Let us join hands for sustainabLe future: dutch envoy

Frank J. M. Mollen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UAE, talks about how the Triple Helix Approach will be highlighted in Dubai Expo 2020

KT: do you think the dutch approach — partnership of government, private organisations and knowledge institutes — is the need of the hour for sustainable solutions?

frank j.M. Mollen: Natural resources are becoming increasingly scarce, influences of climate change are more visible, and a world population of 7.6 billion is demanding ever more food, water and energy.

Water, energy and food are interlinked in an intrinsic way and the stress on these resources requires an integrated approach in order to find sustainable solutions. We all have to play a responsible role in this respect, for the sake of future generations.

The Netherlands is the second agriculture export country worldwide and without dams and dikes, more than half of our country would be under water all or part of the time. The need for action and innovation made the Netherlands stand out globally in sectors such as water and agro-food.

Our choice for the nexus water-energy-food as the theme of the Expo2020 participation is a logical one. The Netherlands started to bring public, private and knowledge partners together in finding solutions following this integrated approach. Our entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions know how to turn good ideas into successful services and products. For its part, the government must create the right conditions in order to increase the pace of innovation and generate beneficial outcomes for society as a whole. how will this be projected in the dubai expo? The theme of the Dutch participation in Expo 2020 is the water, energy and food nexus. At the moment, we are translating this theme into an appealing communication concept. In this process, we are working closely together with Dutch companies and knowledge institutes, whose knowledge and innovations will be displayed in the Dutch pavilion. It is too early to say what these innovations and solutions will be. how important is expo 2020 for netherlands? The Netherlands sees Expo2020 as an important tool to strengthen our relationship with our Emirati friends and other partners worldwide and to work with these partners to find solutions for the problems of today and tomorrow. in which areas will the uae and the netherlands work together to strengthen their ties? Relations between the Netherlands and the UAE are historically strong.

Exactly a year ago, we signed a MoU on innovation cooperation. The MoU defines cooperation on five identified themes — energy, nexus water-food-energy, aerospace and aviation, life sciences and health and smart cities.