Exhibition showcases Dutch-South African partnerships
Martijn van Dam, Minister fro Agriculture from the Netherlands, visited the Garden of the Future, an exhibition that showcases successful Dutch-South African partnerships, in Cape Town marking the largest Dutch trade mission to the African continent in history. Over 75 Dutch companies in the fields of Water, Agri Food and Horticulture, Health and Transport and Logistics joined him to strengthen and explore trade relations between the two countries.
"The size of this trade mission underlines the importance of South Africa as a partner in trade, economic development and stepping stone to the rest of Africa," says Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Bonnie Horbach.
Together with the programme of House of the Future in Johannesburg, both events celebrate cooperation between South Africa and the Netherlands. The five-day programme revolves around the question: how can we #cocreateSA? Besides a showcase, Garden of the Future marked some real results. Contracts with a long-term outlook were signed between Dutch and South African parties:
• Kingdom of the Netherlands (NL) and City of Cape Town (SA)
• eLEAF (NL) and Western Cape Department of Agriculture (SA)
• Yellowtail (NL) and Alexander Forbes (SA)
• Hydrologics (NL) and Western Cape Department of Agriculture (SA)
• Kingdom of the Netherlands (NL) and UFF (NL)
• Eltomation (NL) and Wood@heart (SA)
Horbach: "With this exhibition I hope to show the Dutch delegation the broader perspective of the different sectors in South Africa, including both the challenges and opportunities, and within that the involvement of the Netherlands with its niche expertise in fields like water, health and agriculture. To our South African partners I would like to say the Netherlands is here with a long-term commitment, listening, learning and together with South African parties creating sustainable solutions to local challenges."
How can we #cocreateSA?
#cocreateSA is a platform for South African and Dutch counterparts to exchange ideas and innovations for a sustainable future. It stimulates collaboration between South Africa and the Netherlands based on the belief that if we work together, we can make a difference and co-create solutions for local challenges. #cocreateSA is an initiative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa, capturing the true essence of modern foreign diplomacy: building relationships, putting the demand at the core of our discussions and focusing on long-term commitments and partnerships.
The Netherlands and South Africa: key trade partners
South Africa is the Netherlands' main African trading partner. The Netherlands is the third-largest trading partner in the European Union and the eighth-largest trading partner for South Africa worldwide. The visit of the Minister for Agriculture illustrates the importance of the trade and investment ties between the countries.
For more information about the companies and organisations that are part of it, visit Garden of the Future
