Pakistan-Netherlands business collaboration

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, met with Henny de Vries, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Pakistan discussed ways to strengthen existing economic and trade ties.

The two countries are exploring avenues to deepen their bilateral relations, with a focus on key sectors including mining, IT, oil and gas, agriculture, dairy, and farm production

During the meeting, various aspects of the longstanding friendship and bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the Netherlands were discussed and priority areas like mining, IT, oil and gas, agriculture, dairy, and farm production for further business collaborations were identified.

The Minister highlighted the government’s economic plan and reform agenda for promoting economic growth and ensuring fiscal sustainability.

He mentioned the economic gains achieved over the last 14 months and reiterated the government’s resolve to stay the course to move the economy on the path to sustained, export-led growth.

He also highlighted the challenges faced by Pakistan on climate front, and its efforts for climate financing and building capacity to ensure climate resiliency through sustainable solutions.

Ambassador de Vries reciprocated the sentiments on strengthening bilateral ties and further expanding cooperation in various fields, including sports.

She mentioned the Dutch cricket team was scheduled to visit Pakistan early next year to play matches and learn from Pakistan’s cricketing prowess.

She also appreciated the ongoing structural reforms in major economic and financial sectors and assured her country’s support for Pakistan’s trade and commerce with European Union.

 

Europe’s answer to the Suez Canal

Work is finally underway on France’s Seine-Nord Europe Canal (SNEC), a major new European trading route that promises to boost the bloc’s economic fortunes.

When it is completed in 2030, the massive 107km infrastructure project will significantly increase the capacity for cheaper, faster and less polluting river trade between France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

As it stands, the smooth flow of commerce between the three nations is being frustrated by the limited capacity of the narrower Canal du Nord.

The antiquated river system struggles to cope with the new generation of super-sized cargo ships powering international trade.

Shipping mishaps and the sheer weight of traffic attempting to navigate a path through the canal create frustrating bottlenecks, costing European businesses valuable time and money.

Despite the urgent need for a new trading route and the canal project securing the green light in 2003, decades of political wrangling and disagreements around funding and the canal’s final route stalled progress, until now.

The SNEC is a €5.1 billion investment by the French government, local authorities, and the EU, in the region’s economic and environmental future.

Analysts suggest the new route could remove as many as a million heavy goods vehicles from France’s roads each year.

The size of the undertaking is staggering, involving as many as sixty bridges, three canal bridges, seven locks, and 700 hectares of environmental plantation.

Nicolas Ledoux, CEO of Arcadis France, which is leading the project said, “The Seine-Nord Europe Canal will not only enable a modal shift from the roadway to the river but will also create added economic, logistical, agricultural, and climatic value for the territories it crosses through.

“We are very proud to help promote river transport, a high-performing, environmentally friendly, and economical mode of transport that responds to the challenge of energy transition.”

The new 54-metre-wide canal will occupy a section of the Seine-Escaut waterway and create Europe’s first river network with the capacity to accommodate large ships.

It will connect the Seine basin to the main waterways of northern France and Europe.

Arcadis France believes the canal’s development will not only boost national economies but also stimulate growth in the local economies of the areas it passes through.

Green jobs will be created as the canal snakes through protected areas and the natural habitats of a range of species, requiring the construction of wildlife corridors and the planting of extensive environmental plantations.

 

10th anniversary of downing of MH17 airline

According to Reuters, the Netherlands commemorated on Wednesday the 298 victims of flight MH17 that was shot down over Ukraine 10 years ago with a ceremony attended by the bereaved and representatives from Malaysia, Australia, Britain, Belgium and Ukraine.

Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, as fighting raged between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces, the precursor of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

All passengers and crew on board, including 196 Dutch citizens, were killed, leaving the plane's wreckage and the remains of the victims scattered across fields of corn and sunflowers.

Based on an international investigation, a Dutch court in 2022 said there was no doubt the plane was shot down by a Russian missile system and that Moscow had "overall control" of the forces of the separatist 'Donetsk People's Republic' in eastern Ukraine from May 2014. Russia denies any involvement.

