A high-level delegation from The Netherlands is in South Australia this week and gets underway this morning.
The delegation, led by Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ms Lilianne Ploumen, includes 95 Dutch businesses from the agriculture, food, horticulture, water, logistics and smart cities sectors.
After morning talks with Investment and Trade Minister Hamilton-Smith about opportunities for economic cooperation between South Australia and The Netherlands, Minister Ploumen and the smart cities delegates will visit the Adelaide Smart City Studio.
Businesses delegates will spend the morning in talks with South Australian companies.
In the afternoon, Minister Ploumen will host a lunch at the National Wine Centre and will then meet with His Excellency Hieu Van Le, Governor of South Australia.
Later in the day the official delegates will tour the Tonsley Innovation Precinct while representatives from the Dutch businesses will participate in a number of site visits.
Background
The Netherlands is the 6th-largest economy in the European Union and South Australia’s 21st largest export market, with merchandise exports valued at A$130.9 million in 2015-16.
Major South Australian export goods to The Netherlands include beef ($25.9m), red wine ($24.4m), white wine ($16.9m), and almonds ($5.4m).
Europe is Australia’s most traditional and longstanding partner and The Netherlands is the fourth largest source of investment into Australia, $44.4 billion in 2015/16.
The Netherlands will be one of six countries targeted for further engagement through the forthcoming South Australia-Europe Engagement Strategy, which is being developed to support South Australian businesses expanding exports and investment opportunities in the region, as well as organisations seeking to increase their international research and development collaboration.
Quotes attributable to Investment and Trade Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith
I welcome the delegation from The Netherlands to South Australia, and I look forward to furthering our trade, investment and friendly relationship.
We are keen to engage with businesses from the Netherlands in key sectors of growth for both regions, including agriculture and horticulture, as well as smart cities, water and logistics. The Netherlands will be part of a South Australian business mission proposed in 2017.