Speech van de staatssecretaris van Economische Zaken, Sharon Dijksma, bij de Russian Regional Food Fair, Amsterdam, Museumplein, 14 september 2013.

Toespraak | 14-09-2013

And thank you for organising this fine and tasty presentation here at the Museumplein. I have been informed on the food products a little bit before. All of them seem so succulent! Many of them have never been before tasted in our country. I personally never tasted gabadya with meat. Nor the home made blintzes with curd. 

Today, we cherish and intensify our relations by sharing food as well as ideas. Ideas on transportation and food markets in our countries and beyond boundaries in every sense. I am quite sure it will be a very fruitful exchange. 

Over time, we have grown into much more than just business partners.  

We did never forget, for instance, about Tsar Peter the Great’s visits (in 1697 and 1698). Initially, his missions were driven by curiosity and a strong will to do business together. In the ages to come, our countries turned out to be very close at many levels: arts, architecture, literature, trade relations. 

After two World Wars, revolutions and evolutions, Russian culture is vibrant in Amsterdam and all over Holland. 

The city of Amsterdam has it’s Hermitage. 

Some of you will go  to the Concertgebouw this afternoon. It houses our Royal orchestra. The Royal orchestra has hosted many well known Russian musicians. It has even been lead by a Russian maestro (Kondrasjin), who formerly led the Bolsjoi theatre (as a conductor).

Tatarstan State opera’s and ballets are being performed all over the country. Some years ago, the city of Groningen had it’s Diagilev festival. And these days, the Rotterdam Philharmonic is having it’s Gergiev festival. 

Russia really is in our bodies and souls. 

Trade and agriculture have remained high priorities on our political agenda’s. 

On a national level, the Dutch government closely cooperates with enterprises and research institutes. This enables us to practice and make our policy work, thus holding a global number two position in the export of agricultural products. 

So you see, as agricultural partners, we match much better than in size.

In the international programmes we made with the Dutch topsectors Agro & Food and Horticulture & propagation materials, Russia is a country of priority in business. 

Russia can count on our efforts for access of Russian products in the EU. It must, of course, fit into European legislation. When we were talking in the Council of Ministers of Agriculture on the potato ban, I have pleaded for more dissemination of information towards Russia.   

Russia’s goal is to be self sufficient in agriculture by the year 2020. 

Knowing how to grow, to transport and to process food products, we are willing to help Russia realise that goal. Dutch entrepreneurs in horticulture and Wageningen University love to share their knowhow. The latter are already running an MBA programme on agriculture with (amongst others) the University of Tatarstan. The Netherlands also participated in the construction of a lab for the quality of animal feed, one for animal health, and a programme for the training of dairy farmers. Other initiatives in Russia will certainly follow.

Yesterday, our good relations have been emphasized by the signing of a new protocol on veal. And we all are quite happy with this. Veal is a variety that is best when  fresh. So, from now on, it will be possible to export fresh veal to Russia. 

The Netherlands-Russian Year, this unique celebration, has not come to an end yet. I look forward to the Golden Autumn, the exhibition on the 9th of October, where we will be the host country. There will be a Dutch pavilion of course, and we will be organising a Holland Food Fair in Russia, a Holland village next to it. I would already like to extend an invitation to you to our official opening at the All-Russian Exhibition Centre in Moscow. I will be there! And fresh veal too!

Ladies and gentlemen,

Old love doesn’t rust. And Russia is an old friend. 

I am quite sure we will continue our exchange of food, culture and ideas as we did before. For now, I am very curious to have that tour on the Fair 

I now would like to hand over to mister Dvorkovich this veal protocol

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let’s cherish that appetite for future initiatives and cooperation! 

Spasiba (dank u wel).