By Roy Lie A Tjam. H.E. Mr. Igor Popov, Ambassador for the Republic of Macedonia, hosted the autumn 2014 diplomat meet and greet in true Macedonian style on 14 October 2014. In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Popov greeted the dignitaries and other invitees, turning to his compatriots who live and have integrated into life in the Netherlands, including his own sister. Mr Popov referred to these compatriots as the real ambassadors of Macedonia. His Excellency’s speech further contained brief quotations by Erasmus and even Johan Cruiff. The evening’s atmosphere was very relaxed with Mr Popov noting that invitations were not from six to eight but from six to late. Guests were entertained by Macedonian music and video presentations, with Macedonian wine and tasteful nibbles being served courtesy of the Embassy. All in all, a real and very successful Macedonian evening. FOR FULL PHOTO-ALBUM PLEASE CLICK HERE: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157648834315915/    

The economy of Rwanda continues to grow and this year Rwanda has moved up four places this year to 62nd position from 66th position last year, according to the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index (GCI). This makes Rwanda the most competitive country in the East African Community and third most competitive country in the sub-Saharan African region after Mauritius which ranks 1st and South Africa which ranks 2nd. The World Economic Forum analyzed of 144 countries the competitiveness based on:

· Factor driven requirements (institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, health and primary education);

· Efficiency enhancers (higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labor market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness & market size)

· Innovation and sophistication factors (business sophistication & Innovation).

Following the World Bank Report of 2014 Rwanda is the most improved economy worldwide since 2005 (sustained growth rate of 7%-8% since 2003) and the World Bank Doing Business Report ranked Rwanda as 32nd out of 189 countries (1st in East African Community and 3rd in Sub Sahara region).

Trade Mission 11-13 November 2014

Next month Dutch Minister Ploumen (International Trade & Development Cooperation) and Minister Dijksma (Economic Affairs / Agriculture) are heading a delegation of Dutch investors on a trade mission to Rwanda, where the following promising sectors in Rwanda have been defined:

· Agribusiness (including dairy, potatoes, flowers and seeds, and the processing industry)

· Renewable energy

· Infrastructure, construction (among others airports). With the construction of a new airport in 2017, Rwanda should be a regional player in the field of aviation and logistics. The investments sums up to € 650 million. This offers opportunities for Dutch businesses.

More information on Business& Investment opportunities in Rwanda: http://www.netherlands.embassy.gov.rw/index.php?id=256

Trade Mission 11-13 November:

http://www.rvo.nl/actueel/evenementen/economische-missie-naar-congo-en-rwanda-met-minister-lilianne-ploumen-en-staatssecretaris-sharon

 

