The invitees to this Dutch Government's media visit program are Duwi Setiya Ariyanti of Bisnis Indonesia, Teatrika Handiko Putri from IDNTimes, Yuliasri Perdani from The Jakarta Post), Kris Razianto Mada from Kompas, and Ananda Wardhiati Teresia from Kumparan.
Three other journalists are Yandhrie Arvian from Tempo, Rahmad Nasution from ANTARA, and Haufan Hasyim Selengke from Media Indonesia.
They depart for the Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam by boarding Qatar Airways' QR 955 from the Soekarno Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten Province, on early Saturday and are scheduled to arrive in the Netherlands on Saturday afternoon.
During their visit, they are accompanied by Monique Boon-Habets, project manager missions of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl.) on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Andri Astarisanna, a staffer of the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta.
In accordance with the program agenda, the official opening of this media trip program will be kicked off on Monday (Feb 17).
However, on Sunday (Feb 16), the participating journalists will head to Maeslantkering, a flood defense barrier, in the Nieuwe Water-weg near Hoek van Holland. The Indonesian journalists will thereafter join a welcome dinner at Restaurant Seinpost Indonesia.
On Monday, the official opening session is scheduled at the Confederation of the Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) office where Indonesian journalists will meet with Infrastructure and Water Management Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen.
Head of the Dutch Trade Mission Hans de Boer will also join the opening session. From the VNO-NCW office, they continue their program in Verstegen where they will meet Marianne van Keep and Joost van Uum. Both of them will shed light on Geodata for Agriculture and Water Projects, and sustainable pepper farming.
Since this media visit program focuses on exploring the historical linkage of the Netherlands and Indonesia as well as potentials for economic partnership in the areas of agriculture, healthcare, coastal protection and the maritime industry, and circular economy, during their stay, the Indonesian journalists are introduced to these issues.
To this end, the participating journalists, for instance, are facilitated to visit the Netherlands' leading shipyards, specifically Damen and Royal IHC Shipyards in Gorinchem, to get a closer look at the country's excellence in maritime technology.
During their stay in the country until Feb 20, the journalists are also facilitated to meet several Indonesian students and Foreign Minister Stef Blok; attend a seminar on the future of the Netherlands and Indonesia's relations; and visit the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education.
On Wednesday (Feb 19), Indonesian journalists will get a rare opportunity to meet with His Majesty King Willem-Alexander for some thirty minutes. Prior to the meeting with the King, they are welcomed and introduced to things related to the Royal House.
In bring memories back to the two nations' shared history, the Indonesian journalists are given the opportunity to undertake a tour of Museum Sophiahof in The Hague.
As revealed in the program agenda, this museum showcases the heritage of the Dutch East Indies and the migration history and culture of communities, with a background in the Dutch East Indies and Indonesia.
At the museum, they will also be introduced to short pitches of projects and organizations that bridge Dutch and Indonesian history, culture, and food from different perspectives and generations.
In connection with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima's four-day visit in March, the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta's recent press statement revealed that they would be joined by Foreign Minister Stef Blok and four other ministers, who would head a trade mission.
Those ministers are Foreign Trade and Development Minister Sigrid Kaag, Infrastructure and Water Management Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Medical Care and Sports Minister Bruno Bruins, and Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Minister Carola Schouten.
The four ministers will head a broad parallel trade mission to Indonesia to capitalize on the potential for economic partnership in the areas of agriculture, healthcare, coastal protection and the maritime industry, and circular economy.
The Netherlands is one of Indonesia's crucial trading partners and investors. In terms of bilateral trade and investment, the Netherlands is the fifth-largest investor and a trading partner with which Indonesia enjoys a trade surplus.
This was revealed by the Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia, Lambert Grijns while receiving eight Indonesian journalists, who will visit the Netherlands on February 15-21.
In 2019, Indonesia's trade surplus was recorded at EUR1,806 million.
At the same time, with a total investment of US$2.6 billion, the Netherlands is also noted as the fifth-biggest investor in Indonesia, followed by Singapore, $6.5 billion; China, $4.7 billion; Japan, $4.3 billion; and Hong Kong, $2.9 billion.
In the tourism sector, Dutch tourists’ contribution to Indonesia's foreign tourist arrivals cannot also be regarded as "minor" since last year alone, the Indonesian Embassy in Den Haag noted that at least 202,116 Dutch travelers had visited Indonesia.
During their 17.52-day stay in 2019, the Dutch tourists spent around US$1,866 on an average.
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Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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