Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Visits NI
Updated: 5th Feb 2008
Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Visits NI
Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Heemskerk and Ambassador Waldeck paid a visit to Northern Ireland in early January 2008. The visit was a double first early in the New Year as not only is Minister Heemskerk the first Dutch politician to visit Northern Ireland after the new regional government took office in May 2007 but he was accompanied by the largest group of Dutch industrialists (25) ever to visit the region.
The Ministerial delegation and Dutch companies availed of the newly launched Aer Lingus direct route between Amsterdam and Belfast, and were shuttled to Stormont Buildings in a Wrightbus double deck bus – in itself an example of NI-NL cooperation.
The visit to Stormont included meetings with First Minister Ian Paisley, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and counterpart Minister Nigel Dodds of the Department of Economy, Trade and Investment who briefed the delegation on economic progress in the province.
Minister Heemskerk enjoyed the opportunity to meet with local NI businesses active in Netherlands Trade and Investment.
A pre-opening tour of the €400 million Dutch retail development and regeneration project at Victoria Square Belfast was provided by Paul Sargant and the team from Multi Development. The dome has already become as much a part of the skyline of Belfast today as David and Goliath.
Minister Heemskerk joined the Mayor of Lisburn James Tinsley, guests and press in congratulating Finlay Foods of Maghaberry and Delicia the largest producer of vermicelli, flakes and pajets in the world in extending their supply contracts into 2008. Minister Heemskerk, when interviewed by Dutch Business News Radio on the morning of the visit, explained that he was delighted to view ‘hagelslag’ being produced in Northern Ireland for Dutch breakfast tables.
Minister Heemskerk was the keynote speaker at the Northern Ireland Netherlands Trade and Export Society New Years Dinner at Hillsborough Castle which celebrated Trade Partnerships developed between Northern Ireland and the Netherlands over the last number of years. The dinner, hosted by Ambassador Waldeck, was attended by 70 Dutch and Northern Irish businesses directly involved in bilateral trade between the two regions.
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