By H.E. Ittiporn Boonpracong, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
This year marks the 412nd year of Dutch-Thai relations. I am delighted to share with you some aspects of what we have achieved over the past four centuries:
The relations between the Netherlands and Thailand could be traced back to the beginning of the 17th Century when the first Dutchman made his appearance in Siam. During that time, Siamese capital, the City of Ayutthaya, was one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and centre of global diplomacy and commerce.[1] It attracted many trading partners from China, Persia and Europe. Our civilisation was depicted in an oil painting called the View of Judea (Ayutthaya), the Capital of Siam, on displayed at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.[2]
A Dutch company called VOC (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) came to Thailand to trade around 1603. One year later, diplomatic relations were officially established after Frederick Henry of Orange sent an ambassador to negotiate trading partnership with Siam in 1604. As a consequence, the VOC was granted a royal permission to have its first shipyard in Ayutthaya and later became an influential entity in commercial and socio-political aspects of Siam.
A remaining trace of Dutch community in Ayutthaya is a large shipyard and cargo establishment on the mouth of Chao Phraya River, known amongst Dutch people as the ‘New Amsterdam’. Siamese people called it ‘Baan Vilanda’ or ‘Baan Holanda’, which means Dutch village in Thai language. Baan Vilanda was recently renovated into the Information Centre on the History of Dutch-Thai Relations, following a donation by Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix during Her State visit to Thailand, as the Queen of the Netherlands, for the celebration of 400th anniversary of Dutch-Thai relations in 2004. The Centre has good collections of Dutch-Thai historical items, e.g. the VOC meticulous archives, and is a hidden gem that has yet been known amongst many tourists. You may plan your visit there by visiting http://www.baanhollanda.org/en/.
Solid is a word I would use to describe the Dutch-Thai relations. Even during the most sensitive time when colonialism was perceived as the biggest threat in the region, our Royal Courts still maintained trust and provided helps for each other. During that difficult time for Siam, King Rama V decided to steer the country towards knowledge enlightenment in order to maintain Siam’s partnerships with foreign countries and to avoid being colonised. The attempt was successful and it resulted in a leap of the country’s infrastructure development especially in setting up the very first water management system in Bangkok with the help of water experts from the Dutch side.
In present days, close ties between the Netherlands and Thailand at every level are ever growing. The Thai Royal Archives provide records of communications which show that the two Royal Courts have been exchanging gifts and visits since the 19th Century. And even though Thailand went through a change from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy in 1931, which keeps the Thai Royal Family away from politics, the current Royal Families maintain close ties between each other. The exchanges of royal visits have strengthen the bond between the two countries.
On Government to Government relations, the Netherlands and Thailand have entered into more and more meaningful and tangible cooperation. This year, in particular, as the Netherlands being the President of the European Union and Thailand being the ASEAN-EU coordinator, we are working together even closer for the mutual benefits of not only our countries but also our regions.
In terms of people to people connection, Thailand has been the destination of about 200,000 Dutch tourists on an annual basis and definitely we would be more than happy to welcome more of them. We have just launched multiple-entry tourist visa this year. Furthermore, tourists who are 50 year-old and over may enjoy the benefit of extended stays in Thailand. You may visit http://www.thaiembassy.org/hague/th/services or contact visumthai@gmail.com for more information about eligibilities and required documents.
To sum up, I must say that throughout this time, the Netherlands and Thailand have been walking together on a long and steady road. I am very content to see our relations flourish. It is a proof that we are on the right track. Importantly, I am confident that together we will be able to identify better and innovative ways to develop even more meaningful relations between our countries and peoples in the future.
[1] UNESCO: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/576 accessed 25/2/2016
[2] Rijksmuseum: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-A-4477 accessed 25/2/2016
Royal Thai Embassy http://www.baanhollanda.org/en/Photography by IISD RS coverage of the Twenty-seventh Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC27/GMEF), 18-22 February 2013, UNEP headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya.
Key to Stop Refugee Flows: Unique higher education programme for Conflict zone.By Prof. Djawed Sangdel.
The EU Refugee crisis can not be effectively tackled without addressing the root problems. Why the unique higher education program for development in conflict zones with or without internet connectivity is the key to stop refugee flow? Is this the cheapest, most effective and most durable way to eventually reverse the trend by stabilizing the sending countries for a longer run?
