A DELEGATION from the Netherlands, led by its deputy head of mission Eva Oskam, paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in his office in Komtar today.
She was accompanied by her economic team comprising Machiel van Stralen (deputy head of economics), Gayathri P. Vythalingam (senior economic officer) and Dr Jasmine Hue (senior economic officer).
It was the first time Oskam met Chow face to face although they had seen each other in a Zoom virtual meeting last March. Also present at the virtual meeting was the Netherlands ambassador to Malaysia Aart Jacobi, who was unable to join the delegation this time due to some work commitments.
The Dutch delegation and Chow exchanged views on various issues pertaining to landfill, flood, environment, digital technology and STEM education.
Chow said he welcomed the Dutch team to explore possibilities of collaboration.
“We are open to any cooperation. We will do our part to work with industry players, networking with national stakeholders and giving the state government’s support to any beneficial initiatives,” Chow said.
At the end of the visit, Oskam presented Chow a souvenir book titled ‘Still Holland’, and Chow reciprocated by presenting Oskam a book, titled ‘Simply Penang’.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan