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Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sigrid Kaag, in Jakarta, Monday (9/3/2020) evening. (ANTARA)

Jakarta - The Netherlands is targeting to intensify trade partnership with Indonesia, particularly in sustainable businesses, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag stated.

“The entire theme is smart solutions for a sustainable future. It is all about sustainable, inclusive development,” she told ANTARA in Jakarta, Monday evening, after welcoming 180 delegates of the Dutch economic mission held parallel to the State Visit of The King and Queen of the Netherlands.

Some 180 participants, representing 130 Dutch companies and knowledge institutions, are scheduled to participate in a series of trade-related activities, such as seminars, field visits, and networking events with Indonesian counterparts in the mission led by several high-ranking officials, including Kaag.

“We are looking forward to building even deeper partnerships and collaborative platforms with Indonesia, both government-to-government and also business-to business,” she revealed.

Kaag explained that the mission during this visit bears the theme ‘Smart Solutions for a Sustainable Future’ under which the Netherlands seeks to establish more sustainable businesses with regard to the environment, specifically in the fields of agriculture and food; life sciences and health; maritime and integrated coastal zone, and water management; waste management – circular economy and water technology; and aviation.

Several partnership documents are expected to be inked by the two countries during the visit conducted on March 9-13.

“It is all about sustainable, inclusive development, and all the MoUs and potential business contracts will be anchored around those themes,” Kaag expounded.

Steering clear from divulging details on the number of partnership documents due to be inked in the visit, she said that the number “is quite significant”.

She highlighted that sustainability had become the priority in forging novel partnerships or continuing longstanding cooperation. “We have to think, act, and invest in a sustainable manner. It is the only way, if we think about the wellbeing of the people and the planet,” she reiterated.

The visit of the Dutch economic mission is held parallel to the State Visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to Indonesia. Apart from Kaag, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of State Sybilla Dekker, and Vice Minister of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality Jan Kees Goet also led the delegations. (ANTARA)