During Wednesday's ceremony, which took place at the MH17 monument in the village of Vijfhuizen near Amsterdam, loved ones read out loud the names of all the victims.

Mark Rutte, who was prime minister when the disaster happened and a strong critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin ever since, drew applause for his efforts during his time in office to keep the international spotlight on the incident.

The Dutch court convicted two former Russian intelligence agents and a Ukrainian separatist leader in absentia of murder for their role in the transport into eastern Ukraine of the Russian military BUK missile system that was used to shoot down the plane.

"Justice requires a long, long breath," said Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who took office earlier this month, adding that "a conviction is not the same as having someone behind bars".

Commemorating the victims, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on X that Russia's accountability "is inevitable".

"In fact, Russia murdered the MH17 victims twice. First with a missile. Second, with lies that abused their memory and hurt their relatives," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba added.

Moscow denies any responsibility for MH17's downing and in 2014 it also denied any presence in Ukraine. However, the EU's outgoing foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Tuesday called on Russia to finally accept its responsibility.

"The evidence presented makes it abundantly clear that the BUK surface-to-air missile system used to bring down Flight MH17 belonged beyond doubt to the armed forces of the Russian Federation," Borrell said.

"No Russian disinformation operation can distract from these basic facts, established by a court of law."

 

 

 

 

Netherlands to supply drones to Ukraine

The Netherlands is joining a military coalition with allies including Britain that will supply Ukraine with advanced drone technology and bolster its offensive capabilities in the war against Russia, the Dutch defence minister said.

The pledge from the Netherlands comes in addition to F-16 fighter jets, artillery, ammunition and air defence systems provided by the Dutch to Kyiv.

For the Netherlands, there may be additional costs on top of 2 billion euros earmarked already for 2024, Dutch Defence Minister Kasja Ollongren told Reuters in an interview ahead of two days of NATO defence ministers’ meetings in Brussels starting on Wednesday.

"We know of course that drones are very important in this war," Ollongren said. "That's why we are joining the drone coalition that Ukraine has started together with Latvia, together with other countries, to make sure that we do just that - increase production, use the latest technology and to provide exactly what Ukraine needs."

Ukraine's Defence Ministry announced Britain's participation last month.

Drones have become a crucial part of both Ukraine and Russia's wartime strategies for reconnaissance and striking targets, thanks in large part to their relatively low cost.

Both sides are now using thousands of small, inexpensive drones originally built for enthusiasts and racers to conduct battlefield-level surveillance and attacks, while also growing their fleets of larger, longer-distance unmanned craft which can fly much further and carry heavier cameras or more explosives.

Both Britain and the Netherlands had already been helping Ukraine build out its drone fleet.

"What is new is that we are now forming this coalition. So we're connecting, let's say, the things that we're doing separately into one coalition that will be able to respond to the new demands of Ukraine, as they see the battle developing on the frontline. And I think that's the strength of this coalition," she said at her offices in The Hague.

Ukraine intends to manufacture thousands of long-range drones capable of deep strikes into Russia in 2024 and already has up to 10 companies working on production, Ukraine's digital minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, said in a Reuters interview on Monday.

By working together, the coalition will be able to respond to Kyiv's changing wartime tactics.

"And I think that's going to be the strength of this coalition, to be able to provide in the very short term what they need," she said.

Ollongren said the Netherlands will contribute high-tech expertise from the commercial sector, but declined to provide technical or financial details.

 

US ethanol exports exceeds 132 million gallons in March 2023

The United States exported 132.27 million gallons of ethanol and 898,086 tons of distillers’ grains in March, according to the data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on May 04, 2023. Exports of both products were up as compared to the previous month.

The 132.27 million gallons of ethanol exported in March was up when compared to both the 104.03 million gallons exported the previous month and the 125.1 million gallons exported in March 2022.

The US exported ethanol to more than three dozen countries in March. Canada was the top destination for US ethanol exports at 56.56 million gallons, followed by India at 22.76 million gallons and the Netherlands at 11.35 million gallons.

