Next week, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen will visit Mexico with an economic mission consisting of 23 Dutch companies. The programme, which will focus on energy and maritime issues (ports, dredging firm, shipbuilding), follows recent reforms to the Mexican energy market. In addition to promoting trade relations, Ms Ploumen will attend a meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, which she co-chairs. After the US, the Netherlands is the largest foreign investor in Mexico (€10 billion annually). The above-mentioned energy reforms are a source of opportunity for Dutch companies and knowledge institutes in the energy and maritime sectors. On Wednesday 2 September Ms Ploumen will visit the Mexican state of Campeche, where over half of all Mexican oil is produced. While there, she will stop by the offices of Dutch geotechnical service provider Fugro in the port of Ciudad del Carmen and of the offshore company Naviera Integral, whose advanced security systems are provided by Damen Shipyards. There are opportunities for the Netherlands in Mexico in a variety of areas: offshore services, port development, pipelines construction and shipbuilding. Mexico sees the Netherlands as a source of much-needed expertise on energy reform and innovation. On Thursday 3 September a networking meeting will be held in Mexico City for business leaders. Ms Ploumen herself will meet with the CEO of Pemex (the state oil company), the Secretary of Foreign Relations and the Secretary of Energy. Various commercial contracts will be signed, and an agreement will be concluded on a Dutch-Mexican energy partnership. CSR Mexico has shown interest in the Netherlands’ aspirations in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). At a meeting in Campeche participants will discuss workplace safety in the energy sector, which is a priority issue in both the Netherlands and Mexico. In Mexico City the Secretary of Foreign Relations will attend a CSR forum on sustainability in the energy industry. The focus will be on the involvement of the government, business community and NGOs, and the need to consult indigenous groups on major infrastructural projects. Development cooperation On Friday Ms Ploumen will act as co-chair of the semi-annual meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC), an international platform that brings together governments, businesses, civil society and philanthropic groups to share experiences on how best to implement investments, programmes and projects. Together with Mexico and Malawi, the Netherlands will launch a partnership in which water experts from all three countries will work to reduce the risk of floods in Malawi. The conference will take place in the framework of the UN’s development goals, which will be adopted by the General Assembly in New York later in September.    

  The Charge d’affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Minister Ibnu Wahyutomo hosted a diplomatic reception to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia held at the Hilton Hotel Den Haag on Wednesday evening, 26 August 2015.  

As many as 500 guests (from the diplomatic corps, Dutch officials, business people, academics, friends of Indonesia, and other distinguished guests) attended the reception. Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs, HE Bert Koenders acted as the “Guest of Honour” of the reception. Other distinguished guests included former Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs, HE Dr. Bernard Bot.  

  During his speech, Minister Wahyutomo also explained the expanding Indonesian–Netherlands cooperation. “Bilateral trade in 2014 almost doubled compared to that of 2004, it almost reached $5 billion in 2014. An impressive record was achieved in the field of Dutch investment in our country when in 2014 it reached a level 49 times higher than that of eight years earlier. The Dutch investment is among the top 10 foreign investors in Indonesia”, explained Wahyutomo.  

Meanwhile, the Dutch Foreign Minister, Bert Koenders also suggested similar views. He started his remarks by extending his congratulation to Indonesian President Joko Widodo and all Indonesian peoples for the 70th Anniversary of the independence of Indonesia. Furthermore Minister Koenders also praised Indonesia for its positive role and impressive developments in economy, regional and international politics, democracy, and other respected areas. To commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the independence of Indonesia, the Embassy of Indonesia has already organised and will organize several activities including the “Indonesian Festival: Pesta Rakyat 2015” on Saturday, 5 September 2015, at the Indonesian School in Wassenaar as well as the “Indonesia Fashion Show” on Monday, 7 September 2015 at Grotekerk Den Haag.  

     

By Baron Henri Estramant.   Havana, Friday, 14 August 2015: Cuba and the USA have resumed diplomatic relations after a 54 years hiatus. Relations had been broken on 3 January 1961 during Eisenhower’s presidency. Normal relations were agreed upon by US President Obama and Cuba’s President Raúl Castro in July 2015. The opening of the US American Embassy by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, took place alongside eight congressional lawmakers active in re-establishing relations. Remarkably the same three Marines who lowered the US flag at the embassy premises back in 1961 presented another flag, which was subsequently raised by the Marines assigned to the post. Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis is incumbent chargé d’affaires a.i. till a head of mission is appointed by President Obama, and approved by Congress.  

  The embassy building until recently had housed the “United States Interests Section in Havana (USINT, Havana)” since 1977, which operated under the aegis of the Swiss Embassy as acting protecting power. Likewise the “Interests Section of the Republic of Cuba” in Washington D.C. were housed at the Swiss Embassy, albeit both worked fully independently in all matters but protocol. The Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C. has also been reopened. It is located on 2630, 16th Street Northwest. Chargé d’affaires a.i. is Ambassador Dr. José Ramón Cabañas Rodríguez. President Barack Obama has already eased some travel and business restrictions to the island state, however, only Congress can lift the 53-years old embargo, which is currently unlikely to happen with Republicans controlling both chambers through the end of his term. Cuba is highly represented to the EU by Ambassador Norma Goicochea Estenoz, concurrently head of mission to Belgium and Luxembourg since January 2015.   For more information: US American embassy in Cuba: http://havana.usembassy.gov Embassy of Cuba to the USA: www.cubadiplomatica.cu/EN/Home.aspx  

By Baron Henri Estramant.   Tokyo, Saturday, 15 August 2015: Exactly 70 years to the minute after his father, Emperor Showa (Hirohito), surrendered to the allies, the Reigning Emperor and Empress, alongside Niponese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, attended a ceremony in Tokyo to remember the war dead. In the words of His Imperial Majesty: “Reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse over the last war, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated”. The day before Prime Minister Abe had expressed “feelings of profound grief” for Japan’s wartime actions.  

  In The Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and his Minister-President Rutte partook in a commemoration of the Japanese capitulation, which de facto ended the war for the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands, as the country at the time also encompassed colonies in South-East Asia. The commemoration took place at the Indian Monument in The Hague. Earlier on 17 July 2015 Prime Minister Abe received his Luxembourgian counterpart Xavier Bettel on a working visit to Tokyo arranged by Japan’s ambassador to the Grand Duchy, Ms Atsuko Nishimura.     For more information: Japan’s Emperor expresses “deep remorse” over WWII: www.dailymotion.com/video/x31rcls Address by PM Shinzo Abe at the 68th Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead http://japan.kantei.go.jp/96_abe/statement/201308/15sikiji_e.html Embassy of Japan to Luxembourg: www.lu.emb-japan.go.jp/index_f.html                          

    By Roy Lie A Tjam.   The Consul of the Republic of Ecuador in the Netherlands, Mireya Muñoz, who possess the rank of Ambassador, pridefuly introduced the splendor of ‘‘Buque Escuela Guayas’’ in Amsterdam on 21 August 2015.The Guayas was named jointly in honor of the Guayas civilization and the Guayas River. The Guayas is as an Ambassador for the Ecuadorian navy and nation. She is in Amsterdam in order to participate in the SAIL Amsterdam 2015, Europe’s grandest nauticical event since 1975. A reception was held onboard the vessel. An Ecuadorian orchestra put on a dazzling performance, making it practically impossible for one to remain seated. A joyous Ecuadorian ambience reigned.  

  Ambassador Mireya Muñoz, delivered the welcome remarks, a resume follows. The Ambassador commenced her address by welcoming the distinguish guests, Ambassadors, the MFA, representatives of International organizations compatriots, friends and relatives. She quickly apologized for the absence of H.E. Miguel Calahorrano Ambassador of Ecuador concurrent to the Netherlands, who abruptly had to leave for Ecuador. Muñoz subsequently lauded the role the Tall Ship Buque Escuela Guayas plays as an Ambassador in promoting Ecuador.    

  Ambassador Mireya Muñoz touched on the envisaged reopening of the Embassy in The Hague in order to further the bilateral relationship. Special attention was given to Ecuadorian export commodities as well as to tourism. Galapagos Islands, Amazon rain forest. KLM offers daily direct flights.     Noteworthy in the speech of the Ambassador is the legal case Ecuador vs. Chevron/Texaco pertaining to environmental and social damages incurred due to exploitation of oil in the 60’s. These transnationals have created a disorder in fragile ecosystems. The participation of the Guayas in SAIL Amsterdam 2015 has been revelatory, bringing Ecuador and the Ecuadorians in close proximity to me and others.