Interview with the Dutch Ambassador to Georgia

Ambassador Maaike Van Koldam on the Objectives of the Dutch Trade Policy and New Horizons for Cooperation With Georgia

Maaike van Koldam ambassador of the Netherlands to Georgia spoke to us at Diplomat Magazine in high hopes about the trade relations between Georgia and the Netherlands. In this interview, she also highlighted several sectors where the two countries have more potential to develop longstanding business and investment ties.

It’s been two years since your appointment as an Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Georgia; you should know the country quite well by now, what are your impressions about Georgia and Georgian people?

It is definitely true what many people say about Georgia and what Georgia is famous for: the hospitality of the people, beautiful nature and delicious food. These attract many tourists from the Netherlands and rightly so. Due to COVID, I have had less opportunity to travel and meet people outside Tbilisi, but I will catch up with that as soon as possible. I did have the privilege to listen to the beautiful polyphonic singing: by children’s choirs, by professional and non-professional groups and even in my neighborhood when someone is having a party. I am always very moved by this singing. Last but not least, I got to participate in a grape harvest, which for a Dutch person is a unique experience. We have far more cows, cheese and bicycles than grapes and vineyards.

What can you say about the Dutch-Georgian relations in general?

In 2022, it will be 30 years since diplomatic relations between our countries were established. Certainly an anniversary to celebrate! Over the years, the ties between Georgia and the Netherlands have broadened and intensified. In January 2020, we enjoyed the visit of our Foreign Minister to Georgia, which was an excellent opportunity to underline the longstanding and excellent bilateral relations, whereas in the year before, the Prime Minister of Georgia paid a visit to the Netherlands. I look forward to further enhancing our cooperation in trade relations and democratization processes.

How do you assess the progress of joint economic and investment projects between the two countries?

The main objectives of the Dutch trade policy are in sustainable economic development, inclusive growth and climate action. In the Eastern Partnership countries, including Georgia, we strive to cooperate in strengthening socio-economic stability and supporting the sustainability agenda. We do this bilaterally but also as part of the “Team Europe” projects and contributions.

A lesser known but very important contribution to the economic resilience of Georgia is made by the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, FMO, in supporting the Georgian financial sector, which in turn can provide support to small and medium size enterprises (SME’s) in Georgia. This includes SME’s in the agricultural sector, SME’s of young and female entrepreneurs as well as entrepreneurs with a migrant background. Georgia is one of the top-countries in FMO’s global portfolio.

What factors, in your opinion, make Georgia attractive for Dutch investors, and what factors hinder the attraction of investments? In what form and in what sectors is Georgia attracting foreign investments from the Netherlands at the present time?

We seek to increase the trade and investment between our countries, in many sectors, including agriculture. The Netherlands is the second largest exporter of agricultural goods in the world. We are eager to share our expertise and technology in this field. The advantages we see for Netherlands businesses is the fact that Georgia is a regional hub and has favorable trade regimes with a large number of countries. Furthermore favorable climate conditions and varieties of fertile soil present opportunities for cooperation in the agricultural sector.

One of our joint goals is further implementation of the DCFTA (Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area), which is part of the Association Agreement between Georgia and the EU. Harmonization with European standards will enable more export to the EU including the Netherlands.

Furthermore, rule of law including justice reform is crucial when it comes to the investment climate and sustainable progress. Also in this area we are eager to share experiences and expertise with our Georgian counterparts, to jointly support the values that are at the core of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.

Where do you see new horizons for political, economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries?

Our embassy is looking for ways to further stimulate cooperation between the Georgian and Dutch private sector, particularly in the dairy industry, in horticulture and in making cities ‘greener’ and more resilient to climate change. Together with other partners, we are already providing technical assistance in these areas, which continued virtually during the COVID-pandemic.

In October we are welcoming a virtual trade mission from the Netherlands to Georgia in the horticultural sector, which will also have a “B2B” (Business-to-Business)-component: Georgian and Dutch businesses will meet virtually to see whether they can team up commercially. From the Netherlands, we are expecting around 20 businesses and Dutch knowledge institutions to participate in this trade mission.

During the trade mission, we will share the findings of a study into business opportunities in the horticulture sector in Georgia, including in the fruits and nuts sector, greenhouses, climate smart agriculture and water management. The study has also looked at opportunities for education and training in these spheres of the economy. Dutch experts have trained dairy farmers and staff of (high tech) nurseries.

We have also had successful projects aimed at enhancing food safety as well as non-food consumer products, in line with standards set and agreed upon in the DCFTA agreement. Harmonization of food standards in particular will not only be beneficial for Georgian consumers but will also allow for more export to the European market, as I mentioned before.

Furthermore, we support the democratization process in Georgia in various ways, including through our support to civil society, through our Human Rights Fund and MATRA program. We will continue to do so as we see that an active and vocal civil society plays an important role in democratization processes and promoting civil rights in any country.

You have been serving in the mission of the Netherlands in Russia and Ukraine before your arrival in Georgia, so you are aware of these complex relations, do you think there could be any diplomatic solution to this issue?

I would like to first underline the support of the Netherlands for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. More specifically in answer to your question: there can only be diplomatic solutions. Diplomatic solutions take time, I am aware of that, but they need to be continued and are the only way towards sustainable peace. With regards to Georgia, the existing formats (the Geneva discussions, the IPRM – Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism) are very important, as is the EU Monitoring Mission. The Netherlands keeps supporting these mechanisms, including by contributing Dutch monitors to the EUMM.