PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten, drs. Jorien Wuite, has been busy developing relationships and creating opportunities at a round-table, lunch meeting and state dinner for the Cape Verde president’s official visit to the Netherlands.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands hosted President Jorge Carlos de Almeide Fonseca and First Lady Ligia Dias Fonseca of Cape Verde on a two-day State Visit to The Netherlands on December 10th and 11th to promote and celebrate diplomatic, economic and cultural ties.
Of particular interest were security, climate change and the maritime or blue economy. As representatives of the Caribbean Countries in the Netherlands, the three Ministers Plenipotentiary were invited to the Round-Table Meeting at the National Maritime Museum, the State Banquet at the Royal Palace and the working lunch hosted by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Upon the request by both a Cape Verdean official and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Plenipotentiary Jorien Wuite attended the Round-Table meeting about the Blue Economy.
The Blue Economy refers to the sustainable use and conservation of marine, inland aquatic and coastal resources for food security, job creation and sustainable economic development.
The Cape Verdean Islands are pro-active in their efforts to ensure a continued global platform for the vulnerabilities and opportunities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), or as Cape Verdean State Secretary of Maritime Economy Paulo Veiga, stated Big Ocean States.
The Round-Table conference consultation, with Cape Verdean delegates, knowledge institutes, business representatives and the representatives of the Cabinets of the Ministers Plenipotentiary in the Netherlands, centered around the three subjects of maritime development, sustainable energy and sustainable tourism.
As Minister Sigrid Kaag, The President of the Cape Verde and King Willem Alexander joined the second part of the Round-Table deliberations, three participants were requested to provide summaries to the dignitaries.
Minister Plenipotentiary Wuite was requested to do this on the subject of sustainable tourism and highlights were shared related to the critical involvement, opportunities and partnerships of Cape Verdean (small) businesses and communities in order to secure that tourism is supported and sustained.
As Cape Verde is much aware and also sensitized through Sint Maarten’s Hurricane Irma impact, the need for economic diversification was emphasized.
Minister Wuite recognized the shared characteristics and heritage of both countries, and their similar challenges as SIDS as she acknowledged Sint Maarten’s enormous economic development through Tourism.
Wuite’s contributions were appreciated as she was also approached about the intention to include Sint Maarten in a follow-up meeting in the near future.
In recognition of similar heritage and ties, Wuite invited the Cape Verdean officials to join her on a special diplomatic visit to Sint Maarten during the 50th Anniversary of Carnival as Cape Verde enjoys life with similar cultural festivities.
Minister Wuite also attended and spoke during the government working lunch about Climate that Prime Minister Rutte hosted for the Cape Verdean delegation.