Key benefits:
Accessible in all geographic areas – including conflict zones
Accessible to all communities and groups (regardless of gender or economic status)
No cost to students
High quality, needs-based content
Flexible learning access – TV, online platform and offline CD package
Quality controlled assessment
Designed and led by international experts in higher education
Programme delivered in 3 languages: English, Dari and Pashto
A model for accessible, needs-based higher education globally
Dunya University of Afghanistan (DUA), in association with Swiss UMEF University of Geneva, has developed a new, critically-needed education programme for delivery to the population of Afghanistan. Drawing on the expertise and extensive experience of leaders from Afghanistan’s higher education sector and faculty from around the world, this initiative provides access to high quality higher education specifically designed to respond to the needs of the Afghan population, whose country continues to suffer the impact of decades of war.
One of the major problems in Afghanistan for over 40 years now has been the lack of access to education across all sectors of society. We have therefore developed a new method of teaching open to all – at no cost to the student.
The key innovation of this integrated, progressive programme is its flexible access using three methods of delivery: teaching by television, an online learning platform and offline learning (with CD course and textbook package). This means that the programme is accessible to all communities, including those in conflict zones, as well as to different learner groups, economically, geographically and culturally.
The initiative’s rationale is anchored in the critical need to develop an educated and confident population in Afghanistan, and in doing so, nurture future leaders with an ethical focus on the interests of the country and region – and the world. By providing high quality education opportunities to diverse groups in all sections of the population, this programme promotes and supports future economic prosperity, stronger social cohesion and therefore greater security in Afghanistan.
Students are offered undergraduate and graduate modules in relevant subjects including management and business, finance and economics, innovation, leadership and diplomacy. All courses are designed and led by expert international faculty, with syllabi specifically adapted to the social and economic needs of Afghanistan, such as leadership courses for women and courses designed to foster and support entrepreneurial activity. The courses are available in English, Dari and Pashto.
Delivery of the learning programme via three channels gives students optimum flexibility and accessibility: DUA’s online platform serves those students in areas with connectivity, while the offline CD and textbook packs means students with no internet access can also follow the programmes. DUA’s own television channel is dedicated solely to educational broadcasting and allows communities in even remote or conflict-affected zones to access the education programmes.
Quality-controlled assessment will take place through interim exam centres set up in regional locations according to local enrolment numbers. This sets the programme apart from education delivered purely online, by maintaining rigorous, university assessment standards.
Due to the ongoing shortage of higher education provision, more than 150,000 people annually remain unable to obtain a university place in Afghanistan. Our programme offers this sector of the population the opportunity to gain an education to support both their future and the future development of their country. It also provides young people who would otherwise leave Afghanistan with an incentive to stay in their country, and achieve success as students, citizens and potential future leaders.
A quarter of refugees worldwide are from Afghanistan. Afghans make up the second largest refugee population in Europe, with at least 64,000 applications for asylum so far this year. The Afghan population needs the opportunity, incentive and motivation of accessible, quality education in order to build confidence within the country and region.
Our initiative is supported by DUA’s existing reputation in Afghanistan as leading education provider and trusted brand. We are very proud of this unique programme, which has been developed by academic experts of over 20 nationalities during a period of over five years. The faculty and researchers involved in development of the project have significant experience in education in conflict and/or post-conflict zones, and all bring their commitment to development of accessible education to support leadership for peace and security.
Following successful delivery of this programme in Afghanistan, our aim is to make this programme available as an effective model for other conflict and post-conflict countries in world.
Photography by UMEF University.Prof. Djawed Sangdel, professor of Entrepreneurship, is the Swiss UMEF University Rector, based in Geneva, Switzerland. He authors numerous publications, applied research findings, programs and projects on three continents.
Why are nine of the top ten polo players in the world (with a handicap of 10), and 19 of the top 20 (with a handicap of 9), all from Argentina?
“We start young, we play all year around, our horses are well-trained and… we are obsessed with the game,” explains Ruben Jabib, owner of Argentina Polo Day, one of the leading polo companies in Argentina.
The international handicap system is based on a scale that starts at -2 for novices, rising to 10 for the very best players. In Argentina the handicap system starts at 0, so a regular player there is a very good one outside their country.
