News item | 2023-03-20 | 10:36
The annual ambassadors conference will take place from Monday 27 to Thursday 30 March. Top Dutch diplomats who work for the Netherlands worldwide will then come to The Hague for a working conference on how they represent the interests of the Netherlands abroad. After all, there are diplomats for the Netherlands, worldwide.
Program
Minister Wopke Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs and Minister Liesje Schreinemacher of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation will talk to the ambassadors. On Monday, Minister Hoekstra will meet Minister of Foreign Affairs together with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock lead the conversation.
Meetings with Prime Minister Mark Rutte, various other ministers and MPs will follow later in the week. This year, special attention will be given to Ukraine and feminist foreign policy. The follow-up to the racism report that was presented in December 2022 is also discussed.
Talking about diplomatic dilemmas
SCP director Karen van Oudenhoven updates the ambassadors on social developments in the Netherlands. In various theme sessions, topics such as: security, human rights, trade and transgressive behavior will also be discussed.
Meet and Greet with entrepreneurs
The ambassadors will also enter into discussions with social organisations, knowledge institutions and companies. On the business day, entrepreneurs can talk to the diplomats and explore international trade opportunities. In addition, regional sessions are also organized. During these regional sessions, panels of companies and ambassadors discuss market opportunities and the latest developments in the region.
Global network
Worldwide, the Netherlands has 113 embassies, 28 consulates-general, 12 permanent representations to international organizations such as the EU, the UN and NATO, and 4 embassy offices. According to the Australian Lowy Institute The Netherlands thus has the 16th largest diplomatic network in the world.
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