Matthijs van Eeuwen Deputy Ambassador at the Netherlands Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire and Head of Economic Affairs, shares how the Netherlands positions itself during SARA2025 as a reliable partner in sustainable agriculture, innovation and economic cooperation.

During SARA2025, the Netherlands Embassy in Abidjan plays a central role in coordinating the Dutch presence. With support from a committed team, we host two high representatives of Dutch government, notably, Marten Van den Berg from the Ministry of Agriculture and Steven Collet from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They facilitate two trade missions with around 40 companies, and operate a 150m² Dutch pavilion that functions as a key platform for visibility, networking and showcasing Dutch expertise.

SARA2025 is a strategic opportunity to position the Netherlands as a long-term partner for sustainable agriculture, horticulture, cocoa innovation and water management. It also reinforces the Netherlands’ role in supporting Côte d’Ivoire’s ambitions for sector transformation and economic development.

Dutch companies have reported promising leads with local distributors, government stakeholders, and development initiatives. Solutions in cold chain logistics, seed technology, and processing are attracting strong interest. Furthermore, Orange Corners entrepreneurs from Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Mali engage with Dutch companies and investors to explore opportunities for collaboration.

This high-level presence is made possible through excellent cooperation with Dutch partners such as RVO and Invest International, and strong coordination with the Ivorian Ministry of Agriculture and the SARA organizing committee.

To maintain momentum, we are planning a post-SARA webinar to debrief and facilitate follow-ups between Dutch businesses and local contacts.