Argentina Polo Day.
In any professional polo game in Europe, one can easily identify Argentinean polo players; they are sometimes called hired assassins as they score so often.
Argentinean polo teams come once a year to Wassenaar and Friesland in the Netherlands among many other cities in Europe to play a season against local teams. The near-untouchable Argentineans are widely regarded as the best in the world.
The professional polo season in Argentina runs from September to December, but the game is played at a lower level throughout the year.
Equestrian culture is deeply embedded in the country. Just few kilometers from downtown Buenos Aires one can find the vast fertile, lowland plains – Pampas – where countless world-class horses are bred. They are admired and purchased by enthusiasts from around the world, be it Mexico or the United Arab Emirates.
While polo is often considered an elitist sport in Europe, in Argentina it is popular game enjoyed by many. Farmers often have their own playing pitches where they organize family matches, and major league matches are televised, often attracting crowns of over 40,000.
There are more than 13,000 active polo players nationwide –more than any other country in the world. Unlike in many other nations, polo businesses often come in the form of small, family-run companies, making the sport a proud family heritage. These family companies are involved in every aspect of the game, from breeding the horses to manufacturing the polo sticks.
Many companies are increasingly using new technologies such as embryonic transplantation and cloning, but the time-tested tradition of breeding and training a polo horse is still deeply rooted in the Argentinean culture.
Professionals and amateurs from around the world travel to Argentina Polo Day for training, to take intensive classes, to play professional tournaments and to buy horses. Luxury accommodation and the best instructors can be combined with participation in Argentina’s top high handicap tournaments: The Triple Crown, Tortugas Country Club, Hurlingham Polo Club and Palermo Polo Open.
Even those unfamiliar with horse-riding can enjoy Argentina Polo Day, in Capilla del Señor (Chapel of the Lord), an historical city located 82 kilometres in the northern part of Buenos Aires Province, to spend some time learning about the game’s history; getting to grips with its rules and basic techniques; watching professional games; enjoying the finest empanadas, asados and wine; taking classes; participating in mini tournaments; and relaxing in the pool before heading back to downtown Buenos Aires at the end of the day.
Argentina Polo Day became a very attractive option for those seeking to discover the secrets of one of the most exclusive sports in the world.
For additional pictures, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157665097997715Photography by Ashley Neuhof. Cortesy of Argentina Polo Day- All rights reserved.
On the picture Mr. Joost Reintjes, Head of the Western Hemisphere Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.By Roy Lie A Tjam
The arrival of the Latin America table at the Litteraire Societeit De Witte has been a highly anticipated. On Friday 28th February, Mr. Joost Reintjes, Head of the Western Hemisphere Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered his inaugural speech. The musical Intermezzo played by pianist Joris van Goudoever, contributed to a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere at de Groenezaal of Soc De Witte.
Ms Sonia Meijer, Chair of the Latin American Table, warmly welcomed the guests and thanked them for coming to this very special occasion. Among the fifty attendees were Ambassadors from across Latin-America, spanning from Mexico to Brazil and Peru.
For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures on the event, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157663105842783Mr. Joost Reintjes and Ms Sonia Meijer.
In his address, Mr. Joost Reintjes, a former Dutch diplomat highlighted how he was asked to speak about the relationship between Latin-America and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. His response: “I will gladly do so, but on one condition, that I may approach the subject through the prism of a passion, the Dutch and the Latino’s share, football.”
Mr. Joost Reintjes noted how his first encounters with Latin-America were colored by football and football-players. In 1974, the Netherlands played Uruguay, an impressive team that included the fearless Pablo Forlán. “We then played Argentina with the young Mario Kempes and later Brazil with the emerging star Revelino”.
In 1998 Reintjes worked in Venezuela, the year Argentina played The Netherlands in the World Cup. The whole of Venezuela was cheering for the Netherlands; he was touched and surprised by the display of solidarity. However the tables turned when the Netherlands played against Brazil, all of a sudden everyone in Venezuela decided to support Brazil. Football: full of surprises.
H.E. Ms. Aida Luz Santos de Escobar, Ambassador of El Salvador and H. E. Fermín Gabriel Quiñones Sánchez, Ambassador of Cuba.
