Diplomatic World_nummer 57

57 

INTERLINKING POLITICS, DIPLOMACY, BUSINESS & FINANCE 

ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY, CULTURAL DIPLOMACY & HEALTH 

DONALD TUSK 

President 

European 

Council 

HIS ROYAL 

HIGHNESS 

PRINCE 

MOHAMMED 

BIN SALMAN 

BIN ABDULAZIZ 

AL SAUD 

H.E. 

DILYOR 

KHAKIMOV 

Ambassador 

of Uzbekistan 

H.E. 

NATALIE 

SABANADZE 

Ambassador 

of Georgia 

H.E. 

MARINA 

JOVIĆEVIĆ 

Ambassador 

of the 

Republic 

of Serbia 

HON. 

ABDUJABAR 

ABDUVAKHITOV 

Deputy Foreign 

Minister 

of Uzbekistan 

HON. 

INLAVANH 

KEOBOUNPHANH 

Lao PDR, 

Minister / President, 

Lao Women’s 

Union 

H.E. 

KIM 

HYOUNG-ZHIN 

Ambassador of 

South Korea 

H.E. 

JUSTIN 

BROWN 

Ambassador 

of Australia 

Summer 2018 www.diplomatic-world.com Quarterly edition 

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©2018 Diplomatic World Magazine 

UNIVERSAL 

CONFERENCE 

FOR PEACE 

Pursuing its humanitarian mission of peace for all, 

the Universal Council for the Peace of the Nations 

and Continents, "CULPAC" – international nongovernmental 

organization existing since 1979 – realizes 

the Universal Conference for the Peace from the 

5 to 6 September 2018 in the European Parliament 

in Brussels. 

The Conference will be attended by well-known 

international figures, European, American, 

Asian and African deputies, as well as 

world-renowned non-governmental organizations. 

Being always enterprising by her remarkable actions 

for peace in the world, Mrs. Barbara Dietrich, CEO 

of Diplomatic World will take an active part in the 

organization of this universal conference for peace. 

1

INDEX DIPLOMATIC WORLD 57 

4 

DONALD TUSK 

President of the 

European Council 

10th anniversary 

of Polonicus! 

36 

H.E. KIM 

HYOUNG-ZHIN 

Ambassador of 

South Korea 

58 

SOUVENIR OF 

NORTH KOREA 

KIETTISACK 

KEOBANDITH 

Former Ambassador 

in North Korea 

NEOM 

THE DESTINATION 

FOR THE FUTURE 

His Royal Highness 

Prince Mohammed bin 

Salman bin Abdulaziz 

Al Saud 

8 

EUROPE DAY 

AND THE 55TH 

ANNIVERSARY 

OF THE 

EU-KOREA 

RELATIONS 

BHUTAN 

REVOLUTIONARY 

CONCEPT OF GROSS 

NATIONAL 

38 60 

HAPPINESS 

12 

H.E. 

NATALIE 

SABANADZE 

Ambassador 

of Georgia 

CAN WOMEN 

LEADERSHIP 

CHANGE THE 

WORLD ? 

40 62 

With Irene Natividad 

MATTHIEU RICARD 

SPIRITUALITY 

AROUND 

THE WORLD 

H.E. MARINA 

JOVIĆEVIĆ 

H.E. JUSTIN BROWN 

H.E. DR. SERGIO 

JARAMILLO CARO 

Ambassador 

of Serbia 

16 

Ambassador 

of Australia 

Ambassador of 

43 66 

Colombia 

20 

H.E. Z. LEVENT 

GÜMRÜKÇÜ 

Ambassador of the 

Republic of Turkey 

H.E. KHAMKHEUANG 

BOUNTEUM 

46 68 

Ambassador of Laos 

OLGA DE AMARAL’S 

EXHIBITION 

‘THE LIGHT 

OF SPIRIT’ 

ENCHANTS 

AND DELIGHTS 

H.E. ABDUJABAR 

ABDUVAKHITOV 

Deputy Foreign 

Minister 

of Uzbekistan 

24 

A LAO WOMAN 

IN AWEN 

IN BANGKOK, 

THAILAND 

52 

ARI EPSTEIN 

ANTWERP WORLD 

DIAMOND CENTRE 

70 

2 

30 

H.E. DILYOR 

KHAKIMOV 

Ambassador 

of Uzbekistan 

55 

HON. INLAVANH 

KEOBOUNPHANH, 

LAO PDR, MINISTER / 

PRESIDENT, LAO 

WOMEN’S UNION 

79 

PEACE ANGEL 

FOR PRIME 

MINISTER 

SHINZŌ ABE 

OF JAPAN

SUMMER 2018 

80 

DIPLOMATIC 

WORLD 

GLOBAL ART FORUM 

Meta-Morphosis 

ARTIFICIAL 

INTELLIGENCE 

114 140 

AND MOBILITY 

ENCYCLOPEDIA 

OF RUSSIAN 

AVANT-GARDE 

IN FRENCH 

SARAH FABERGÉ 

EMOTIONS, 

TRADITIONS AND 

NEW BEGINNINGS! 

HUMAN 

CREATIVITY 

& AI 

Prof Dr. 

ESTHER DE VALLIERE 

RICHARD CHISALA 

ULTINETS 

MAKING NETWORKS 

90 116 144 

Jan De Maere 

BETTER 

98 

HANS WAEGE 

BELGIAN NATIONAL 

ORCHESTRA 

OUT OF THE 

SHADOWS 

120 

ZAHA HADID 

INSPIRED 

BY SUPREMATISM 

IN PORT OF 

ANTWERP AND 

GUANGZHOU 

OPERA 

148 

PROFESSOR 

AARON LAWSON 

Former Dean, 

University of Ghana 

Medical School 

CHRISTOPH LEITL 

President of 

EUROCHAMBRES 

at the Association’s 

60th anniversary 

celebration 

CHINA’S MESSAGE 

TO THE WORLD: 

THE SILK ROAD 

BUILDING BRIDGES 

BETWEEN THE STATES 

AND PEOPLE OF 

102 124 

THIS WORLD 

‘AS-SALAM 

ALAYKOM’ … 

‘WA ALYKOM 

AS-SLAM’ 

154 

LIVING TOMORROW 

MOSCOW 2030 

WHERE 

104 126 

VISIONS MEET 

LA 

FRANCOPHONIE 

158 

HISTORY OF 

SAINT PETERSBURG 

TO MONACO RALLY 

Tribute to the first 

1911 Saint Petersburg 

Monaco Rally 

THE MOBILITY 

OF THE FUTURE 

FEATURED DURING 

PUBLIC EVENT 

OF LIVING 

TOMORROW 

IN BRUSSELS 

108 

UNIVERSITIES 

BOOSTING ECONOMIC 

GROWTH, SOCIETAL 

INNOVATION AND 

INTERNATIONAL 

COLLABORATION 

128 

DENNY GREVE 

GEMA 

SPIEF'18 

ST. PETERSBURG 

INTERNATIONAL 

ECONOMIC FORUM 

160 

112 

ZURICH'S 

BLOCKCHAIN 

INCUBATOR FACING 

THE NATIONAL BANK 

OLD MONEY, 

AND NEW MONEY 

IN FRONT 

138 

CONNECTING PILOT 

INITIATIVES TO 

DECISION MAKERS… 

BOOSTING 

SUSTAINABLE 

DEVELOPMENT! 

164 

DIPLOMATIC BRUNCH 

LIVING TOMORROW 

PEACE RALLY 

3

DONALD TUSK 

PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL 

10TH ANNIVERSARY OF POLONICUS 

“History happens just before our very eyes” – 

this holds true for the spirit and atmosphere 

of the Polonicus ceremony which had its 10th 

anniversary in the beautiful Aachen Coronation 

Hall of Charlemagne. These ten years are now part 

of Poland's history and of Polish and European 

politicians. 

The 2018 ceremony recalls that for the last ten years 

the annual “Polonicus” prize has been awarded by the 

European Institute for Culture and Media Polonicus to 

honor “the conduct and attitude to improve the German 

and Polish dialogue in Europe and the development of the 

Polish culture in Europe.” The Polonicus statue represents 

a dynamic, brave, winged human figure. 

Among the previous winners of the Polonicus prize are 

renowned people like Professor Władysław Bartoszewski, 

Professor Jerzy Buzek, Professor Norman Davies, 

Professor Karl Dedecius, Krystyna Janda, Archbishop 

Alfons Nossol, film director Andrzej Wajda, Professor Jan 

Miodek, Professor Leszek Balcerowicz, and the winner of 

the Nobel Peace Prize Lech Wałęsa. 

in Germany. They are the founders of the Chorus 

Benedictus. This choir was established as a part of the 

Polish Catholic Mission in Wuppertal in 1989 and is now 

well known in Europe. 

The Polonicus awardee Jerzy Owsiak was honored for 

his outstanding engagement for the development of 

the civil society. Mr. Owsiak has organized important 

contributions for many Children’s Hospitals in the past. 

The recent ceremony was of special importance not only 

because it was the 10th anniversary but also because of its 

awardees. 

Prof. Rita Süssmuth was one of this year’s awardees. She 

served many years as President of the German Bundestag 

and was among the first politicians to visit Poland after the 

historical free election in 1989. She received the Polonicus 

prize for her longstanding support of the German-Polish 

dialogue. Prof. Süssmuth has served as chair of the Deutsch- 

Polnische Wissenschaftsstiftung (DPWS) and as president of 

the Deutsches Polen-Institut (DPI) for many years. 

Roza and Benedikt Frąckiewicz got the Polonicus award 

4 

to honor their support of Polish culture and organization 

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council 

© Dariusz Manka

Wiesław Lewicki, Jerzy Owsiak, Armin Laschet, Donald Tusk, Roza and Benedikt Frąckiewicz 

© Dariusz Manka 

All the guests of the prize ceremony in the Coronation 

Hall of Charlemagne awaited the awardee of this year’s 

special Polonicus prize. This honorary prize was awarded 

to Donald Tusk who has been the President of the 

European Council since 2014. Formerly he served as 

Prime Minister of Poland from 2007 to 2014. Donald 

Tusk has already received the important Charlemagne 

Prize in the Aachen Coronation Hall in 2010 to honor 

his service for the European unification. 

The president of the Polonicus Prize Jury, Wiesław 

Lewicki, recalled the important role of Poland in Europe. 

Poland is proud that among those who carried forward 

the historical project of the European unification several 

outstanding people came from Poland, including Donald 

Tusk, the former President of European Council Jerzy 

Buzek and of course the Polish Pope John Paul II. 

It is always a special moment to reward a prize for 

European understanding and unification in Aachen, 

the place where Charlemagne ruled and united 

much of western and central Europe in the early 

middle ages. 

Wiesław Lewicki 


5

In his acceptance speech Donald Tusk emphasized the 

fundamental importance of the European project which 

has been carried forward since the end of the disastrous 

Second World War. He also recalled that the end of the 

First World War and the reconstitution of the Republic 

of Poland happened 100 years ago. He reminded us that 

it took a long time to rebuild a spirit of reconciliation 

between the people of the various European countries. 

Such spirit should not be destroyed by thoughtless and 

imprudent actions and actors. We need to identify and 

oppose such irresponsible people in order to stay firmly, 

proudly and positively committed to work for unity and 

peace in Europe. 