First introduction of H.E. Ms Orsolya Szijjártó, the new Ambassador of Hungary in the Netherlands The Netherlands-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce together with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Budapest organized a ‘M& G’ event for their members with two special guests: H.E. Ms Orsolya Szijjártó, the new Ambassador of Hungary in the Netherlands and Mr Elzo Molenberg the new Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Economics Section of the Netherlands Embassy. The event was hosted by H.E. Gajus Scheltema, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands at his spectacular Residency. This was the first public appearance of Ms Szijjártó as Ambassador of Hungary. During her introductory speech she gave insight into the new diplomacy strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She emphasized that building business with a pragmatic approach has become first priority of Hungarian diplomacy. Another important pillar of diplomacy is cultural diplomacy, represented by a new state secretariat within the ministry. In the field of business-trade diplomacy, the new Ambassador will have the task to care about Dutch investors in Hungary and enhance exports of Hungarian businesses, especially SME-s. Besides these traditional business tasks, there is a new goal too:  to help Hungarian entities to get in touch with Dutch RD institutions, and companies, in order to apply together for EU subsidies in Brussels. She believes working together on common projects will lead to important exchanges of know-how and long term cooperation of Dutch and Hungarian. She offered her help in building strategic partnerships between Dutch enterprises and the Hungarian Government, hoping, that the good example of Heineken (who has signed a letter of intent on a strategic partnership with the Hungarian government) will also be followed by other Dutch enterprises. Ms Szijjártó is an economist by profession; she started her career in the public sector, working at the Foreign Office of the National Assembly, later at the Deputy State Secretary for Tourism. Since 2001 she has been working in the consultancy sector: first as the director of international relations, then as the managing director of a consulting company. She also worked as the project director of the Valencian Regional Government’s Brussels Office initiating a high number of European projects for the region. She has been an external evaluator of European projects both in Hungary and in Brussels. She is fluent in German, English and Spanish. Concerning Mr Elzo Molenberg, it was a re-introduction of him to the Dutch business community, since Mr Molenberg used to head the economic section of the Embassy between July 2007 – July 2011. Mr Molenberg invited the representatives of Dutch business to exchange view concerning the way the Embassy can assist and support the Dutch business community in their existence on the Hungarian market. Mr Molenberg mentioned economic activities under way, like the Logistics Seminar on 16 October, which will be organised by DUTCHAM and MLE, sponsored by the Embassy, and like the Hungarian-Dutch Waterforum, which will take place on 17-18 November, being jointly organised by the Hungarian Water Board OVF and the Embassy. Last but not least, Mr. Molenberg told the audience that the Embassy is currently planning its activities for 2015-2016, with already a focus on the Dutch EU-presidency of the EU in the first half of 2016, which should offer an excellent opportunity to the Embassy and the Dutch business community to put Dutch business and culture in the Hungarian spotlights again, like nowadays during the „DACS” Dutch Cultural festival in Hungary (www.dacs.hu) The economic relationships between the Netherlands and Hungary have played a central role in the career of Mr Elzo Molenberg. As an employee of the European Commission, he was project manager of various EU Phare economic aid projects in Hungary (1990-1995) including projects to support medium-sized and small Hungarian companies (sme) and to support the set up and strategy of the Hungarian Investment & Trade Development Agency. As manager of the Rivierenland Chamber of Commerce (Tiel), he set up the Hungarian desk in 1996 to assist Dutch SME’s to enter the Hungarian market. He has been in service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2001 and between July 2007 and August 2011 he held the position of head of the Economic Affairs Department at the Dutch Embassy in Budapest. (Source: HBN) Both diplomats offered their assistance to the business community when it comes to negotiating with trade partners, building cooperation in the field of EU projects or any other business relation.

In his residence, only a few steps away from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain, HE Ambassador Fernando Arias hosted a fiesta on Friday, 10 October 2014, to commemorate Spain’s National Day which de facto was nationally celebrated in Spain on 12 October 2014. It was the very first National Day presided over by the new royal couple, HM King Felipe VI and HM Queen Letizia. Likewise the first attended by  HRH The Princess of Asturias, The Infante Leonor and her younger sister The Infanta Sofía.  In Madrid the National Day was marked by a military parade in the presence of the royal couple, members of the Royal House, the Government, high ranking judges as well as the presidents of the autonomous communities and the diplomatic corps. In The Hague the fiesta was attended not only by ambassadors but also by prominent members of the Spanish business community based in The Netherlands. His Highness Duke Michael of Mecklenburg, a relation to HM Queen Sofía of Spain, through her Prussian ancestors, was also in attendance as was Baron Henri Estramant representing the Habsburg Dynasty. Tortilla española, paella and jerez (sherry wine) were served to the invitees. La Fiesta Nacional de España was instituted as national holiday on 15 June 1918 during the reign of King Alfonso XIII. Back then it was named “Fiesta de la Raza”. Between 1958 y 1987 it was called “Fiesta de la Hispanidad”. 

By Baron Henri Estramant. The State of Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the OPCW, H. E. Ambassador Khalid bin Fahad Al Khater, hosted a small gathering of colleagues to mark the opening of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ 76th Executive Council’s session. The latter was held from 8 – 11 July 2014. The reception hosted by the Qatari Permanent Representative took place at the Worldhotel Bel Air. Qatar has been an OPCW Member State since 1997. Permanent Representative Khalid bin Fahad Al Khater presented his credentials to the OPCW’s Director-General on 11 February 2014.