The Road to Success: Sustainable Business

The Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) and Holland House Colombia, in close cooperation with the Dutch Embassy in Colombia and with the support of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), will organize the joint Dutch participation in the 67th ACODAL Water, Waste and Energy Congress, taking place on the 5th, 6th and 7th of June 2024 in Cartagena, Colombia.LocationFor this year, ACODAL has heard the call from the sector and returns to Cartagena for their congress. This is especially beneficial for the Dutch participation as Cartagena is not only eagerly visited by Colombian business people because of its charisma and nice climate, it is also the focal point of Dutch-Colombian cooperation in the water sector. The Water as Leverage program that the Dutch government set up there leads to many opportunities for Dutch companies and a strong positioning in the local sector.Existing cooperation between Colombia and the NetherlandsFor many years, Colombia has been one of the priority countries for the Netherlands, its international cooperation programs and for the Dutch water and energy sectors. Prominent master plans were developed using Dutch knowledge and expertise, and embraced by Colombia. Dutch water companies are active in the country through the involvement of VEI in the IDB Compass program and the bilateral Blue Deal-InspirAgua program, while increased energy demand combined with recent developments in wind and solar energy projects offer opportunities for Dutch companies in the energy sector.As mentioned above, recently the Dutch government set up the Water as Leverage program in Cartagena. This program aims to support Cartagena in the formulation and implementation of environmentally, socially and financially sustainable infrastructure projects that strengthen climate adaptation and urban resilience. The program is in its second year now, having already led to ideas for possible projects and a strong positioning of the Netherlands among relevant stakeholders.Opportunities for Dutch companiesThe vast majority of the more complex water, waste and energy technology is imported. The growing market and the lack of domestic suppliers offer many opportunities for the Dutch water, waste and energy sectors, such as:Improving water supply in rural areas through decentralized systems.Implementing technological innovations for urban WWTP.Improving the quality and coverage of drinking water networks.Implementing innovative technologies, concepts and solutions for waste management.Providing hardware and software solutions for renewable energy and energy efficiency.Promoting cross-sectoral information and control systems for evidence-based decision making.Promoting the use of sustainable infrastructure, adapted to the differential needs of the territories and the implementation of innovative and efficient technologies.Articulating public policies and planning for the drinking water and basic sanitation sector between different levels of government and with the private and academic sectors.Joining the Dutch delegation offers you the following benefitsParticipation in the collective visits (to be planned on the day before the fair);Good promotion and visibility in the joint Netherlands Pavilion;Entrance tickets for the congress;Presentation of your company during the academic part of the congress;Matchmaking conversations with visitors;Networking reception at the Netherlands Lounge;Listing in the exhibition catalog;Promotion through the Dutchwatersector.com platform.How to participateThanks to the support from the Dutch government, the participation costs per company are only EUR 890, plus travel and accommodation. A maximum of 10 companies can participate. Registration may be done through this link.If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Wessel Mol at proyectos2@hollandhouse-colombia.com and Joyce Gielen at j.gielen@nwp.nl. 

[For English, please see below]Heb je interesse in zakendoen in het buitenland of ben je reeds actief als internationaal ondernemer? Meld je dan nu aan voor "Wereldwijd Ondernemen 2024" van 11-13 juni en stel al je vragen aan lokale experts van de NL Business Hubs: Dé ideale plek om direct het gesprek aan te gaan en je zakelijke netwerk uit te breiden!Doe mee aan het interactieve webinar waarin je meer leert over zakendoen in Latijns-Amerika (LATAM), Azië, en Europa, het Midden-Oosten en Afrika (EMEA). Krijg antwoord op al je vragen en kom binnen één uur meer te weten over:Marktkansen in het betreffende land voor je product of dienst;Market-entry, lokale vertegenwoordiging en kantoorzaken;Zakelijk netwerk uitbreiden in het buitenland;Do’s en don'ts, culturele verschillen bij het zakendoen.De webinars worden gehost door het NL Business Hub Network - dit zijn Nederlandse, onafhankelijke, bilaterale handelskamers in het buitenland. De NL Business Hubs kunnen je alles vertellen over de lokale cultuur en de marktkansen van het land waar je zaken wil doen. Ze hebben een groot zakelijk netwerk en ondersteunen Nederlandse bedrijven bij het betreden van nieuwe buitenlandse markten met diverse diensten. Tijdens drie breakoutsessies kan je al je vragen stellen en leg je persoonlijke contacten om later verder mee te sparren!Datum en tijd11 juni | LATAM regio 16.00 – 17.00 CET (Amsterdam)Brazilië, Chili, Colombia, Mexico en Panama.12 juni | Azië regio 9.30 – 10.30 CET (Amsterdam)China en Hongkong, Maleisië, Thailand en Vietnam.13 juni | EMEA regio 12.00 – 13.00 CET (Amsterdam)België, Duitsland, Frankrijk, Kenia, Polen, Roemenië, Turkije, het Verenigd Koninkrijk en de Verenigde Arabische EmiratenProgramma5 min | Welkom en introductie in plenaire sessie en kennismaking met NL Business Hubs45 min | Breakoutsessies per land waar je vragen kunt stellen en in gesprek gaat met NL Business Hubs5 min | Conclusie met key learnings en contactuitwisselingPlatform: ZoomVoertaal: NederlandsModeratie: NLinBusiness.com ---Are you interested in doing business abroad or already an experienced international entrepreneur? Register now for "Doing Business Around the World 2024" from June 11-13 and ask all your questions to local experts of the NL Business Hubs: the ideal place to engage in conversation and expand your professional network!Join our interactive webinar to learn more about doing business in Latin America (LATAM), Asia, and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Find answers to all your questions and learn more about:Market opportunities in countries you are interested and/or active in;Market entry, local representation and establishing an office;Expanding business networks abroad;Do's and don'ts, cultural differences whendoing business.The webinars are hosted by the NL Business Hub Network: Dutch, independent, bilateral chambers of commerce around the world. The NL Business Hubs can tell you everything about the local culture and business opportunities of their respective markets where you would like to do business. They maintain a large professional network of both local- and Dutch companies and support Dutch entrepreneurs in entering new foreign markets with various services. During three breakout sessions you can ask all your questions and establish new personal contacts to engage with later!Date and time11 June| LATAM region16.00 – 17.00 CET (Amsterdam)Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Panama.12 June | Azië region 9.30 – 10.30 CET (Amsterdam)China and Hongkong, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.13 June | EMEA region 12.00 – 13.00 CET (Amsterdam)Belgium, Germany, France, Kenya, Poland, Romania, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United Arab EmiratesProgramme5 mins | Welcome and introductions during plenary session, getting to know the NL Business Hubs45 mins | Breakout sessions per country, ask questions and engage in discussion with NL Business Hubs5 mins | Concluding remarks and key learnings, exchanging contactsPlatform: ZoomLanguage: DutchModeration: NLinBusiness.com