Robert Nawrat and Wiesław Kutz 

Armin Laschet 

Minister President Nordrhein-Westfalen 


6 

Armin Laschet - Minister President Nordrhein-Westfalen, Ulrike Bolenz, Artist with Portrait of Donald Tusk, Donald Tusk - President of the European Council 

and Barbara Dietrich - CEO Diplomatic World Magazine 

© Dariusz Manka

Donald Tusk and Iwona Nawrat 


Donald Tusk and Robert Nawrat 


 


7

NEOM 

THE DESTINATION 

FOR THE FUTURE 

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman 

bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy 

Prime Minister and Chairman of the Public 

Investment Fund (PIF), announced on 24 October 

2017 the launch of NEOM. 

The city will be built in Saudi Arabia from scratch and will 

span 26.500 square kilometers (more than 33 times the 

land area of New York City). It will have more robots than 

humans. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz 

Al Saud envisions it as a “civilizational leap for humanity”. 

NEOM is born from the ambition of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 

2030 to see the country develop into a pioneering and 

thriving model of excellence in various and important areas 

of life. NEOM aims to drive the transformation of the 

Kingdom into a leading global hub through the introduction 

of value chains of industry and technology. 

“We want the main robot and the first robot in Neom 

to be Neom, robot number one,” the crown prince said. 

“Everything will have a link with artificial intelligence, with 

the Internet of Things – everything.” 

“NEOM will focus on 9 specialized investment sectors 

and living conditions that will drive the future of human 

civilization, energy, water, mobility, biotech, food, 

technological & digital sciences, advanced manufacturing, 

media and entertainment with livability as its foundation. 

The focus on these sectors will stimulate economic growth 

and diversification by nurturing international innovation 

and manufacturing, to drive local industry, job creation 

8 

NEOM CEO Dr. Klaus Kleinfeld and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud 

and GDP growth in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. NEOM 

will attract private as well as public investments and 

partnerships. It will be backed by more than $500 billion 

over the coming years by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the 

local Saudi Public Investment Fund as well as international 

investors.” 

NEOM commands a unique location to bring together the 

best of Arabia, Asia, Africa, Europe and America. It resides 

in the Northwestern region of Saudi Arabia, and spans over 

26.500 km 2 . By overlooking the waterfront of the Red Sea to 

the South, the West and the Gulf of Aqaba, NEOM enjoys 

an uninterrupted coastline stretching over 468 km, with a 

dramatic mountain backdrop rising to 2.500 m to the east. 

A constant breeze leads to mild temperatures. The wind and 

sun will allow NEOM to be powered solely and entirely by 

regenerative energy. 

Africa, which will add to the zone’s economic significance. 

NEOM’s land mass will extend across the Egyptian and 

Jordanian borders, rendering NEOM the first private zone 

to span 3 countries. 

Investments and financing will play a vital role in NEOM, 

set to be spearheaded by the Kingdom’s economy and 

supported by PIF – a major global fund with access to a 

worldwide network of investors and major companies – set 

to be brought onboard to drive its success. 

With the ambition of becoming one of the world’s future 

economic and scientific capitals, in addition to being the 

future commerce capital of Saudi Arabia, NEOM is set to 

attract new foreign direct investment that will contribute to 

PIF’s long-term growth strategy, aimed at strengthening the 

Saudi Arabian economy. 

NEOM is situated on one of the world’s most prominent 

economic arteries, through which nearly a tenth of the 

world’s trade flows. Its strategic location will also facilitate 

the zone’s rapid emergence as a global hub that connects 

Asia, Europe and Africa, enabling 70% of the world’s 

population to reach it in under 8 hours, which brings the 

potential to combine the best of major global regions 

in terms of knowledge, technology, research, teaching, 

learning, living and working. The site will also become the 

main entrance to the King Salman Bridge, linking Asia and 

NEOM is developed to be independent of the Kingdom’s 

existing governmental framework, excluding sovereignty. It 

will adopt a regulatory framework that fosters technological 

as well as societal innovation and entrepreneurship in 

accordance with international best practices. Investors, 

businesses, and innovators will be consulted at every step 

of the development in how best to create the economic 

framework, design the urban plans and attract top quality 

talent that will drive the growth of this zone and its resident 

population. 

9

“NEOM will be constructed from the ground up, on 

Greenfield sites, allowing it a unique opportunity to be 

distinguished from all other places that have been developed 

and constructed over hundreds of years. We will use this 

opportunity to build a new way of life with excellent economic 

prospects. Future technologies form the cornerstone for 

NEOM’s development: disruptive solutions for transportation 

from automated driving to passenger drones, new ways of 

10

growing and processing food, healthcare centered around 

the patient for their holistic well-being, wireless high speed 

internet as a free good called “digital air”, free world-class 

continuous online education, full scale e-governance putting 

city services at your fingertips, building codes that make netzero 

carbon houses the standard, a city layout that encourages 

walking and cycling and all solely powered by renewable 

energy, just to name a few. All of this will allow for a new 

way of life to emerge that takes into account the ambitions 

and outlooks of humankind paired with the best future 

technologies and outstanding economic prospects.” 

NEOM will achieve its ambitious goals of becoming among the 

top secure areas in the world – if not the most – by adopting 

the future technologies in the fields of security and safety. This 

will raise the standards of public life activities and ensure the 

safety and protection of residents, visitors and investors. 

All services and processes in NEOM will be 100% fully 

automated, with the goal of becoming the most efficient 

destination in the world, and in turn be implemented in 

all activities such as legal, government, and investment 

procedures among others. Additionally, it will be subject 

to the highest sustainability standards, and will provide all 

transactions, procedures, and claims through paperless and 

electronic means. 

A new concept for the workforce will be implemented, based 

on attracting high-caliber human resources with unique 

competencies for full-time innovation, decision making and 

business leadership. Repetitive and arduous tasks will be 

fully automated and handled by robots, which may exceed 

the population, likely making the NEOM’s GDP per capita 

the highest in the world. All these elements will put NEOM 

at the world’s forefront in terms of efficiency which will 

make it the best destination in the world to live in. 

“This place is not for conventional people or conventional 

companies, this will be a place for the dreamers of the 

world,” the crown prince said. “The strong political will and 

the desire of a nation. All the success factors are there to 

create something big in Saudi Arabia.” 

For further information on NEOM please visit 

http://www.discoverneom.com 

Article by H.E. Abdulrahman 

Bin Suleiman Al Ahmed, 

Ambassador of the Custodian 

of the two Holy Mosques to the 

Kingdom of Belgium and the 

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 

11

H.E. NATALIE SABANADZE 

AMBASSADOR 

OF GEORGIA 

FOR DIPLOMATIC WORLD 

As a double-hatted Ambassador to Belgium and 

Luxembourg as well as Head of Mission to the European 

Union, I have an enormous task which is both challenging 

and inspiring. Georgia is a country of ancient civilization, 

with a long and tumultuous history but with the drive and 

determination to succeed of a young nation. Yet it is a 

country not very well known in this part of Europe. Belgians 

are slowly discovering Georgia as the number of tourists 

increase and attention grows to the ‘old new’ destination. 

I wish to make Georgia better known in Brussels and I 

wish to show its creative, dynamic, cultural side which 

rarely makes it to the news headlines. For these purposes 

economic and cultural diplomacy are among the most 

effective tools for promoting one’s country, strengthening 

bilateral ties and establishing friendship between people. 

The term often used is people to people contact, which I do 

not like as it sounds so devoid of emotion. It is more than 

contact, it is about connection. I am convinced that culture, 

arts and education is the only way to forge deep, longlasting 

connections and this in turn will make Georgia’s case of 

becoming part of the European family of nations stronger 

in the eyes of the public here. Cultural and economic 

diplomacy in my experience are not secondary to the 

pursuit of state interests, to the contrary they are effective 

means to this end. 

the friendships I have made with Belgians through cultural 

cooperation. I have an academic background and 

I enjoy being a guest lecturer at various Belgian universities, 

meeting students and talking to them about Georgia, its 

past, its current challenges and its hopes. More and more 

Georgian students are studying in Belgium, becoming an 

integral part of the fabric of our bilateral ties. 

12 

In the last five years of my being in Brussels, we have 

established a very close cooperation with the Bozar 

Museum. There is a memorandum of cooperation signed 

between Bozar and the Georgian Ministry of Culture and 

almost every season, there are Georgian artists presenting 

their work in Brussels. We have organized concerts, 

exhibitions, film festivals and we enjoy this collaboration 

immensely. I often say that most memorable moments of 

my experience in Brussels, those that I will cherish long 

after being gone, are linked to those cultural events and to 

Natalie Sabanadze, ambassador of Georgia

Skyline of Tbilisi and Narikala Castle, Tbilisi, Georgia 

© Shutterstock 

Georgia has been gradually increasing its presence in 

Brussels. As a country aiming at eventual membership 

of the EU, we are slowly but surely bringing Georgia’s 

political, economic and legal standards closer to the 

norms established inside the EU. This is what Georgia’s 

Association Agreement with the EU is about, which 

was signed in 2014. We are deepening the scope of our 

cooperation in most of the sectors of economic life. 

Products made in Georgia are entering European markets. 

On the other hand, European businesses are more and 

more interested in expanding in Georgia, which is one of 

the easiest countries of the world for doing business. The 

World Bank ranks Georgia in the top ten countries for the 

ease of doing business, which is a remarkable achievement 

and which shows that Georgia is trying to compensate for 

the small size of its market with its efficient and corruption 

free institutions and administration in order to become 

a regional hub for business, logistics and transport. I 

hope that more and more Belgian companies will become 

interested in doing business in Georgia and we work closely 

with chambers of commerce, encouraging them to organise 

trade missions and look out for business opportunities in 

Georgia. Some Belgian companies are already present in 

Georgia such as Tractebel and Goslan. 

When it comes to bilateral political relations between 

Georgia and Belgium and Luxembourg, we are proud 

to have these two founding members of the European 

Union as our close partners and friends. We are all small 

countries that have faced similar challenges throughout 

the history but each one of us has found different ways 

of dealing with them. There is so much that Georgia can 

learn from Belgium especially in areas of managing ethnic 

and linguistic diversity, overcoming political divisions 

through constant dialogue and ability to cooperate and 

forge coalitions with political rivals. Last year we celebrated 

25 years of diplomatic relations between our countries. 

This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 

foundation of the first Democratic Republic of Georgia. It 

is noteworthy that Belgo-Georgian friendship takes root in 

those turbulent years of post World War I, when Europe 

was in flux and young Georgian democracy, which escaped 

from the clutches of Tsarist Russia emerged as an appealing 

experiment in progressive social democracy to European, 

including Belgian, socialists. 

Despite being on the edge of Europe, at the crossroad of 

oriental and western Christian civilizations, Georgia has 

always considered itself culturally and politically European. 

13

What does this mean, however? Today there is much 

debate about what constitutes common European culture 

and identity and how it can serve as a unifying factor for 

the European Union. Much of European history is closely 

interconnected, however, it is a history of strife and war 

as well as peaceful cooperation. With the fall of large 

empires in Europe and the rise of nation-states, culture 

and identity became national and its character assisted 

with the democratization of political life and creation of a 

standardised system of education. 

It is therefore not surprising that people in Europe have 

first and foremost an attachment to their national identity. 

However, its presence does not exclude or contradict the 

existence of a European identity and it is becoming more 

developed with time and with the help of programs such 

as Erasmus and Creative Europe. Identities are multiple, 

layered, thick or thin. They are not normally mutually 

exclusive. It is precisely the perceived exclusivity of identity 

that has been and continues to be the cause of so many 

wars in the world. I see no contradiction in having a strong 

sense of belonging to the Georgian nation, to its culture 

and customs and at the same time, feeling that I am part of 

a bigger European cultural tradition. It is this diversity of 

national cultures that makes common European culture so 

rich and so real. 