Reintjes used to think only the Dutch were crazy about football, but it turned out the Dutch are far from alone in that respect. This ‘locura’ about football was one of the first similarities he encountered between the two countries, reflecting their broader level of understanding and like-mindedness.
The relations between the two entities are excellent and always improving, highlighted through the support Latin America has shown the Netherlands in their search for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council. It must be noted how three of the four autonomous countries of the Kingdom are located in the Caribbean. Thanks to this Caribbean dimension, the Netherlands actually are not that bad at baseball either, but that is a topic for another day.
The Ambassador of Mexico, H. E. Eduardo Ibarrola, H. E. Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez, Ambassador of Costa Rica and the Ambassador of Chile, H. E. Maria Teresa de Jesus Infante Caffi.
Reintje stated how the Netherlands and CELAC share a solid basis of political understanding with the democracy in both regions being firmly rooted. Both countries share a strong commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights. They both believe in effective, representative and transparent global governance, the ideal of an inclusive society with opportunity for all.
Latin America has its challenges, but the Dutch have plenty of reasons to envy you. Where the spectre of interstate conflict has reared its ugly head in the east of Europe, many disagreements between Latin American states are still resolved in courtrooms. Despite economic headwinds in the near future, the middle classes are expanding. Latin-America, in many way can be regarded as in many ways as a stable region.
The CELAC region is on the rise, with a consistent growth in GDP over the last 15 years – around 3.5% per year according to the World Bank – and a growing income for over 600 million inhabitants, Latin America and the Caribbean have become an important economic force in the world.
Furthermore, the economic cooperation will be beneficial to both our regions. It will bring growth, jobs and an improved standard of living. We saw, for example, a sharp rise in trade between Colombia, Peru and the EU after the adoption of the Free Trade Agreement. For some goods, the agreement led to a rise in trade that exceeded 100%. There are many factors that bind the CELAC region and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, such as politics, commerce and of course, football.
H. E. Eduardo Ibarrola, H. E. Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez, Ambassador of Costa Rica, the Ambassador of Chile, H. E. Maria Teresa de Jesus Infante Caffi, H. E. Héctor Horacio Salvador, Ambassador of Argentina, Mr. Joost Reintjes and the Ambassador of El Salvador H. E. Aida Luz Santos.
Mr Joost Reintjes, before concluding returned back to football “unfortunately, we did not win the world cup in ’78, or to be more specifically, we have not ever won it. And during the last World Cup we were eliminated, once again, by, you’re absolutely right, Argentina. There is no need to mention Brazil regarding the last World Cup.”
So after this devastation, the Dutch squad decided not to attend the 2016 European Cup in order to prepare for the 2018 World Cup of 2018 in Russia with the view of trying to win this one. When the day of this final, hopefully against Argentina or another CELAC-country, arrives, sometime in June or July, I am hoping we can all watch it together at the table of Latin America in the Litteraire Societeit De Witte.
Wanted: Women in Water – UNESCO-IHE’s International Women’s Day Conference
The UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education is organizing its International Women’s Day Conference 2016 on 17 March under the theme ‘Wanted: Women in Water’. The conference, from 12.00 – 17.00 hrs, will include three keynote speakers and will allocate time for discussion. It will be a forum for debate and reflection on the relevance, opportunities and obstacles of women choosing a career in the water sector.
The keynote speakers are three exceptional women who have made their careers in water, from the business, government and academia arenas. They will inspire the audience to reflect on the role that women working in the water sector can play.
Esther Bosman, Director Business Unit Water NL, Royal HaskoningDHV
Ndey-Isatou Njie, Former Chief, Water Energy and Capacity Development Branch Secretary, UN-Water Division for Sustainable Development, UN-DESA
Prof. dr. Simone Buitendijk, Vice Rector, Leiden University
Group discussions will be held on provocative statements dealing with the conference theme of Women in Water. Conclusions from these discussion will be presented during the wrap-up of the conference. People can also join the discussion on Twitter, using the hashtag #IWDC.
Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü.
OPCW Director-General, H. E. Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, has announced that the European Union has contributed an additional €2.3 million to support the Organisation’s verification and fact-finding work in Syria.On 30 November 2015 the Council of the European Union adopted Decision 2015/2215/CFSP in support of UN Security Council Resolution 2235(2015) in the framework of the EU’s Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. That resolution established a Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) to identify, to the greatest extent feasible, individuals, entities, groups or governments who were perpetrators, organisers, sponsors or otherwise involved in the use of chemicals, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical, as weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic. The decision provides for a funding of 2.3 million euros to OPCW special missions in the Syrian Arab Republic, including activities related to the OPCW Fact Finding Mission in support of the JIM. By means of the same decision another 2.3 million euros will be contributed in support of JIM operations.Expressing his appreciation for the consistent and significant support extended by the EU for OPCW’s work, the Director-General said that, “This important contribution will enable the Organisation to continue to effectively carry out crucial mandated activities”.Thus, Council Decision 2015/2215/CFSP complements the commitment of the EU and its Member States to the complete elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme, including destruction of Syria’s declared chemical weapons stockpile (to which the Union has already contributed 17 million euros), in compliance with Syria’s obligations as State Party to the CWC.
On the picture H.E. Martijn van Dam Dutch Minister of Agriculture and H.E. Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Ambassador of Rwanda.
RDB, African Parks and the Government of the Netherlands present Wildlife Deal on the reintroduction of black rhinos into Rwanda.
Today, the Rwandan Development Board, African Parks and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs presented a Wildlife Deal on the reintroduction of black rhinos into Rwanda. This project represents a very prestigious and positive initiative to bring an endangered species back into a safe environment in Rwanda. It restores Akagera National Park to a ‘Big Five’ park and will boost the tourism development in Rwanda.
The Wildlife Deal was presented today on World Wildlife Day at the Save Wildlife Conference in The Hague, the Netherlands. CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, Mr. Francis Gatare, expressed his gratitude to the Dutch Government and African Parks through a video-message and said that the ground-breaking conservation effort to re-introduce seven lions to Akagera last July was a resounding success and raised Akagera’s status among international conservation platforms.
‘The next milestone to achieve is the re-introduction of black rhinos to Akagera and to Rwanda. At this time I would like to express our gratitude for the financial support from the Dutch Government to aiding us in bringing back Rhinos to Rwanda. This would restore Akagera’s status as a ‘Big 5’ park and combined with the parks incredible scenery, huge diversity within a relatively small area, almost 500 species of bird and conservation success story, Akagera is set to become a must-see destination’, said Mr. Gatare.
H.E. Jean Pierre Karabaranga.
H.E. Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the Netherlands, attended the High-level Round Table session, which was chaired by H.E. Martijn van Dam, chair of the conference and Minister for Agriculture of the Netherlands.
‘The future of wildlife is in our hands and the Government of Rwanda is playing a role in wildlife protection and has demonstrated a strong commitment towards the success of conservation in Rwanda’, said Ambassador Karabaranga after the presentation of the Wildlife Deal. ‘Rwanda is a stable country and, led by President Paul Kagame, has made huge advances in economic development and poverty reduction through a strong vision for the transformation of the country. The Government has the necessary will and conviction for conservation to succeed in Rwanda’.
The Ambassador took the opportunity to, on behalf of the Rwandan Government and the Rwanda Development Board, thank the Dutch Government and African Parks for supporting the various initiatives they undertook to ensure that wildlife has a future in Rwanda.
Since early 2010 African Parks and the Rwanda Development Board agreed to jointly manage Akagera National Park. The management agreement is for an initial term of 20 years, with an option to renew for a further 20 years. It is the goal of the partnership to restore, develop and manage Akagera as a functioning savannah ecosystem through biodiversity rehabilitation, sound conservation practices and tourism development, thereby creating additional benefit for the economy of Rwanda.
Akagera National Park is growing in profile nationally and the successful reintroduction of lion in June 2015 has boosted the park’s conservation status.
