Residentie orkest in conjunction with Diplomat magazine present Symphonic FridayBy Roy Lie A Tjam
Diplomat Magazine, in conjunction with Residentie Orkest, invited Ambassadors and their spouses to the Symphonic Friday at the Zuiderstrand theater on 4 December.
For a Kim Vermaat’s photo album of the concert, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157660235930473HE Mgr.+ Aldo Cavalli, Apostolic Nuncio and H. E. Gabriel Aguilera Peralta Ambassador of Guatemala.
Residentie Orkest artistic director Roland Kieft delivered the welcome remarks. Concertmaster Lucian-Leonard Raiciof played on a violin manufactured by Stradivarius.
H. E. Mikalai Barysevich Ambassador of Belarus with his wife Tatsiana Barysevich.
What is the secret of this most famous of violin-makers? The renowned Dutch violin-maker Jaap Bolink recounted a short biography of grand master Stradivarius, and demonstrated the unique features of this particular violin. Subsequently, Lucian-Leonard Raiciof, played Stradivarius in Saint-SaĂ«ns -Violin Concerto No. 3, Berlioz – Symphony fantastique. Alan Buribayev, replacing chief-conductor emeritus Neeme Jarvis who is recuperating from a fractured shoulder, was the conductor. The concert was breathtaking and the audience elated. There is one more symphonic Friday to go for 2015.
Mr. Chris Ram and his wife H. E. Sabine Nolke, Ambassador of Canada.Ekatherine Dugladze, Embassy of Georgia and partner.
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By Roy Lie A Tjam.
The year 2015 has been a busy one for the Embassy of Georgia in the Netherlands. Events have included National Day, the Embassy Art Exhibition, and most recently the Netherlands Georgia Business Forum at the Hilton on 24 November 2015.
The Business Forum was a joint effort which brought together various stakeholders: the EU-Georgia Business Council, Georgian Embassy to the Netherlands, PUM Netherlands senior experts, CBI, Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion (NCH), and EUROCHAMBRES.
A sizeable contingent of Georgian business leaders also made the voyage to The Hague in order to support the Forum.
The welcome remarks were given by H.E. Ambassador Zviad Chumburidze, from the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EU-Georgia Business Council. Other speakers included Mr. Gigi Gigiadze, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia; Mr. Carel Richter, Head of International Business, MFA the Netherlands; and Mr. Johannes (Jos) Douma, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands to Georgia. Mr. David Lee, President of Magticom, moderated the event.
Several interesting presentations were given on the investment climate and opportunities in Georgia, followed by a lively Q&A session. The event concluded with a B2B Platform, EU-Georgia Business Council Expo and economic photo exhibition, and a networking lunch offered by NVG Georgia.
Georgia offers Dutch investors a variety of opportunities to invest in the country’s fast-growing sectors – these include agribusiness, hydro power, manufacturing, logistics and tourism. Investors will benefit from a liberal tax system, liberal trade regime, access to a customs-free market of 900 million people (EURASIA), excellent banking system, good energy supply, competitively priced labor force and a DCFTA with the EU.
By means of anti corruption legislation, effective law enforcement and free access to online registration, the Georgian economy promotes transparency and reduces bureaucracy.
The country has also won the UN Public Service Award, the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service.
Such an achievement puts Georgia in good stead internationally.
The Ambassador of Georgia to the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Konstantine Surguladze, and his team are to be commended for the efforts they made in putting together the highly successful event.
On the picture Els Wallenburg and Joost Scholtsz.
Behind the traditional facade of Westvest 7 in Delft, is a buzzing, lively community comprising students and staff from more than 60 countries of the world. Welcome to UNESCO-IHE, the Institute for Water Education, the largest international graduate water education facility in the world.
The students who come to UNESCO-IHE have usually left behind families and friends; sometimes they start to feel homesick, but they are very keen to get to know their adoptive country. This is where Meet the Dutch comes in. For more than 35 years, through this organisation, volunteers have welcomed students by inviting them to their homes, on sightseeing visits or just by helping them settle in. Meet the Dutch allows hosts the opportunity to meet people from other cultures, perhaps practise English or another language and develop new friendships.
On 3rd December, a new contract was signed whereby Meet the Dutch will continue to provide this invaluable service to UNESCO-IHE students. Els Wallenburg and Joost Scholtsz have co-ordinated Meet the Dutch activities for six years and they have an urgent request: ”This year, we have many more students than Dutch people and families to host them. The commitment is for six or eighteen months (depending on the course the student is following) and the frequency of meeting and greeting depends on the student. Sometimes it will only be once a month or less, other times more frequently if the hosts are willing.”
To introduce potential hosts to the work of Meet the Dutch, an open evening has been arranged at Tuesday 12 January from 19.00 – 20.00 hours in the UNESCO-IHE building. For more information visit: http://meet-the-dutch-programme.unesco-ihe.org/english-versionhttp://meet-the-dutch-programme.unesco-ihe.org/
UNESCO-IHE website www.unesco-ihe.org
Email: mtd@unesco-ihe.org
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands bestowed the “Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Prijs 2015” to architect Francine Houben at the Musical Hall (Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ). The cultural funds grants the prize yearly to a person or institution contributing to the domains of culture or nature preservation in The Netherlands. Tagged to the prize is a sum of 150.000 EUR.
The Cultuurfonds awarded the prize to Francine Houben for her decades long service as international architect. Her edifices are characterised by a combination of æsthetics, friendliness and hospitality according to the cultural funds.
Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds: www.prinsbernhardcultuurfonds.nlPicture by Jerry Lampen.