There is a reason why Georgia, which freed itself from 

the Soviet empire only 25 years ago, is so eager to join 

the European Union in the future. We believe in this 

project which brought peace, stability and prosperity to 

the European continent and which is based on principles 

of sovereign equality and non-domination. It is a union 

of those who share the same values and to a large extent 

the same interests and who cherish their own diversity 

and pluralism. It is also a union of small to medium sized 

states, which have to stick together in order to increase 

their own security and political weight in the global affairs. 

The union driven by economic and political interests can 

only be strengthened by a common cultural framework. At 

times when resources are scarce, unfortunately, it is the 

cultural sphere that suffers first and becomes the target of 

cuts. It should be the opposite. Precisely at times of flux and 

uncertainty, art and culture offer us a much needed shelter, 

which we can all share. 

14 

View of the Ushguli village at the foot of Mt. Shkhara. 

© Shutterstock

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15 

MBS8041555_Diplomatic Solutions_E-Kl_297x225mm_01-2018.indd 3 19/01/2018 13:34

H.E. MARINA JOVIĆEVIĆ 

AMBASSADOR OF THE 

REPUBLIC OF SERBIA 


I was appointed the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia 

to the Kingdom of Belgium in late August 2017. For Serbia, 

Belgium is one of the very important countries – it is one 

of the founders of the European Union, and seat of the 

European Union and NATO, as well as other international 

organizations. Due to its institutional setting, and its 

regional and European experience and role, Belgium is also 

a very interesting country from which we can learn a lot, 

primarily how to make compromises and base our solutions 

on dialogue and reconciliation, with mutual respect. For the 

region I come from, that is essential and Serbia is making 

huge efforts to work jointly on a better future and not to 

focus our discussions on the past. 

Bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Belgium have a long 

history and the two countries have had rich ties for years. 

They were first established in 1879 and in 1886, when the 

Kingdom of Serbia had a diplomatic envoy in Brussels. 

Also, Belgian investors were active in Serbia in the 19th 

century, in mining. In fact the first railway in Serbia, in 

Negotinska Krajina, was built on Belgian concession. 

Robermont in Liège for instance, there are Serbian graves of 

victims and the Serbian flag is raised with the flags of other 

countries, as we commemorate the Armistice Day together. 

Having in mind that the year of 2018 is devoted to the 

commemoration of the end of the First World War, I most 

certainly hope that our two countries will organize a joint 

event – both here, as also in Serbia. 

Bilateral cooperation and high-level dialogue are also much 

intensified. Just recently the Prime Minister of the Kingdom 

of Belgium, Mr. Charles Michel has visited the Republic of 

Serbia and had very useful and fruitful talks with Serbian 

President, Mr. Aleksandar Vučić and Serbian Prime 

Minister, Ms. Ana Brnabić on various topics. It was the 

first visit of a Belgian Prime Minister in more than 8 years, 

Furthermore on, the first privileged National Bank of 

Serbia, back in 1884, was developed with the support of 

skilled staff from the Belgian National Bank, and the first 

Serbian bank notes were even printed in Belgium. The 

appropriate exhibition was prepared some years ago to mark 

the fruitful cooperation among two national institutions, 

lasting over 100 years. 

16 

Last but not least, I should mention that the first democratic 

constitution in Serbia – Sretenje Constitution (1835) was 

made following, among others, the Belgian constitutional 

model from 1831. 

It is interesting to know that our two countries collaborated 

in the First World War, and that we were among the 

countries that suffered the most. On the Cemetery of 

H.E. Ms. Marina Jovićević, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the 

Kingdom of Belgium

Belgrade, Serbia. Kalemegdan Fortress in the night, ancient Singidunum. 


and I was truly pleased that we managed to realize it within 

a rather short period of my stay here as the ambassador. 

Parliamentary cooperation has also been intensified, and 

in December 2017 we organized a visit of the members of 

the Friendship group with the Kingdom of Belgium from 

the Serbian National Assembly, who came here and met 

with chairpersons from Belgian and Flemish Parliaments, 

and the chair of IPU for Serbia. I hope that by the end of 

this year, we will see more visits at the ministerial level – 

primarily in areas where dialogue is very intense – such as 

foreign affairs, security and internal affairs. 

Serbia is host to a number of investors from different parts 

of Belgium, and at the moment over 50 Belgian companies 

have successful businesses in Serbia. Having in mind 

Serbian potentials as the investment destination (favorable 

business climate, good geographic position, diversified and 

high qualified labor market, low wages, subsidies given 

to the investors, free zones, and wide scope of free trade 

agreements giving an access to the market of 1.3 billion 

population) I truly believe that during my mandate the 

other Belgian companies will establish their businesses in 

Serbia. In the last year, foreign trade exchange was over 

half billion euro. A total of 26 agreements in different areas 

have been signed between the two countries. One area 

where I see a lot of potential is tourism. In 2017 we have 

evidenced an increase of 38% in the number of tourists 

from Belgium visiting Serbia, but we need to work harder 

to attract Belgian people to come to Serbia and meet our 

people. 

Serbia has been negotiating with the European Union 

on the accession since January 2014 and so far we 

managed to open 12 negotiating chapters, close 2 chapters 

provisionally, and have 5 negotiating positions for chapters 

technically ready for opening but waiting for political and 

technical consent from EU member states. We certainly 

hope that in June, during the Bulgarian EU Presidency we 

will open at least 3 to 4 negotiating chapters. Our aim is 

to try to reach the indicative date – 2025 that was given 

in “A Credible Enlargement Perspective for an Enhanced 

EU Engagement with the Western Balkans” – presented 

on February 6, 2018. However, keeping in mind the 

not favorable situation in the EU when it comes to the 

perception of the enlargement, I truly believe that more 

people-to-people contacts would contribute to a better 

understanding and to the perception that the European 

Union is where we belong. 

17

Serbia has always been a part of Europe, and with the 

European Union we share not only geographic, historical or 

cultural space, but first and foremost, we share the values 

and principles. The best illustration might be our actions 

during the migration crisis, where Serbia has significantly 

contributed to the management of migratory movements 

via the Western Balkan route, proving to be a credible and 

responsible partner to the EU despite the huge migratory 

pressure it has been exposed to. 

Although Serbia has for centuries been the scene of 

frequent wars, devastation, fires and mass-migrations, as it 

was positioned on the turbulent roads connecting East and 

West, our rich cultural and historical legacy and diversity, 

as well as sites of natural beauty, make Serbia a country of 

great interest for tourism. We can say that this multicultural 

melting pot has led to a wonderful array of historical sites, 

attractions, cuisines, and traditions. Serbia is frequently 

considered to be Europe’s best kept secret, but in recent 

years it is increasingly discovered by tourists. 

Testaments to prehistoric life in our part of the region 

are the numerous archaeological sites, such as Lepenski 

Vir or Vinča that are globally known. There are also the 

important remains of Roman roads and towns which 

today bear witness to six centuries of the presence of the 

Roman Empire on the territory of Serbia, or the very many 

evidences of the Ottoman Empire that could attest to the 

several centuries’ long influence. Among the most important 

are the Christian cultural monuments – Serbian Orthodox 

monasteries, built between the 12th to 15th century, 

as for example, the Stari Ras and Sopoćani, Studenica 

monastery, as well as Visoki Dečani, together with the 

Patriarchate of Peć, Gračanica and the Our Lady of Ljeviš 

church in Prizren in Kosovo and Metohija that are listed on 

the UNESCO World Heritage List. Besides them, Slava, the 

celebration of the family saint patron day and Kolo, Serbian 

traditional folk dance were also inscribed to the UNESCO’s 

intangible cultural heritage list. Recently, during the Balkan 

trafik festival, Serbian kolo was presented in the Grand 

Place in Brussels. 

It is important to know that all those historic periods left 

certain characteristic marks on our history and that no 

monument is identical, each having its own peculiarities 

and traits. This is unique in Europe because the East was 

connecting with the West in our region, and there were 

also influences coming from the North and the South. 

This is also true of our customs and our cultural regions. 

Moreover, the Yugoslav socialist experiences in the fields of 

architecture and memorials are being researched in detail 

globally today and the Museum of Modern Art in New York 

will dedicate a big exhibition to this during the current 

year. 

18 

Majestic view of the River in eastern Serbia. 

© Shutterstock

Beautiful view of the historic center of Belgrade on the banks of the Sava River, Serbia 


The EU has made 2018 the European Year of Cultural 

Heritage to highlight the diversity, shared history and 

rich cultures that make Europe today. Serbian cultural 

institutions are participating in the Europeana project and 

almost a million exhibits of Serbian cultural heritage are 

available on this European digital platform. 

I would like also to point out that Novi Sad – the 

administrative, economic, cultural, scientific and touristic 

centre of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, a 

multicultural region with 26 ethnic groups and six official 

languages – is the first non-EU city that will be the 

European Capital of Culture in 2021 and European Youth 

Capital in 2019. 

Serbia is also a country that has delivered some of the 

world’s greatest minds whose work has significantly 

changed the world we live in today. Everybody knows 

that the Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla was the “father of 

electricity”. Thanks to another famous Serbian scientist, 

Milutin Milanković, we now know that the Earth’s climate 

is predominantly influenced by factors coming from space, 

especially the Sun, and that this allows us to predict the 

changes and the arrival of the next ice age with great 

certainty. Serbian scientist Mihajlo Pupin participated in the 

very founding of NASA, he won the Pulitzer Prize and was 

the first Serb who was awarded with this prestigious award. 

He is most famous for inventing the “Pupin coils” that 

perfected the phone and allowed us to talk across large 

distances, and hear each other clearly while enjoying the 

connection without noise. 

At the very end, I would like to mention the Serbian Nobel 

Prize laureate for literature in 1961: Ivo Andrić. He was a 

truly European figure since he was educated, worked and 

lived in many European cities and was coherent with the 

value of over-national and over-confessional identity. He 

was even posted as a Yugoslav diplomat here, in Brussels, 

in 1929, and we decided to present his work primarily 

to students, such as those in Slavistic department in the 

University in Ghent, where there is a lector for Serbian 

language, but also to others in the European College in 

Bruges and in the University of Antwerp. 

I would like to finish this interview with one of the messages 

given by HR EU Ms. Federica Mogherini, in her address 

before the Serbian Parliament in 2017: “I believe our 

Union will not be complete as long as Serbia, and all the 

Western Balkans, will not join our family. This country and 

this region lie at the very heart of Europe. The history of 

Europe was written in these lands, throughout the centuries; 

it’s a history that needs to be honoured through a joint 

celebration of our European identity; it’s a history of arts, 

literature, of rights and liberties.” 

19

H.E. Z. LEVENT GÜMRÜKÇÜ, 

AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC 

OF TURKEY 

NEED FOR EFFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL 

COOPERATION THROUGH DIALOGUE 

AND UNDERSTANDING: 

A MESSAGE FROM TURKEY 

At the dawn of the 21st century, after decades of Cold 

War dividing the international community into ideological 

blocks, there was a strong sense of optimism and hope 

across the globe that the world would finally be a better and 

safer place to live. In other words, the end of the Cold War 

was expected to usher in a new era of peace, security and 

prosperity, ending the decades-long divisions and bringing 

all the people of the world together around certain universal 

values and ideals. 

However, almost 20 years into the third millennium, 

it is obvious that we have not yet been able to make 

much progress in fulfilling this vision. Indeed, despite 

unprecedented opportunities presented by the dynamics of 

globalization and advances in technology, the world today 

is unfortunately neither more secure nor more democratic 

than 20 years ago. In addition to the conventional conflicts 

which continue to undermine our security, we are now faced 

with new and evolving risks and threats, such as terrorism, 

WMD proliferation, organized crime, drug, human 

and weapons trafficking, cyber-attacks, hybrid warfare, 

environmental degradation and intercultural and interfaith 

tensions, to name a few. 

haven’t we learned this reality the hard way, first in 2001 

when the failure of the state in Afghanistan led to the 9/11 

bombings in the USA by Al-Qaeda or more recently in 

Syria when a repressive regime started a war against its own 

people which in turn led to the emergence of yet another 

ruthless terrorist organization, this time DEASH. 