The value of US ethanol exports reached US$341.93 million in March, up from US$288.43 million in February, but down slightly from US$342.16 million in March 2022.

Total US ethanol exports for the first three months of 2023 reached 354.12 million gallons at a value of US$956.01 million, as compared to 393.66 million gallons exported during the same period of 2022 at a value of US$1.02 billion.

The 898,086 metric tons of distillers grains exported in March was up from 764,494 tons exported in February, but down from 927,134 tons exported in March 2022.

The US exported distillers grains to more than three dozen countries in March. Mexico was the top destination for US distillers grains export at 209,812 tons, followed by South Korea at 127,685 tons, and Turkey at 103,346 tons.

The value of U.S. distillers grains exports reached US$296.53 million in March, up from US$252.82 million the previous month and US$274.05 million in March of the previous year.

Total distillers grains exports for the first quarter of 2023 reached 2.43 million tons at a value of US$802.18 million, compared to 2.88 million tons exported during the same period of last year at a value of US$804.61 million.

Iran accuses Saudi Arabia for financing anti-Iran elements

Iran has alleged Saudi Arabia for financing anti-Iran elements. It is being said that the controversial anti-Iran satellite channel, Ahwazna TV in Rijswijk is being financed by the Saudi intelligence service. 

The Saudis were also billed for demonstrations by the separatist movement ASMLA.

The financing of the TV channel and at least one demonstration in The Hague is apparent from research by Argos, the Danish public broadcaster DR and the Norwegian NRK.

The Denmark-based leadership of the Arab-Iranian movement ASMLA requested and received large sums through the Saudi intelligence service for its organization in Europe and its armed branch in Iran. The ASMLA – Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz - fights against oppression of the Arab minority in the Iranian region of Khuzestan and for independence.

ASMLA leader Habib Jabor and two other leaders were found guilty of spying and financing terrorism in Iran after months-long closed-door trial in Denmark. However, many details have not been disclosed. A journalistic investigation made it clear that the group also spied against people in the Netherlands, including the well-known activist Abdullah Mansouri.

Last autumn, the Rotterdam court convicted another ASMLA member, presenter and manager of Ahwazna TV Eisa S. from Delft. Despite denials, he was jailed for four years for coordinating and financing attacks in Iran in conjunction with the Danish ASMLA leaders.

The Arab-Iranian separatist movement ASMLA has secretly collected information for the Saudi intelligence service about a large number of people in Europe, including the Netherlands. Among them is the Dutch-Iranian activist Faleh Abdullah al-Mansouri.

Ahwazna TV

Satellite channel Ahwazna TV of ASMLA has been based in Rijswijk since 2017 and calls for a fight against the Iranian 'occupier'. The channel even brought news of attacks that ASMLA was probably behind. An example is the liquidation of two alleged members of the Revolutionary Guards on a motorcycle on November 12, 2018 in Abadan. This action was filmed and published through Ahwazna TV's social media channels.

In app conversations between Eisa S., ASMLA leader Habib Jabor and a contact person 'Issi' in Iran, the attackers are called 'our boys', it is about the amounts that the perpetrators have received and it is stated that the attack should be breaking news.

Of a total budget for ASMLA of more than seven million euros for the period 2017-19, about 1.2 million was earmarked for Ahwazna TV in the Netherlands, according to police documents that were viewed by journalists from DR in collaboration with Argos and NRK. The TV channel is one of the targets for which funding has been sought through liaison officers from the Saudi intelligence agency GIP. While it cannot be ruled out that part of the final budget came from other donors, the Danish court has assumed that ASMLA did in fact receive "significant sums" from the Saudis in response to these applications.

Response

Ahwazna TV says in a response to Argos that Iranian media are behind the allegations and that they have 'unfortunately' been taken over by the Danish prosecutor. The station says it has never promoted terrorism. The TV station reportedly only reported on the situation in Iran: "There are daily crimes against the Arabs, the original population of Ahwaz, by the Iranian regime."