On the picture King Willem-Alexander welcomes leaders of the EU Parliament – Picture by Hollandse Hoogte, Frank van Beek.
The Speaker of the European Parliament Martin Schulz as well as the leaders of its parliamentary fractions paid a visit to The Hague in preparations of the Dutch presidency of the Council on Thursday, 3 December.
They were received in audience by His Majesty The King of the Netherlands at Noordeinde Palace, his Foreign Minister Bert Koenders and Defence Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. Thereafter they held talks with the entire Netherlands cabinet as well as members of the Lower and Upper houses of parliament.
The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (right) and its Rosette (left).
On Thursday 10 December, Mr. Marcel P.R.C. van Aelst, President of Hotel Okura Amsterdam, will receive an imperial decoration during an official ceremony.
In the name of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, he will be decorated with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. This in recognition of his significant contribution to the promotion of mutual understanding, and cultural and economic relations between Japan and the Netherlands.
On the picture Special Representative Shirley Lam – Picture by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels.New Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the EU
The PRC’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has a new Special Representative at its Economic and Trade Office to the EU. Ms Shirley Lam returned to Brussels on 5 October 2015 to assume the aforementioned post.
This is Special Representative Lam’s second posting to Brussels, where she served from August 2004 to March 2009 as Deputy Representative. The career of Ms Lam has spanned a wide range of bureaux and departments that include the former Transport Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Regional Services Department, the former Planning, Environment and Lands Branch, the former Transport Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, and the Food and Health Bureau.
She was Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service from October 2010 to May 2013 and has been serving as Deputy Director of Marine (Special Duties) since May 2013.
Hong Kong’s office also deals with bilateral and trade relations to Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Turkey.
For more information:
http://www.hongkong-eu.org/index_ok.php
On the picture Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Xavier Bettel – Photography by kantei.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on December first.After attending a welcome ceremony, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with Luxembourgian Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, followed by a joint press announcement.Nippo-Luxembourgian summit, December 2015. Picture by Kantei.Thereafter the Prime Minister was received in audience by HRH The Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri, Duke of Nassau, and subsequently by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg Mars Di Bartolomeo. All along Premier Abe was accompanied by Japanese ambassador to Luxembourg, HE Atsuko Nishimura. For more informationPrime Minister’s Office: http://japan.kantei.go.jp
The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, H.E. Mrs. Erna Solberg today visited the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and met with the Director-General Ambassador Ahmet ĂśzĂĽmcĂĽ.
The Prime Minister expressed her full support for the work of the OPCW: “Norway highly appreciates the outstanding work of the OPCW. The dedicated efforts of the organisation and its Technical Secretariat to free the world of chemical weapons are admirable and have my country’s full support. I thank you for the good cooperation in the past few years and look forward to working with you in the future,” said H.E. Mrs Erna Solberg.
The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, H.E. Mrs. Erna Solberg.The Director-General thanked the Prime Minister for Norway’s strong commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and its significant financial and material contribution to the work of the Organisation, in particular during the OPCW-UN Joint Mission in Syria.
He briefed the Prime Minister on the status of implementation of the Convention, the OPCW’s efforts to achieve its universality as well as the endeavours to ensure the Organisation’s effectiveness in the face of future challenges as well as the progress on the Syria Mission.
The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, H.E. Mrs. Erna Solberg and Director-General Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü.The Prime Minister’s delegation included Ms Ingvild Naess Stub, State Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, and H.E. Ms Anniken Ramberg Krutnes, Permanent Representative to the OPCW. The Prime Minister’s visit to the OPCW was part of her official visit to The Netherlands.
For additional pictures, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157661659138390Pictures by the OPCW.
Several interesting presentations were given on the investment climate and opportunities in Georgia, followed by a lively Q&A session. The event concluded with a B2B Platform, EU-Georgia Business Council Expo and economic photo exhibition, and a networking lunch offered by NVG Georgia.
Georgia offers Dutch investors a variety of opportunities to invest in the country’s fast-growing sectors – these include agribusiness, hydro power, manufacturing, logistics and tourism. Investors will benefit from a liberal tax system, liberal trade regime, access to a customs-free market of 900 million people (EURASIA), excellent banking system, good energy supply, competitively priced labor force and a DCFTA with the EU.
By means of anti corruption legislation, effective law enforcement and free access to online registration, the Georgian economy promotes transparency and reduces bureaucracy.
The country has also won the UN Public Service Award, the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service.
Such an achievement puts Georgia in good stead internationally.
The Ambassador of Georgia to the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Konstantine Surguladze, and his team are to be commended for the efforts they made in putting together the highly successful event. 
On 3rd December, a new contract was signed whereby Meet the Dutch will continue to provide this invaluable service to UNESCO-IHE students. Els Wallenburg and Joost Scholtsz have co-ordinated Meet the Dutch activities for six years and they have an urgent request: ”This year, we have many more students than Dutch people and families to host them. The commitment is for six or eighteen months (depending on the course the student is following) and the frequency of meeting and greeting depends on the student. Sometimes it will only be once a month or less, other times more frequently if the hosts are willing.”
To introduce potential hosts to the work of Meet the Dutch, an open evening has been arranged at Tuesday 12 January from 19.00 – 20.00 hours in the UNESCO-IHE building. For more information visit: http://meet-the-dutch-programme.unesco-ihe.org/english-version
http://meet-the-dutch-programme.unesco-ihe.org/
UNESCO-IHE website www.unesco-ihe.org
Email: mtd@unesco-ihe.org
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He briefed the Prime Minister on the status of implementation of the Convention, the OPCW’s efforts to achieve its universality as well as the endeavours to ensure the Organisation’s effectiveness in the face of future challenges as well as the progress on the Syria Mission.
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