This is why the need for true international cooperation 

against such common risks and threats facing us all has 

never been so acute and real. We will either work together 

in solidarity with each other and share the benefits of 

20 

Even more importantly, these risks and threats are no 

longer confined to certain geographies, which means that 

there is no country in the world today which can claim to 

be immune from the negative impact of these challenges. 

Neither geography, nor economic and political differences 

can be a shield any more. Indeed, in today’s globalized 

world, whatever happens in any part of the earth has direct 

ramifications on the entire international community. And 

H.E. Z. Levent Gümrükçü

Istanbul city bird view 


globalization or fail to act in concert as a community and 

thus suffer together the consequences of our inability to 

do so. From climate change to migration, terrorism to 

humanitarian crises, cyber warfare to hate crimes, the 

international community should be able to think and act in 

a collective and coordinated manner so as to put in place 

the necessary measures that will help us tackle our common 

problems and take advantage of the existing and emerging 

opportunities. 

Given its geostrategic location at the confluence of all these 

threats and opportunities, Turkey is among those countries 

who feel that need maybe more than many others. Indeed, 

fighting against several terrorist organizations at the same 

time; bearing the brunt of the crisis in Syria including by 

hosting more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees; acting as a 

bridge between Europe and Asia not only in a geographic 

but political and economic sense too; constituting an energy 

hub between the Caspian and Middle Eastern oil and 

natural gas reserves and the Western markets; being the only 

member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 

which is also a member of NATO and a candidate for EU 

membership, Turkey not only appreciates too well the need 

for true international cooperation, but is also well placed to 

contribute to it. In other words, international cooperation, 

for us, is not a choice but an obligation that we have to 

support with all the means available to us. 

However, international cooperation is not something that 

happens automatically or just by paying lip service to it. 

The key to successful international cooperation lies in 

meaningful dialogue among nations that will allow us to 

better understand each other and find the ways and means 

to jointly act upon our common objectives and ideals. 

Indeed, without true dialogue, a sense of joint ownership 

and mutual understanding, any project of cooperation is 

doomed to remain limited, failing to translate our words and 

promises to actual deeds and deliverables. 

This is exactly why Turkey has taken the lead in launching 

several initiatives aiming at providing a platform to different 

nations, organizations and private stakeholders to agree 

on a common vision vis-à-vis common challenges. The 

Alliance of Civilizations, for instance, which we have 

initiated with Spain to create an environment of better 

understanding and tolerance between different religions by 

stressing on what unites us rather than what separates us, 

is currently the second largest international organization 

21

after the United Nations. Likewise, the Mediation for 

Peace initiative, which we have launched with Finland is 

the only intergovernmental body within the United Nations 

promoting conflict prevention and crisis management 

through peaceful means of negotiation and mediation. 

In all these and many other initiatives, our goal is to deliver 

concrete results that will benefit us all. Subject to basic 

norms and principles of international law and conduct, 

we are not acting with prejudices against any party that 

can bring an added value to our common objectives. For, 

we know that the world is no longer ruled by a bipolar or 

unipolar system and that broad-based multilateralism is key 

to effectively addressing the manifold challenges facing us 

all. This is why, for instance, in the context of Syria, Turkey 

is the only country which can and does work with Russia, 

Iran, US and France at the same time to achieve a peaceful 

and lasting solution of the crisis. This is also why Turkey 

brings the members of the EU and the OIC together in a 

joint platform to discuss one of the most sensitive issues of 

the Middle East Peace Process, the status of Jerusalem. 

To sum up, the world today is at a crossroads with 

unprecedented opportunities and challenges, both a direct 

consequence of the globalization engulfing the whole planet. 

To remain on the right side of this historical and irresistible 

process depends on all nations of the world since we are all 

co-partners in this journey, irrespective of our geographic 

location, economic might or political orientation. In other 

words, no country is immune to the challenges facing us and 

no single country alone can steer the process in the right 

direction. We have to learn to work together and do so in 

the widest possible framework. Those who recognize this 

growing need for effective international cooperation through 

dialogue and understanding will always find a willing and 

able partner in Turkey. 

H.E. Z. LEVENT GÜMRÜKÇÜ 

AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY 

Date of Birth: 27 November 1968 

Place of Birth: Ankara, Turkey 

Marital status: Married, two children 

Foreign languages: English, French 

EDUCATION 

1986 – 1990 – Department of International Relations, 

Middle East Technical University, Faculty of 

Administrative and Economic Sciences, Ankara 

CAREER 

1990 - 1991 Third Secretary, Department of Human 

Rights and Council of Europe, 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ankara 

1991 – 1993 Deputy Chief of Cabinet of the Minister 

of Foreign Affairs, Ankara 

1993 – 1996 Third Secretary, Embassy of the 

Republic of Turkey in Washington D.C. 

USA 

1996 – 1998 Second Secretary, Embassy of the 

Republic of Turkey in Tehran, Iran 

1998 – 2000 First Secretary, Policy Planning 

Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 

Ankara 

2000 Senior Course Member, NATO Defense 

College, Rome 

2000 – 2004 Counsellor, Permanent Mission of 

Turkey to NATO, Brussels 

2004 – 2006 Head of Department at the Policy 

Planning Division, 


2006 – 2010 First Counsellor, Permanent Mission of 

Turkey to the United Nations, 

New-York 

2010 – 2013 Minister Counsellor, Deputy Director 

General of the Policy Planning Division, 


2013 – 2014 Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs, Ankara 

2014 – 2017 Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey 

to Georgia 

01.12.2017 Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey 

to the Kingdom of Belgium 

22

23

H.E. ABDUJABAR ABDUVAKHITOV 

DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER 

OF UZBEKISTAN 

THE FUTURE PARTNERSHIP 

OF CENTRAL ASIA 

WITH EUROPE: 

A VIEW FROM UZBEKISTAN 

EGMONT 

The Royal Institute for International Relations. 

The last 1.5 years were very rich in political and socioeconomic 

news in Uzbekistan. People feel that they are 

standing on the threshold of great changes, they want to 

be a part of vast transformations and development, and are 

committed to create a modern, democratic and fair society 

where the main principle is simple and clear: “The human 

interests come first”. 

and accessible to the people would be the main goal of the 

Strategy. The key idea is that “the people must not serve the 

government bodies, but rather the government bodies must 

serve the people”. 

24 

After a smooth transit of power and conducting 

unprecedentedly open and transparent presidential 

elections, we have initiated a Strategy of Development of 

Uzbekistan, which was adopted as a result of extended 

public deliberations and learning the best international 

practices. While developing it, we tried to be introspective, 

not only to assess our strengths and capabilities but also 

to pay close attention to our miscalculations and mistakes 

in the past. The People’s Reception Centres under 

the President’s office as well as the President’s Virtual 

Reception, which received more than 1.5 million complaints 

and proposals from the population, helped to achieve these 

goals. 

The study of people’s appeals revealed that most of the 

problems, starting from domestic issues to socio-political 

matters, arose from the lack of proper understanding 

and cooperation between the authorities and citizens. 

That is why the President of Uzbekistan, Mr. Mirziyoyev, 

declared that making the Government more accountable 

H.E. Abdujabar Abduvakhitov

H.E. Dilyor Khakimov - Ambassador of Uzbekistan and H.E. Abdujabar Abduvakhitov - Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan 

We started to engage closely with the most prominent 

international organizations on promoting human rights and 

civil liberties, advancing democratic values and the rule of 

law. For the first time in decades UN High Representative 

on human rights, Mr. Al Hussain, and United Nations 

Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Mr. 

Ahmed Shaheed, Representatives of “Human Rights Watch” 

visited Uzbekistan and adopted a joint plan of actions with 

the governmental bodies on improving the human rights in 

Uzbekistan. We are closely working with the International 

Labor Organization on eradicating child and forced labor in 

the country. We invited the activists of “Cotton Campaign” 

who were the most vocal on these problems, we asked their 

advice on how to cope with these archaic approaches on 

cotton picking and marketing. 

At least 17 thousand people were removed from the 

Government’s “extremists watchlist”. The Government 

has embarked on a programme of reintegration into the 

community of those citizens who were stigmatized or 

ostracized through alleged religious extremism. Prisons 

have adopted a similar rehabilitative approach towards their 

inmates. Parliament and the citizens were given the power 

to supervise the activities of all law enforcement agencies 

in terms of protection of human rights and freedoms. Laws 

were amended to make Judiciary’s independence genuine. 

If you ask what is the single most eye-popping change that 

happened over the span of one year in Uzbekistan, I would 

say it is the awakening of media and stirring up of civil 

society due to increased freedom of speech. The irony is 

that, now Uzbek journalists criticize governmental bodies 

much harsher and more often than their colleagues from 

the Western Media do. Initially though people were kind of 

reluctant to speak openly to media because of self-censure, 

but later on people started to realize the power of speech. 

At the same time governmental officials are seen more 

often on TV. For example, Foreign Minister Abdulaziz 

Kamilov gave 3 press conferences, two of them on Live TV, 

6 briefings and over 30 interviews to local and international 

correspondents. 

I can confidently say that the changes in Uzbekistan are 

irreversible. I personally see optimism in the faces of the 

people of Uzbekistan who sincerely value the achievements 

and lively engaging and contributing to modernizing the 

country. 

Of course, many challenges lie ahead on the course of 

implementing the Strategy, overcoming pressing problems, 

achieving targets and utilizing colossal potential of the 

country. But these obstacles must neither be underestimated 

nor allowed to overwhelm the endeavor. 

25

One of the most important areas of reform is a liberalization 

of the economic system of Uzbekistan and the creation of 

a favorable investment climate. Uzbekistan ensured free 

convertibility of its national currency in September 2017. 

Simultaneously, we are overhauling our financial sector, 

fighting against bureaucracy in the banking system, red tape 

and corruption, selective enforcement of regulations. 

The Ombudsman on protecting the rights of businesses was 

created recently. The taxes on businesses were reduced, the 

access to credits and loans were eased. New free economic 

zones with large scale benefits to foreign investors were 

created. The cooperation with international financial 

institutes is intensifying day by day. 

Uzbekistan will continue engaging with World Bank, EBRD, 

European Investment Bank, ADB and Asian Infrastructure 

Investment Bank in order to carry out projects on energy, 

transport, agriculture, housing, supporting small business 

and private entrepreneurship. 

We are also looking forward to advancing cooperation 

with IMF and other Western financial institutions in order 

to improve investment in business climate, enhancing 

monetary regulations, banking and financial systems. 

Diversifying international trade, economic, investment and 

technological links, attracting international investment, 

increasing the export of local goods and services to foreign 

markets remain some of the most important tasks of our 

foreign policy. 

For these purposes we intend to enhance cooperation 

with relevant international structures in order to acquire 

sovereign credit ratings, increase the position of Uzbekistan 

on various international rankings and indexes. We plan 

to organize a major International Investment Forum in 

Tashkent in 2018. 

We are looking forward to establishing close interaction 

with ranking agencies and projects such as “Economist 

Intelligence Unit”, “Doing business”, “World Justice Project” 

and other organizations to insure objective assessment of 

ongoing reforms within the country and get their advises on 

how to improve our positions on different rankings. 

In our foreign policy, we were able to achieve a 

breakthrough in developing cooperation with a number 

of our partners and international organizations, resolving 

decades-long regional problems, improving regional trade 

and economic links, advancing people to people contacts, 

protecting the rights of our citizens living abroad. 

For the last 1.5 years there were more than 20 presidential 

level visits, about 60 meetings with the heads of countries and 

international organizations. They resulted in signing more 

than 230 agreements and 200 contracts for the amount of $60 

billion. To implement those accords more that 40 roadmaps 

were adopted, including one with the EU. Uzbekistan’s 

chief foreign policy priority is to advance the atmosphere of 

peace and good-neighborliness with the countries of Central 

Asia. We have to maintain and strengthen the dynamics of 

cooperation, which we achieved in 2017. 

Nowadays we are witnessing a totally new political 

environment in the region thanks to a successful 

implementation of the principle “Central Asia - main 

priority”. We were able to resolve most of the issues – 

water and energy, border, security, trade, communications. 

The signing of a border agreement with Kyrgyzstan 

profoundly contributed to the regional security of Central 

Asia. Establishing a visa-free regime with Tajikistan and 

opening direct air flights between Tashkent and Dushanbe 

opened new opportunities for advancing regional trade and 

economic cooperation. With Turkmenistan we launched 

several communications and energy projects which would 

benefit the whole of Central and South Asia. 

Joint efforts of Uzbekistan and other countries of Central 

Asia are bearing fruits: trade turnover among countries 

is increasing substantially, cross-border partnership is 

intensifying, road connectivity, railroad and air links 

are improving. Most importantly - mutual trust and 

understanding, the links of friendship between the nations 

are strengthening. 

I am confident that all these efforts will turn Central 

Asia into a zone of stability, sustainable development and 

friendly cooperation. 

26 

We are planning to ease the visa system for foreign 

investors, skilled specialists and tourists. We continue 

to undertake comprehensive measures to strengthen the 

protection of rights and interests of Uzbek citizens living 

abroad. 

Of course, when we speak of Central Asia we should not 

forget that Afghanistan is also attached to the region 

historically, geographically and politically. It is our 

neighbor, on the most important component of the regional 

security system.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, View of Sher Dor Madrasah through the carved wooden door of Registan - landmark of Samarkand. 


It is pertinent to say that a stable and prosperous 

Afghanistan is a must for the regional security of Central 

Asia. Achieving peace in Afghanistan mainly depends 

on economic development, so regional countries should 

actively contribute in this process. 

That is why Uzbekistan stepped up bilateral cooperation 

with Afghanistan and for the first time joined multilateral 

endeavors on reaching Afghan accord. We established the 

position of Special Representative in Afghanistan. 

When it comes to Uzbekistan’s current approach towards 

Afghanistan, it is pertinent to mention the following: 

First, the ongoing war in Afghanistan time and again 

proves that there is no military solution to this crisis. 

The only way to peace is through dialogue between the 

Kabul Administration and Taliban. The peace process 

should be Afghan led, in Afghan territory and without 

any precondition. Any differences should be the topics for 

negotiations. 

Second, since the Afghan crisis has gained regional and 

international dimensions, and the structure and content 

of the war has changed, it is important that global 

and regional powers reach certain understandings on 

Afghanistan. So, besides intra-Afghan consensus, there 

should be broader agreement on regional and international 

levels. 

Third, one of the most important conditions for Afghan 

peace is reaching economic sustainability, self-sufficiency 

and integration to regional economic and transport 

infrastructures. Afghanistan should be seen as a part of the 

solution for intensifying regional cooperation and not as a 

part of a problem. 

It is important to continue economic and technical 

cooperation by international donors for Afghanistan. Aid 

should not increase only when things are getting worse, 

otherwise we would be giving wrong signals to Afghan 

people. All these issues were thoroughly discussed during 

the International Tashkent conference on Afghanistan in 

March this year. Afghan President, High Representative 

Federica Mogherini, more than 20 ministers and heads of 

international organizations also attended the conference 

and reiterated their support for Afghanistan. 

For the last 1.5 years the presidents of Uzbekistan and 

Afghanistan have met six times, two meetings of IGCs were 

held, political consultations took place at the beginning of 

the year, and overall, Afghan and Uzbek delegations are 

27

28 

meeting several times a month to advance cooperation. 

Uzbek companies supply electricity, fruits, oil, fertilizers, and 

participate in implementing developmental projects. Overall 

we are keen on increasing the level of trade turnover from 

current 400 millions to 1.5 billion within the next few years. 

One of the major agreements, we recently reached, is MoU 

in building rail road, automobile road and electricity line 

on the “Mazari-Sharinf – Shberghan – Maymane – Heart” 

route. This will not only contribute to the development of 

Afghanistan but also increase its role as a regional trade hub. 

The new development in relation with Afghanistan is that 

we agreed to educate Afghan specialists. Only last year we 

have received more than 100 Afghan girls and boys, and we 

have built a special college for them. We plan to increase 

the number of students to 300. They are pursuing degrees 

in various fields, including Uzbek language and literature, 

restoration of cultural and historical buildings, maintaining 

rail roads and operating trains. In this regard we would be 

glad to cooperate with our European partners. 

We are committed to continue engaging with Afghanistan, 

participate in international efforts on finding a lasting 

solution to the Afghan conflict. 

Recent developments in the region proved that the Central 

Asian states are capable of addressing and resolving their 

own problems. What is more, they are capable of reaching 

agreement of most sensitive issues, including that of 

managing water resources, demarcation and limitation of 

our national borders, transportation, communications on 

how to manage our energy resources, and how to develop 

our region in such a way that it becomes a prosperous and 

peaceful region. 

The region has been attracting more and more attention, and 

Central Asia is strategically important due to a number of 

circumstances. Here I need to mention the politics of major 

players and our immediate neighbours Russia, China, India, 

Pakistan, and the permanent challenge that stems from 

Afghanistan. Let us not forget about the human, natural and 

energy resources of the region, and what is more, this region 

is a space where transport, communications and interests of 

different forces meet and mingle. 

For us, it is important that the EU attributes strategic 

significance to, and wishes to establish a strong, long-term 

partnership with Central Asia with a view to ensuring 

peaceful, flourishing, sustainable and stable socio-economic 

development in the region, in accordance with the EU 

Global Strategy and the UN Sustainable Development 

Goals. In our view, the key areas for cooperation with 

European countries should include economic cooperation, 

namely trade, investment and financial cooperation, as well 

as high technology transfer, links in the fields of science, 

technology, education, the environment, tourism, healthcare 

and culture, and – importantly – the strengthening of 

regional security. 

Uzbekistan considers the review process that has been 

started concerning the Strategy for a New Partnership 

of the EU and Central Asia to be a positive step and 

supports the EU's intention to prepare a new Strategy for 

the region by the end of 2019 with the involvement of the 

Central Asian countries. In our opinion, the Strategy has 

contributed to increased mutual understanding and respect, 

the consideration of Uzbekistan's specific needs in the 

framework of assistance projects, including concerning rural 

development, improving the population's living conditions 

and raising agricultural productivity, etc. 

In this connection, I would like to set out Uzbekistan's 

vision for the effectiveness of the EU Strategy for Central 

Asia: 

1. We share the EU's view that the depth of cooperation 

between the EU and the parties in our region has to depend 

on the intentions and needs of the individual countries 

in the region, and must take full account of differences in 

socio-economic development. 

We believe that delivery of the Strategy should take into 

account the interests of both the EU and Central Asian 

countries, bearing in mind their respective levels of political, 

socio-economic and social development. 

Taking a differentiated approach to cooperation with 

the countries of the region will enable the EU to gain a 

deeper awareness of the specific features of each State's 

development model, and will also enable it to maintain 

a balanced and objective approach when assessing 

developments there. 

2. For Uzbekistan, it is important that the EU's initiatives 

concord with the fundamental provisions of the Republic 

of Uzbekistan's Action Strategy for five priority areas for 

development for 2017-2021, which should form the basis for 

political dialogue and cooperation between Uzbekistan and 

the EU in the economic sphere and in the field of technical 

assistance.

I would like to point out that this Action Strategy envisages 

radically enhancing the effectiveness of the carried out 

reforms, establishing the conditions for the comprehensive 

and rapid development of the State and society, and the 

implementation of priority areas for the modernization of 

the country and liberalization in all areas. 

3. Despite efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the 

Strategy, there are still some specific issues impeding the 

full accomplishment of the objectives which it lays down. In 

particular, effective implementation of the Strategy does not 

appear to be possible without strengthening the economic, 

and specifically the investment component. In the first 

place, this means liberalizing access to the EU market for 

Central Asian countries and actively attracting European 

investment and technology transfer to modernize and 

develop our countries' economies. 

In this connection, one of the objectives of the EU Strategy 

for Central Asia should be the comprehensive deepening 

and expansion of Uzbekistan's relations with the EU and its 

Member States, primarily in the fields of trade, economics 

and investment, and in the financial-technical sphere. 

It is essential to include the following issues in the Strategy: 

modernization and technical re-equipment of branches 

of industry, establishment of new manufacturing facilities 

etc. In particular, this would mean the creation of joint 

manufacturing and technological alliances in sectors such 

as energy, mechanical engineering, chemicals and petrochemicals, 

electronics, pharmaceuticals, production of 

building materials, the textile industry and information and 

communications technologies, among others. 

Barbara Dietrich and H.E. Abdujabar Abduvakhitov 

Erasmus Mundus and, since 2014, under Erasmus Plus. 

Over the past 20 years, together with the EU, our country 

has implemented more than 80 projects, with a total value 

of more than EUR 32.2 million, involving 55 educational 

institutions in Uzbekistan and more than 150 higher 

education institutions in 10 partner countries and 22 EU 

Member States. 

Twenty projects are currently running, involving 42 higher 

education institutions: 16 in Tashkent, and 26 in 10 of the 

provinces of our country and in Karakalpakstan. They are 

focused on the development of a range of new master's 

degrees, including in highway construction and transport 

engineering, the development of innovative activities by 

higher education institutions, foreign language teaching, IT, 

etc. 

4. We see great opportunities in a cooperation with the 

EU in the fields of transition to greater democracy, the 

rule of law, the creation of civil society and the protection 

of human rights and freedoms. Uzbekistan's five-year 

development strategy envisages further strengthening the 

role of Parliament and political parties, firmly establishing 

the rule of law and a genuinely independent judiciary, 

reinforcing public authorities' liability and increasing the 

transparency and accountability of their action, and other 

fundamental social reforms. 

5. Uzbekistan is ready to support concrete EU proposals 

for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation 

in the sphere of education and training. We are in favour 

of continuing to work together under the EU educational 

programmes, operating previously under Tempus and 

The relevant ministries and departments in Uzbekistan 

are studying the list of priorities for the period 2018-2020 

drawn up by the European Commission concerning the 

review of national priorities as regards activities under the 

EU Erasmus Plus programme for capacity-building in the 

area of higher education. 

We are also ready to participate in the new EU Horizon 

2020 programme for scientific research and technological 

innovation, which has an overall budget of EUR 78 billion. 

We believe that Uzbekistan and the EU have significant 

untapped potential, in particular in the political, economic 

and investment areas. These sectors are especially important 

to support the overall processes of modernisation and 

reform that are ongoing in our country. 

29

H.E. DILYOR KHAKIMOV 

AMBASSADOR OF UZBEKISTAN 


30 

What potential does Uzbekistan have for Tourism; 

what special attributes should make it appealing for 

tourists? 

Uzbekistan has a rich history that dates back Millennia. 

As archeologists witness that it is one of the most ancient 

places inhabited by humans and goes back 1 million years. 