Ahwazna TV said the channel "must be silenced as it has become a source of disruption to Iran." According to Ahwazna TV, the amount of 1.2 million euros cannot be correct, because the channel uses volunteers and second-hand equipment. The broadcasts from the Netherlands would have been suspended in the meantime. The Saudi embassy in the Netherlands has not responded to a request for a hearing.

In Denmark, Ahwazna TV has been banned for two years because the channel 'has grossly broken the law by showing programs that promote both direct and indirect terrorism'.

Demonstrations

ASMLA also organized demonstrations in Europe against Iran and for the Ahwaz cause. For this, the ASMLA leadership also requested funding from Saudi Arabia and a budget was drawn up. Money was needed for plane tickets, hotels, buses and allowances for journalists. Refugees from asylum seekers centers also had to be paid to participate. That would have cost 60 euros per person. Arab news channels were promised to report. 

Police documents mention an amount of 400 thousand euros, including 190 thousand euros for a demonstration in The Hague and 80 thousand for a demonstration in Copenhagen. The communication dates from late 2014 and early 2015. In 2015, there were manifestations of ASMLA in Copenhagen and Brussels, among others, and in 2016 at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where Eisa S. and Habib Jabor were present.

Armed Branch

Despite public statements approving and even claiming responsibility for attacks in Iran, it has long remained unclear whether ASMLA leaders in Europe themselves had a hand in violence. Significant is a tapped board meeting of ASMLA in February 2020. There it was discussed that it would be better to refrain from aggressive and violent statements from now on, because the Danish authorities and international partners would no longer tolerate this. When asked 'does this mean that we should put aside the armed struggle', Habib Jabor answers that this is not the case, but that 'there must be a new definition'.

Chat conversations between the ASMLA leaders, Eisa S. and individuals in Iran explicitly discussed targets, payments, recruiting perpetrators, purchasing weapons and filming attacks. 'If you can hit them and shoot the film well and there will be deaths, then help will come for you that is unimaginable to you,' said Eisa, for example, to his contact person 'Issi' in Iran. In 2018, in particular, there was a series of bank arson attacks and attacks associated with ASMLA in the Iranian region of Khuzestan. The Danish criminal case showed that converted at least 2 million euros was obtained from Saudi Arabia for the armed branch of ASMLA. 

Hunt for ASMLA Leaders

Tehran has accused ASMLA and Saudi Arabia of terrorism for years and repeatedly asked the Dutch and Danish governments to intervene. Meanwhile, Iran was hunting for ASMLA leaders. In the Netherlands, co-founder Ahmad Mola Nissi was shot dead in The Hague in 2017, although he had already broken up with Habib Jabor's group in 2015, precisely because of Saudi Arabia's influence on the group. An assassination attempt on Jabor in Denmark was narrowly thwarted in September 2018. Habib Chaab from Sweden was lured to Turkey in 2020 and kidnapped to Iran. An investigation by Argos in 2019 showed that Iranian spies had great interest in Ahwazna TV in Rijswijk. Eisa S.'s life may have even been in danger.

 

Netherlands cancels €2.2 million contract with Palestinian NGO

Reportedly, the Netherlands has canceled a €2.2 million contract with the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) over ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, according to a report by NGO Monitor.

The Netherlands announced that it would cancel its contract with the Palestinian NGO on January 5, 2022 amid an internal review that revealed 34 officials and board members who worked at UAWC in 2007-2020 had ties to the PFLP – some of whom held leadership positions and were responsible for vicious terror attacks, such as the 2019 murder of 17-year-old Rina Shnerb.

NGO Monitor, itself a non-governmental organization that analyzes International NGO's reception and potential bias toward Israel, originally alerted the Dutch government about the affiliation of many UAWC employees and board members to the PFLP in 2018 and have remained in communication since.

As a result of the investigation and subsequent cancellation of the contract's funding, NGO Watch estimates that the Netherlands government has cut €2.2 million worth of support to the UAWC.

Following the announcement, NGO Monitor sent letters to the governments of Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the European Union urging them to also freeze all ongoing or future funding to UAWC and other PFLP-linked NGO's.