Direct flight services are provided from the Netherlands by Taiwan’s China Airlines and EVA Air. Dr. Frans Engering, President of the World Trade Center The Hague and former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), focused on the trade and economic relations between Taiwan and the Netherlands. “Although in Asia there are some giant countries, Taiwan is for the Netherlands the 4^th export market in Asia while the Netherlands is the biggest European investor in Taiwan..  Bilateral trade grew by 35% in 2016. For Taiwanese investments in Europe, the Netherlands is, together with Germany and the UK, the most important host country in Europe.  There are around 200 Taiwanese companies in the Netherlands mostly working around Eindhoven, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.  As a champion in high-tech, 90% of chips in the world are produced in Taiwan or by Taiwan companies”, Dr. Engering said. At the reception there was also a showcase of high-tech Taiwan made bicycles Giant and Darfon E-bikes. The Giant bicycle of Tom Dumoulin, the first Dutch male cyclist who won the Giro d’ Italia in May, was displayed and attracted the special attention of cyclists and bike lovers among the audience. Luster was further added to the reception by live music performances of traditional and modern Taiwanese songs by the Cheng String Quartet and by a flash mob choir performed by CEOs of the Taiwanese business community in the Netherlands. In return, the Dutch guests also contributed their share and showed their talents by jointly singing along a popular Dutch song. All this added a cozy and pleasant ambiance to the party. A lavish buffet composed of many food stations winded up a successful National Day celebration that lasted long after the official closing time with friends of Taiwan in The Hague. ——- Taiwan is a modern and democratic country, with 23 million inhabitants and 36,000 square kilometers in size. —— Photography Catherine Dailey.