Just during the last 50 years, scientists have detected several 

settlements of people of the Stone Age. 

Located in the core of the Great Silk Road, at the crossroad 

of people migration and commercial routes, Uzbekistan was a 

cradle of original cultures born as a result of contacts between 

the settled and nomadic people. All main world religions 

and cults developed here like nowhere else: Zoroastrianism, 

Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 

Uzbekistan, where there are many ancient and beautiful 

architectural monuments of history and culture, attracts 

tourists from all over the world. Currently, there are 

more than 7.3 thousand objects of cultural heritage in 

Uzbekistan, including more than 4.2 thousand objects 

of archaeological and more than 2 thousand objects of 

architectural heritage. More than 500 of them are included 

in tourist routes. Eight protected territories, three national 

nature parks, six state natural monuments and eleven 

reserves are also of great tourism potential. The whole 

world knows the historical cities of Uzbekistan such as 

Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shakhrisabz, Termez as the 

pearls of the Great Silk Road. 

As live memory of nations, laid this unique road 

connected East and West, can serve ancient Uzbek cities 

like Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shakhrisabz, Termez, 

Tashkent with their architectural monuments, that 

personifies the centuries old history of the Great Silk Road. 

Is the tourism potential of Uzbekistan still 

untapped? How do you plan to help it meet its 

potential? 

I would like to emphasize that Uzbekistan as a unique 

country on whose territory the most ancient civilizations 

and cultures emerged and developed has a huge tourist 

potential, which may compete with the best travel 

destinations around the world. 

Today there are more than 7 thousand unique historical 

monuments and majestic examples of unique architecture 

in the country. The pearl of the rich and diverse nature 

of the country are its picturesque reserves and national 

parks. The country has carefully preserved and developed 

a centuries-old traditions of national culture, art and 

handicraft. The symbol of oriental hospitality is widely 

known in the world, as are its national cuisine and culinary 

traditions. 

Our main task today is to increase foreign public awareness 

about our touristic potential. First we are going to launch 

big active promotion campaigns with the assistance of 

the most popular broadcasting companies such as BBC, 

Euronews, CNN, Discovery and many others. 

In addition, we are working on promoting of the 

Uzbekistan destination brand on social media such as 

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and others. We now 

have our own pages uzbekistan.travel in all these social 

networks. 

Moreover, Uzbekistan always participates with its national 

stand in such well-known touristic fairs as FITUR in 

Madrid, ITB in Berlin, MITT in Moscow, JATA in Japan, 

Top Resa in France and WTM in London. 

The other way to make Uzbekistan a popular destination is 

to organize familiarization trips for media representatives. 

Only in the first four months of 2018 representatives of 

more than 20 countries (China, Belgium, Great Britain, 

France, Germany, Austria, Russia, Azerbaijan, South Korea, 

Japan, Singapore and others) visited our country in order to 

prepare publications about the beauty of Uzbekistan. 

With our embassies and consulates abroad, we organize 

different events demonstrating history, culture, traditions, 

life style and national cuisine of Uzbek people. 

All of this is only a small part of what we do for the 

promotion of our country.

H.E. Dilyor Khakimov - Ambassador of Uzbekistan, Barbara Dietrich and H.E. Abdujabar Abduvakhitov - Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan 

How many tourists are currently visiting 

Uzbekistan per year? Are you seeing any growth? 

Last year. 2.790.000 tourists visited our country, with 

a growth of 32.7 percent. During the first 4 months of 

2018 the number of tourists reached 1.6 million people as 

opposed to 860.000 people for the same period of 2017. 

That pertains a growth of 86 percent. 

What is being done on the government side to 

support growth of the sector and provide enabling 

infrastructure? 

For the organization of effective work, first of all, it is 

necessary to create a legal framework and an institutional 

framework. In this regard, a number of normative 

documents have been adopted in the sphere of tourism, 

according to which: 

particular, provision is made for financial assistance 

(grants) from the off-budget Fund for the Support of the 

Tourism Sector to print media, bloggers, photographers, 

researchers involved in the coverage of events and 

propaganda within the framework of domestic tourism. 

c) The attitude to internal tourism has radically changed. 

We accepted the National Tourism Development Program 

"Make a Trip around Uzbekistan!" which is actively being 

implemented. We consider that it contributes not only 

to the growth of the flow of local tourists, but also to 

the development of domestic tourism as one of the most 

important factors in the sustainable social and economic 

development of the regions, familiarizing citizens with 

the cultural and historical heritage and natural resources 

of the country. 

a) The organizational basis of the Committee itself has been 

improved. The structure and functions of the committee 

are brought into conformity with the standards of the 

countries developed in the tourism context, which 

contributes to the enhancement of the effectiveness of 

the state policy in the field of tourism; 

b) Expanded cooperation not only with traditional partners, 

but also with other subjects of the tourist market. In 

d) A comprehensive program of promotion of the national 

tourism potential has been developed and is being 

implemented, including the introduction of the Tourism 

Brand Ambassador of Uzbekistan in foreign countries 

and the development of a separate advertising and 

propaganda campaign for each outbound tourism market 

(country/region) based on special "Road maps", etc. 

31

Uzbekistan, Tashkent, National bank of foreign economic activities, affairs of Uzbekistan, the Intercontinental Tashkent hotel 


Our government is also striving to improve and optimize the 

visa system and visa procedures, the registration system, and 

the development of the air transportation system. 

As I mentioned previously, we offer a number of preferences 

and privileges for investors who want to invest in 

infrastructure, including the construction of hotel complexes, 

tourist clusters, shopping and entertainment centers, logistics 

and other facilities in the Republic of Uzbekistan. 

PREFERENCES AND CONCESSIONS FOR 

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT 

PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN 

Sub-section 15, Art. 208 of the Tax Code of the Republic 

of Uzbekistan: turnover of realization of tourism and 

excursion services are exempt from a value added tax. 

Sub-section 4, second part of Art 282 of the Tax 

Code: recreational land treat the land plots, which 

are not subject to the taxation, - the lands provided to 

the relevant institutions and the organizations for the 

organization of mass rest and tourism of the population. 

According to the Decree of the President of the 

Republic of Uzbekistan from 12/2/2016 of No. UR-4861 

the following is stated: 

- Legal entities, which put into operation hotels 

and motels with at least four stars and certified in 

accordance with the established procedure are exempt 

for a period of 5 years from payment of income tax, 

a land tax and the property tax and uniform tax 

payment of legal entities. 

- Legal entities are exempt for a period of 5 years 

from customs payment (except charges for customs 

registration) for the imported equipment, the 

equipment, components, spare parts and materials, 

which are not produced in the Republic of Uzbekistan, 

for construction and reconstruction of hotels and 

motels, according to the lists approved in accordance 

with the established procedure; 

32

- For acquisition by subjects of tourism activity of the 

new vehicles intended for transportation of tourists 

with a capacity over nine people, a charge is made 

in amount of 3 percent of the cost of acquisition of 

vehicles to the Republican road fund at the Ministry of 

Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 

In order to decrease tax burden for large-scale hotel 

enterprises which used to pay generally established 

taxes, the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 

275 from 8/24/2016 "On measures for transition to 

the international system of classification of types of 

economic activity” gives the opportunity of transition to 

payment of uniform tax payment at the number of staff of 

employees up to 100 units (previously 25 units). 

According to the Decree of the President of the Republic 

of Uzbekistan of April 11, 2005 No. UP-3594 "On 

additional measures for stimulation of attraction of direct 

private foreign investments" to the enterprises attracting 

direct private foreign investments and specializing 

in rendering services (tourism: hotel and tourist 

services) in branches of economy, are exempted from 

payment of income tax of legal entities, the property 

tax, a tax on improvement and development of social 

infrastructure, uniform tax payment for microfirms and 

small enterprises and also obligatory contributions to 

Republican road fund, at following volume of direct 

private foreign investments: 

- from 300 thousand dollars to 3 million US dollars - for 

a period of 3 years; 

- over 3 million to 10 million US dollars - for a period of 

5 years; 

- over 10 million US dollars - for a period of 7 years. 


Republic of Uzbekistan from 8/16/2017 of No. UP-3217 

the following is stated: 

- implementing provision of the long-term credits (for 

up to 15 years) to business entities on construction 

of new and on modernization of the existing hotels 

and other objects of tourism infrastructure, having 

provided flexible conditions of repayment of the credit 

and interest, also taking into account capital intensity 

and seasonal load of hotels; 

- exemption till January 1, 2022: 

for hotels from payment of uniform social payment 

of the salary fund of the qualified foreign experts 

involved as administrative personnel; 

- for the income of the qualified foreign experts invited 

as administrative personnel of hotels from payment of 

an income tax 


Republic of Uzbekistan from 2/3/2018 of No. UP-5326 

"About additional organizational measures for creating 

favorable conditions for development of tourist capacity 

of the Republic of Uzbekistan” are released: 

- legal entities which primary activity is the organization 

of services of theme park, for a period of 3 years 

from the date of input by them in operation of theme 

parks - from payment of income tax of legal entities, 

a land tax and the property tax and also uniform lax 

payment; 

- theme parks, hotels and other means of placement 

for up to January 1, 2022 - from customs payment 

(except charges for customs registration) for the 

imported equipment, the equipment, raw materials, 

components and spare parts, construction and other 

materials which aren't produced in the Republic of 

Uzbekistan for building, reconstruction and equipment 

of theme parks, hotels and other means of placement 

according to the lists approved in accordance with the 

established procedure: 

- subjects of business activity in the sphere of tourism 

for up to January 1, 2022 

- from customs payment (except charges for customs 

registration) for imported on the territory of the 

Republic of Uzbekistan: 

- the vehicles of a tourist class intended for 

transportation of 8 and more people including the 

driver; 

- the equipment, mechanisms and spare parts for 

construction, reconstruction and equipment of 

ropeways, alpine skiing elevators, funiculars and other 

similar objects and constructions and also balloons, 

motor boats and TVs according to the lists approved 

in accordance with the established procedure. 

It is allowed, on an exceptional basis, to licensed tourist 

operators registered in the Republic of Karakalpakstan 

to pay customs fees in the amount of 25 percent of the 

current rate for imported vehicles of increased crosscountry 

capacity of at least 2.4 liters with installments 

33

for 5 years for organizing extreme tours with assignment 

to them of separate series of state registration number 

plates for vehicles and use exclusively on the territory of 

the Republic of Karakalpakstan. 

It is established that: 

- from January 1, 2018. the taxable base of economic 

entities rendering services for the sale of tourist 

products and / or online booking of tourist services is 

reduced by the amount of expenditures directed to the 

introduction of electronic services, including electronic 

payments, booking, acquiring and others, as well as 

specialized Internet sites and portals offering modern 

types of tourist services; 

- the taxable base of economic entities that installed 

free wireless access to the Internet (Wi-Fi) zones 

on their territory, including a single tax payment, 

is reduced by the amount of expenditures aimed 

at purchasing equipment and purchasing Internet 

traffic for the deployment of a wireless access area 

appropriate quality; 

- operators, providers and other business entities that 

have created in the public places free wireless access 

to the Internet (Wi-Fi), are given the right to install an 

advertising banner or stretching area of no more than 

18 square meters in this zone on a no-charge basis and 

without obtaining permission from the relevant state 

authorities in the field. 

In accordance with the Resolution of the President 

of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PR-3509 dated 

06.02.2018 "On measures for the development of 

inbound tourism" it was established that economic 

entities that initiated the initiative to establish indexes 

in foreign languages (English, Russian and others) for 

the purposes improving the orientation of tourists, the 

right to place on these indexes advertising information 

produced by their products (services and works), while 

the total area of information posted should be no more 

than 40 percent of the area of the index with ensuring 

compliance with legal requirements in the field of 

advertising. 