On the picture H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and H.E. Jonghyun Choe, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea.ASEF Photo Exhibition ‘On the Go’The Netherlands has a long shared history with Asia. Dutch sailors, merchants and adventurers sailed the Eastern waters already in the early 17th century. Today, the relationship between Europe and Asia has widened and deepened. Europe and Asia share many interests and face many similar challenges, which makes connectivity between our continents even more important than before. The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) plays an important role in stimulating dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Asia. It unites 28 European Union member states, 2 other European countries, and the European Union with 21 Asian countries and the ASEAN secretariat. The ASEM dialogue addresses political, economic and cultural issues, with the objectives of strengthening the relationship between the two regions, in spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership. To celebrate the first meeting of ASEM in 1996, the 1st of March has been proclaimed as the international “ASEM-day”.For additional Mirza Kamram’s pictures on the event, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157665299561476 The Asia-Europe foundation (ASEF), has invited photographers from Asia and Europe to participate in ‘On the Go’, a photo competition celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). On the Go’s theme is the motion and the pace of life in Asia and Europe, illustrating the moments where we are different… and yet, so alike. The Asia & Oceania Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized an exhibition of 19 photographs selected from submissions of photographers of the 51 member states of the Asia-Europe Meeting to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Asia-Europe meeting at the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague. The event was a nice gathering at which, head of missions and representatives of various embassies were present such as Bangladesh, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. The city councilor Karsten Klein opened the event with a short speech followed some words of Deputy Director Arjen van den Berg from the ministry of foreign affairs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to provide Greece with medical equipment and supplies, in response to a recent plea by the Greek government for assistance with the refugee crisis.
Foreign Affairs Minister H. E. Bert Koenders and H. E. Lilianne Ploumen Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, will be providing specialised vehicles and medical supplies in the short term, for use in locations where refugees are stranded.
The tens of thousands of refugees currently stranded in various parts of Greece urgently need first aid and medical care. It has been agreed that the Netherlands will provide nine mobile aid units, each consisting of two vehicles, a generator, a tent and medical supplies. Greece will also receive sleeping bags, sheets, blankets and other items from the Netherlands as requested. The supplies will be dispatched as soon as possible.
Mr Koenders said the aid is meeting an urgent need. ‘It also shows that we are not abandoning Greece at this time of crisis which is weighing so heavily on the country. That’s why I believe there needs to be a European humanitarian aid programme for Greece. We must all pull together to help the refugees stranded there and also support the Greeks in the tremendous efforts they are making.’
Ms Ploumen added, ‘In recent months we have already donated humanitarian supplies to Greece and several Balkan countries, including lighting columns, camp beds and water pumps. The Netherlands is now sending this new aid consignment in response to the Greek government’s request, and I hope that other EU member states will quickly follow suit. We cannot leave all these people in the lurch.’
While polo is often considered an elitist sport in Europe, in Argentina it is popular game enjoyed by many. Farmers often have their own playing pitches where they organize family matches, and major league matches are televised, often attracting crowns of over 40,000.
There are more than 13,000 active polo players nationwide –more than any other country in the world. Unlike in many other nations, polo businesses often come in the form of small, family-run companies, making the sport a proud family heritage. These family companies are involved in every aspect of the game, from breeding the horses to manufacturing the polo sticks.
Many companies are increasingly using new technologies such as embryonic transplantation and cloning, but the time-tested tradition of breeding and training a polo horse is still deeply rooted in the Argentinean culture.
Professionals and amateurs from around the world travel to Argentina Polo Day for training, to take intensive classes, to play professional tournaments and to buy horses. Luxury accommodation and the best instructors can be combined with participation in Argentina’s top high handicap tournaments: The Triple Crown, Tortugas Country Club, Hurlingham Polo Club and Palermo Polo Open.
Even those unfamiliar with horse-riding can enjoy Argentina Polo Day, in Capilla del Señor (Chapel of the Lord), an historical city located 82 kilometres in the northern part of Buenos Aires Province, to spend some time learning about the game’s history; getting to grips with its rules and basic techniques; watching professional games; enjoying the finest empanadas, asados and wine; taking classes; participating in mini tournaments; and relaxing in the pool before heading back to downtown Buenos Aires at the end of the day.
Argentina Polo Day became a very attractive option for those seeking to discover the secrets of one of the most exclusive sports in the world.
For additional pictures, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157665097997715
Photography by Ashley Neuhof. Cortesy of Argentina Polo Day- All rights reserved. 
The event was a nice gathering at which, head of missions and representatives of various embassies were present such as Bangladesh, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
The city councilor Karsten Klein opened the event with a short speech followed some words of Deputy Director Arjen van den Berg from the ministry of foreign affairs.
