As of June 1st, Robert de Leeuw will take over as a new Middle East advisor from Giovanni Angiolini. Giovanni has been passionately committed to Dutch Greenhouse Delta for over 1.5 years and has initiated many meaningful public-private partnerships in this interesting region. Giovanni will be working for Priva as the new Regional Managing Director for the Middle East, opening a 'Priva Middle East office' in Dubai this year.
Robert de Leeuw worked for over 40 years as a diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His work took place in many different countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. From 2001 to 2016 he worked as Consul General in Chicago, Guangzhou, Düsseldorf, and Dubai with a short break due to a placement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague. Later he became Ambassador of our Kingdom in Santo Domingo (the Dominican Republic and Haiti). From June 2018 to May 2019, he held the position of external relations manager at the Carnegie Foundation, owner and manager of the Peace Palace, in The Hague on a temporary basis.
Understanding culture in business
Robert de Leeuw has built up an extensive network in the public-private sector over the years. With his experience and relational skills in this region, he is a great asset to the team of Dutch Greenhouse Delta and its partners. He also has a good understanding of the culture in doing business in this promising region, where relationship management and trust are crucial. Robert: ''My strength lies particularly in connecting people and organizations. As a diplomat, I was a sort of broker in contacts. With my experience and knowledge of the region, I hope to be able to guide people who are less familiar with this environment. You really have to be patient in this region and it is very much appreciated if you visit your potential business contacts regularly. Fortunately, the Netherlands has a very good reputation as the 2nd largest exporter of Agri in the world after the U.S., also in this region. Quality is valued and if the Netherlands delivers high-quality technology and offers ongoing training and guidance, we are well placed to maintain this reputation.''
High demand for self-sufficiency in several countries in the Middle East
The demand for self-sufficiency and the production of healthy, fresh food has been high on the agenda of several Middle Eastern countries for years. That demand for – and consumption of – fresh food will continue to grow due to increasing population growth, tourism, and improved healthcare. High-quality technology, to handle the volume, is therefore essential. By offering a total solution, in terms of horticultural technology, management, and knowledge transfer, countries in this region can be helped to become more self-sufficient. To better position Dutch horticulture in this region, DGD started a PIB with the RVO last January. PIB stands for Partners for International Business and is a program that enables Dutch companies to realize their international ambitions in a public-private partnership. Robert de Leeuw will act as coordinator of this PIB, called: NLHortiRoad2theGulf.
For more information:
Dutch Greenhouse Delta
info@dutchgreenhousedelta.com
www.dutchgreenhousedelta.com