In accordance with the Resolution of the President 

of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PR-3514 dated 

07.02.2018 "On Measures to Ensure Accelerated 

Development of Domestic Tourism", an order was 

introduced from February 10, 2018 for a period of 

3 years, according to which the taxable base of the 

subjects of tourist activity is reduced by the amount 

of expenses spent on making and replicating printed 

materials (cards, brochures, booklets, etc.). souvenirs 

and packaging products (bags, school notebooks, 

stickers, covers, inscriptions on T-shirts and clothes, 

dishes) posted advertising the tourism brand of 

Uzbekistan and the site “Uzbekistan.travel”. 

Unused land plots are provided, mainly with utilities 

provided, located in districts and cities with high 

potential for tourism development, priority on the 

basis of the conclusion of the State Committee on 

Tourism to business entities and potential investors for 

the implementation of projects in the tourism sector 

(construction of hotels, guest houses, motels and other 

means of accommodation, theme parks, museums, 

galleries and others) based on 20 land plots with a total 

area of at least 20 hectares in each region. 

The taxable base is reduced by the amount of: 

up to 100 million sums - expenses of economic entities 

sent before January 1, 2020 for reconstruction, overhaul 

and construction of modem sanitary and hygienic units 

that comply with sanitary rules, norms and hygienic 

standards; up to 12 million sums - the cost of economic 

entities sent annually before January 2025 to the 

maintenance of sanitary and hygiene units (cleaning 

workers' wages, purchase of hygienic, cleaning and 

washing supplies, payment of utility expenses), objects 

of tourist infrastructure (monuments of history and 

architecture, museums, theaters, cultural centers, public 

catering establishments, service facilities, gas stations, 

temporary parking facilities, roadside infrastructure 

service areas, bazaars, markets, shops and other places 

of public congestion of people), corresponding to 

sanitary rules, norms and hygienic standards. 

Provision by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of 

Karakalpakstan, khokimiyats of the regions and the city 

of Tashkent on the basis of the conclusion of the State 

Committee for tourism development to business entities 

and potential investors who implement projects for the 

creation of modern hygiene facilities, places in relevant 

parts of cities and regions for advertising and mobile 

outlets. 

34

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35

H.E. KIM HYOUNG-ZHIN 

AMBASSADOR OF 

SOUTH KOREA 

REMARKS AT 

BOZAR EVENT 

CELEBRATING 55 YEAR 

KOREA-EU RELATIONS 

- MAY 9, 2018, BOZAR - 

Honorable MEP Helga Stevens, 

Director Paul Dujardin, 

Distinguished guests, 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

It is a great honor and privilege for me to give a remark 

at the Bozar event to celebrate the 55-year-old diplomatic 

relationship between Korea and the European Union, 

especially on Europe Day. First, I would like to extend my 

gratitude to all of you present here and in Seoul, including 

Honorable MEP Helga Stevens, Director Paul Dujardin 

of Bozar, Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and my dear 

colleague, Amb. Michael Reiterer, for making today’s event 

more meaningful. 

Agreement. Further, as strategic partners that share the 

common values of democracy, market economy, rule of law 

and human rights, 

The European Union and Korea are quasi-allies to each 

other, having nurtured a very close strategic partnership 

over the last 55 years since opening diplomatic relationship 

in 1963. The two strategic partners have been expanding 

the bilateral cooperation from the traditional political and 

economic areas to the new areas of climate change, human 

rights, international security and development assistance. 

36 

Korea is often called the best partner to the European 

Union. In fact, Korea is one of the two countries, with 

Canada, that have three key agreements with the EU in 

political, economic and security areas; that is. Framework 

Agreement, FTA and Crisis Management Participation 

H.E Kim Hyoung-Zhin

Sungimhur 

Korea and the European Union are natural partners on the 

international arena’. 

The past year has been especially meaningful in the 

relationship. President Moon sent his special envoy to 

the EU last year, for the first time as an incoming Korean 

president. The special envoy met with President Tusk and 

other EU leaders on May 19, 10 days after the election in 

Korea. President Moon himself met with President Tusk 

in Hamburg on July 8 on the occasion of the G20 summit 

meeting. The Korean Foreign Minister visited Brussels twice 

in less than 5 months. 

The European Union and Korea are working closely 

together for the Korean Peninsula issues also as witnessed 

by the Korean Foreign Minister’s first ever participation in 

Foreign Affairs Council meeting last March. The historic 

change is indeed possible on the Korean Peninsula, the last 

remnant of the Cold War in the world. The hope is high for 

establishing permanent peace in the nuclear-weapon-free 

Korean Peninsula even if there are still challenges ahead. 

Korea and the EU are working closely together for this goal. 

The European Union is also the source of inspiration to 

people in Asia on regional cooperation. 

Paul Dujardin, CEO Bozar 

Today’s event is one more example of exemplary bilateral 

cooperation between our two partners, with the two sides’ 

simultaneous events in Brussels and Seoul connected 

through the internet. Today’s theme is “Your sounds, My 

moves, Our words.” In Seoul you let us hear your sounds. 

From Brussels my moves are shown to you. In the end your 

sounds and my moves make up our words. As always, we 

are making the best of every opportunity to strengthen our 

communication. Thank you very much for your attention. 

37

EUROPE DAY AND THE 55TH 

ANNIVERSARY OF THE 

EU-KOREA RELATIONS 

YOUR SOUNDS, MY MOVES, 

OUR WORDS 

On May 9th 2018, 12:00 (GMT) 19:00 (KST) at 

BOZAR in Brussels the celebration of the 55th 

anniversary of the European Union-Republic of 

Korea relations was held. A series of performances 

and congratulatory addresses were presented, 

broadcast in real-time through an online channel 

to surpass geographical boundaries and enhance 

interconnectivity. 

38 

From Seoul, Mr Michael Reiterer, Ambassador of the 

European Union to the Republic of Korea added his 

congratulations. His speech was followed by Jasmine Choi, 

the first Korean flutist for the Vienna Symphony who played 

the anthem of South Korea and of Europe. From Brussels, 

Mr Kim Hyoung-Zhin, Ambassador of the Mission of the 

Republic of Korea addressed audiences in English and gave 

very friendly wishes to EU and North Korea. 

A few minutes later Sung-Im Her, danced a performance. 

The dancer/choreographer is well known as performer of 

C de la B, Troubleyn and NeedCompany. 

This cosmopolitan event was to welcome everyone 

regardless of his/her time-spatial area, transcending 

nationalities and artistic disciplines for a happy concord. 

On the same day at 19:00 the Korean Cultural Center 

inaugurated the exhibition with OBBA architecture studio, 

celebrating the 55th anniversary of Korea-EU relations and 

the 12th ASEM on October. 

OBBA’s major work, the Floating Island, is invited to guest 

at the Bruges Triennal. This work as well as other works are 

shown at the Korean Cultural Center in Brussels. 

Architecture exhibition: Beyond Boundaries, OBBA. 

09.05 - 02.06.18 at the Korean Cultural Center Brussels.

Barbara Dietrich, Michel Dewilde - Curator at Bruges Triennal 2018, Mr Kim Hyoung-Zhin - Ambassador of South Korea, Lee So-Jung and Kwak Sang-Joon 

(OBBA Architecture Agency - Korea) and Dr Pick Keobandith 

39

CAN WOMEN LEADERSHIP 

CHANGE THE WORLD ? 

A DISCUSSION WITH IRENE NATIVIDAD 

PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL SUMMIT OF WOMEN AND 

GLOBEWOMEN RESEARCH & EDUCATION INSTITUTE 

Is female leadership different from male 

leadership? 

Absolutely. There are always exceptions but for the most 

part, women's leadership has been described as more 

horizontal rather than vertical. Women tend to rule by 

consensus rather than top-down. They tend to welcome 

input from others and believe there is more to win through 

collaboration rather than coercion. They also create 

more diverse leadership because they are either blind to 

gender when looking for talent, or just based on their 

own experiences of the rough road to the top. A few years 

ago, we researched women CEOs in 39 countries, and we 

found that no matter which country they came from, the 

percentage of women directors and senior executives in 

women-led corporations was double that of peer companies. 

the opportunity to lead companies or countries, so the lack 

of role models feeds the presumption that women are not 

meant to be leaders. In another recent study reported in 

the New York Times, women and men were asked to draw 

the picture of a leader. All drew the picture of a man! That 

is why at the Global Summit of Women, I like to feature 

women who lead whether from government or business 

so that other women see the possibilities. I also included 

a session at the Summit this year on how we can use 

technology to showcase women who have broken barriers 

in a variety of arenas, so girls can dream of bigger roles for 

themselves. You cannot role model what you cannot see. 

Women have been accused of being risk averse, and while 

that may be so, a study of women investment managers 

showed that they are better at investment than their male 

colleagues, because they are patient and hold stocks 

longer, while men buy and sell quickly and lose revenues 

through fees with each transaction. However, women's 

portfolios tend to be smaller. Wall Street women have often 

complained that the big clients, the big portfolios are often 

given to men based on the assumption that they can handle 

the large accounts better. 

Another study was done by a Chinese professor who looked 

at companies with regulatory infractions within a 10 year 

period filed with the Securities Commission of China. He 

found that male dominated boards had more regulatory 

infractions than companies whose boards included some 

women directors. The study's recommendation: have more 

women on boards to prevent corruption! 

40 

I do not point to these studies to indicate that women are 

perfect. They are not, but they do lead differently from men. 

The problem is that there are not many who have been given 

Irene Natividad

Opening ceremony crowd 

Do you think that if we had more women as 

political and business leaders it would contribute to 

make the world a better place? 

It depends on how you define 'better'. Institutions as 

diverse as the World Bank, the IMF, Goldman Sachs, 

and McKinsey have all pointed to the rise in GDPs of 

various economies if women were fully utilized not just at 

the bottom but also at every level of the economy. On the 

corporate side, there are over 70 reports from different 

countries indicating a strong correlation between more 

women in senior roles as executives and board directors 

with a company's better financial performance. Given this 

myriad research indicating the positive results that accrue 

from advancing women's economic opportunities, the 

question then is why are women still begging to be allowed 

IN? Or to put it another way as one frustrated female 

executive said at a recent roundtable I organized: "Don't 

companies want to make more money?" The same can be 

asked of countries. 

What holds women back are long-held cultural assumptions 

as to what they can or cannot do that influence companies 

and countries to not fully utilize the talent pool that women 

represent. Right now, in many countries of the world, 

women are the majority of college graduates but they tend 

to be under-employed in jobs that do not match their skills 

and education. The presumption that family and house 

chores are predominantly women's role in society still 

permeates cultural thinking even in developed economies. 

These stereotypes continue to undercut their claim to 

leadership in the workplace. 

What are the objectives of the Global Summit of 

women? Is it a "women only" version of the Davos 

summit or do you also actively seek to promote 

a better representation of women in leadership 

positions? 

Well, from the beginning, we wanted to find a way to speed 

up, to accelerate women's economic progress by sharing 

what works in terms of government policy or corporate 

programs or entrepreneurial experiences that can jumpstart 

other women so they do not have to start from zero. So 

our focus on best practices and on practical strategies as 

opposed to continually focusing on the challenges women 

face in the economic sphere permeates the Program. 

Basically, what did you do in your country or your business 

that I can bring to mine? That is the predominant 

question. 

