Dutch Delegation to Visit Palm Beach County

For immediate release: March 4, 2008
Contact: Claudia Lopez (561) 355-3624 Maggie Smith

Dutch government representatives will be visiting Palm Beach County officials this week to discuss business and water management opportunities. The delegation, led by Vice Minister Tineke Huizinga, State Secretary for Transport, Public Works and Water Management, will also be visiting Gov. Charlie Crist in Tallahassee during their trip from March 2 to March 6.

“We are delighted that a prestigious 36-person inbound trade mission from the Kingdom of the Netherlands is joining the World Trade Center Palm Beach and the South Florida Water Management District to discuss global commerce this week,” said Palm Beach County Director of Economic Development Kevin Johns.

During their first visit in June 2007, Dutch and Floridian water management experts concluded that there are many opportunities for exchange of knowledge and ideas regarding business and ecological cooperation.

“With 60 percent of their country below sea level, the Dutch have learned to live with water,” Johns said. “The Dutch are back in Palm Beach County to identify concrete subjects and projects for collaboration on water management. We appreciate their historical expertise in environmental engineering and can learn a lot from each other on how to better work with nature.”

The delegation will also be accompanied by Richard van Rijssen, Deputy Ambassador to the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Lucita Moenir Alam, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Senior Policy Advisor Dale Morris of the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Eric DeGroot, President of the Holland Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta and Ms. Heleen Paalvast, a reporter with the Netherlands national news agency.

The visit will focus on integrating water and flood management, as well as incorporating environmental, economic, safety and recreation into water management.

“The Dutch are world-class environmentalists,” said Al Zucaro, World Trade Center Palm Beach Chairman and a principal organizer of the ongoing relationship. “As part of the Everglades Restoration effort, we are learning how to keep rainwater from flowing out to the sea and there are many opportunities for the exchange of knowledge and expertise.”