41

I also wanted women to be part of something 'global' and 

to understand it in a real way through the women they 

meet. The Summit team works very hard to ensure that 

delegations from as many countries as possible are able 

to be part of this global gathering. It would have been 

easier for us (and less costly) to hold the Summit in the 

same place year in and year out, but we move it from 

continent to continent to enable more women in a region 

to access this forum. At the last Summit in Sydney, I was 

delighted that for the first time we had participation from 

Pacific Island nations, who have not been able to be part 

of this global gathering before because of the distance and 

limited resources. I love the fact that we had women from 

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Laos, South Africa, Mexico, 

Chile, France, Kosovo just to name a few of the countries 

represented. 

I did not coin the phrase 'the Davos for Women' to describe 

the Summit – participants did. The Summit aims to be 

inclusive rather than exclusive. We do not use price point 

as a filter to exclude participants who could not afford the 

registration fees. We also bring together the three legs of 

society needed to create change for women – government, 

business and nonprofit organizations – in one forum rather 

than separating them as in many international conferences. 

In the end, we are all just women facing the very same issues. 

Do you see the new generation of women (you 

had a conference about millennials during the 

last summit) as more likely to seek and obtain 

leadership roles? 

I am hoping that the next generation will push the envelope 

even further and arrive at that level playing field for 

women we all aspire to even faster than their mothers. 

Research shows that millennials have a predisposition to 

entrepreneurship, which I totally applaud because when 

a woman owns her business, she is in charge. Right now, 

women comprise 30% of small business owners and that 

number is growing. This is great since small businesses are 

the foundation of every economy in the world, and women 

are the growth sector in it! At the Summit in Sydney, I had 

invited three outstanding Australian millennials who already 

had thriving businesses in their twenties. Moreover, they 

were smart, articulate, poised and self-confident. Two owned 

tech-based enterprises and that is where more women need 

to go in the future so women are not left out of the jobs of 

the future. While I was listening to them speak on stage, I 

felt like a proud mother showing off her talented children. 

What these women were able to achieve at such a young age 

blew me away and made me feel hopeful about the future. 

To enable young women to be exposed to the women CEOs, 

Ministers and executives at the Summit, we allow 20 top 

women university students to attend the conference for free 

each year. Furthermore, there's a Youth Forum, to which we 

had invited 200 university students in Sydney to hear from 

the three millennial entrepreneurs I mentioned previously. 

Summit participants also bring daughters, sisters and sons 

to the Summit, and I revel in that kind of joint participation 

that enables two levels of Summit experiences to be shared. 

PRESIDENT, GLOBAL SUMMIT OF WOMEN CHAIR, CORPORATE 

WOMEN DIRECTORS INTERNATIONAL 

Irene Natividad, a recognized leader for women in the 

United States and throughout the world, is Chair of 

the GlobeWomen Research and Education Institute, 

President of the Global Summit of Women, an annual 

international gathering of women leaders from around 

the world on business/economic issues, and Chair of 

Corporate Women Directors International (CWDI), 

which promotes the increased participation of women 

on corporate boards globally. Based in Washington, 

D.C., Ms. Natividad is the force behind the 27-year old 

Global Summit of Women, informally called “The Davos 

for Women” by past participants for the caliber of its 

attendees and presenters, as well as its mix of business 

and government leaders. As CWDI Chair, she has 

produced 26 reports in 19 years on women directors 

in different countries, regions, and industries and has 

convened women board directors and executives to 

“ring the opening bell” at 17 Stock Exchanges based 

in different countries to date — a business tradition in 

which she feels women must be seen. 

42

H.E. JUSTIN BROWN, 

AMBASSADOR OF AUSTRALIA 

AND MRS TRISH BERGIN, 

FIRST ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE OFFICE 

FOR WOMEN IN THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT 

DEPARTMENT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET 

One of the leading economies in the Asia-Pacific 

region and the 12th largest economy in the world, 

Australia enjoys spectacular landscapes and is 

rich in natural resources. The country has a stable 

government, open market and skilled workforce. It 

makes a compelling destination for doing business. 

Home to some of the world’s largest companies, the 

economy is firmly planted as a hub to the fastest 

growing region in the world – the Indo-Pacific. 

We are pleased to welcome in Diplomatic Word 

his excellency Mr. Justin Brown who details his 

priorities as Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, 

the EU and NATO. 

TAKING FORWARD AUSTRALIA’S LINKS 

WITH EUROPE 

“I have returned to Brussels after almost twenty years 

since I was last posted here as deputy in our mission to the 

EU, Belgium and Luxembourg. In the intervening period, 

Australia’s links with Europe – including with Belgium – 

have made substantial progress across the board. Our twoway 

trade, investment and tourism has expanded. People to 

people links are vibrant, including in education, research 

and innovation. Contemporary Australia has developed a 

robust and dynamic presence in our region, including through 

a network of ambitious free trade agreements, but we do 

not see this as in any way diminishing our links to Europe, 

which remain firmly embedded in our shared values and 

interests. My objectives for my time in Brussels reflect these 

foundations. First, we need to work together to safeguard and 

strengthen the rules-based global order. Australia and Europe 

have been partners in the development of the framework of 

rules and international law that have served us well over the 

past 70 years. 

But we cannot take it for granted that our progress in the 

past will guarantee our future. We need to revitalise the 

multilateral system so that it is well-equipped to accommodate 

the extraordinary changes underway in the international 

economic and political landscape. The Australia-EU 

Framework Agreement – signed last year – is a vehicle for 

charting the future of our bilateral cooperation and for 

developing and implementing concrete projects and activities 

that will advance our shared goals. Second, we need to 

underwrite the future prosperity of our people. On 22 May, 

the EU member states agreed to a mandate for Australia- 

EU free trade negotiations (FTA). Australia has ten FTAs 

in place, including with China, Japan, ROK, the US and 

ASEAN. These agreements are aimed at positioning Australia 

43

to participate in the extraordinarily strong economic growth 

in our region. An Australia-EU FTA would deliver another 

significant economic anchor for the EU in the Asia-Pacific 

region. If we are successful, the EU and Australia will benefit 

from more open markets, which in turn will promote growth 

and job creation. 

Third, Australia is committed to playing its part to defend 

global security and stability. Australia is a key contributor to 

the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and 

we are an Enhanced Opportunities Partner with the Alliance. 

With NATO, the EU, and its member states, we work together 

to address shared security challenges, including on defence 

capacity building, crisis management and Women Peace and 

Security. 

Finally, I want to see our close and warm relations with 

Belgium and Luxembourg continue to flourish. We share 

similar approaches to many international issues and our 

economic and political links are vibrant. We share long 

historical and cultural ties, not least in Belgium where over 

12,000 Australians died in Flanders during the First World 

War, but the success of our economies – and our relationship 

owes much to the resilience and dynamism of our people. 

I want to do what I can to support and encourage our 

people, our firms and other organisations to build on these 

foundations.” 

AUSTRALIA’S MILITARY COMMEMORATIONS – 

THE ANZAC TRADITION 

“One of the highest priorities in the first weeks 

after my arrival was to participate in the Anzac Day 

commemorations in western Flanders. Anzac Day is one of 

Australia’s most important national occasions, and it is one 

with a direct connection to Belgium. Held on 25 April, the 

day marks the anniversary of the first major military action 

fought by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps 

(ANZAC) during the First World War, at Gallipoli. Anzac 

Day is our day of national remembrance, both at home 

and abroad, for those who have served and died in military 

operations. In Westhoek, the Australian Embassy organises 

a program of commemorations in collaboration with the 

New Zealand Embassy and local communities. 

H.E. Justin Brown - Ambassador of Australia 

led Australia’s official participation in the commemorative 

events at Zonnebeke, Ieper and Comines-Warneton. 

The Minister and I joined hundreds of fellow Australians 

and others in what were very moving ceremonies, enhanced 

by the involvement of the Australian Federation Guard 

Catafalque Party and Australian Defence Force singers. 

I saw for myself the commitment of many ordinary Belgians 

to honour the Australians who died in Flanders for the 

values that we share. All Australians are deeply appreciative 

of these efforts, which have been central to the strong bonds 

between our countries and between the people of Australia 

and Belgium.” 

AUSTRALIA IS THE PROUD HOST OF THE 2018 

GLOBAL SUMMIT OF WOMEN. 

Australia 2018 Global Summit of Women is the premier 

international forum to accelerate women’s economic 

progress worldwide. The 2018 Summit will salute women’s 

achievements while continuing to explore practical 

strategies and best practices in improving women’s 

economic status, whether they are corporate initiatives, 

public policies or NGO programs. 

44 

These ceremonies have great resonance for all Australians 

as they take place on battlefields where more than 12,000 

Australian soldiers fought and gave their lives in Belgium. 

Australia’s Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Darren Chester, 

The Summit’s unique engagement of the three critical ‘legs’ 

of change – government, business and civil society – is 

reflected in its participants, presenters and partners. The 

theme of the 2018 Summit — “Women: Creating Economies

of Shared Value” — highlights the ability of women to develop 

a more inclusive economy as women advance their own 

businesses and careers. In addition, the 2018 Summit will 

inform delegates on how to access the Australian and Asia- 

Pacific market, showcase women business and government 

leaders from the region, and provide skills building sessions, 

as well as establish networks among such leaders. 

According to a Booz and Co. report, based on criteria 

including pay, education, and access to paid parental leave, 

its women have also been named “Most Empowered in the 

World”. We took this opportunity to ask Trish Bergin, 

First Assistant Secretary of the Office for Women in the 

Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister 

and Cabinet, to explain the policy of Australia in favour of 

gender equality: 

“After months of planning,” said Trish Bergin, “I knew 

the “Davos of Women” would be impressive, but I was 

still awed by the number of high-profile representatives 

who came to Sydney, Australia from over 70 countries 

for the three-day event. What an opportunity for CEOs, 

government ministers and community leaders to come 

together in the shared purpose of expanding women’s 

economic opportunities!” 

Trish Bergin 

are women. This marks the first time in Australian history 

that the highest ranks of the Australian Public Service have 

reached gender parity. 

The Australian Government is committed to advancing 

women’s representation on Government boards and 

achieving the target of women holding 50 percent of 

positions overall, and men and women each holding at least 

40 percent of positions on individual boards. Thanks to our 

BoardLinks program, which connects Australia’s leading 

women with opportunities for Australian Government 

board appointments, women held 44.5 percent of Australian 

Government board positions by December 2017. 

STATEMENT BY TRISH BERGIN ON AUSTRALIA’S 

KEY GENDER EQUALITY POLICIES AND EFFORTS 

TO PROMOTE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 

POSITIONS IN POLITICS, ADMINISTRATION, 

CULTURE AND BUSINESS. 

“Australia’s Office for Women in the Department of the 

Prime Minister and Cabinet exists to advance gender 

equality outcomes in Australia. The Office for Women 

provides leadership and supports the Government around 

its three priorities for gender equality: to strengthen 

women’s economic security, to support more women into 

leadership positions, and to ensure that women and their 

children are safe from violence. 

The Australian Government maintains a strong commitment 

to women’s empowerment and increasing women’s 

leadership as key ways of achieving gender equality. The 

Australian Public Service is tracking in the right direction 

with women comprising 43 percent of the Senior Executive 

Service. The recent appointment of Ms Liz Cosson AM CSC 

as the first female Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ 

Affairs, means 9 of Australia’s 18 Departmental Secretaries 

We also work with business to increase women’s leadership 

opportunities in the private sector, the largest employer of 

Australian women. According to research conducted by 

the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), 

women comprised a record high of 27.1 percent of 

ASX 200 directorships in March 2018. To bolster this, 

the Government has invested over $1 million in board 

scholarships for women through AICD, including specific 

initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and 

other culturally and linguistically diverse women, and 

women working in the disability sector. 

Finally, the Government provides funding to six National 

Women’s Alliances that represent almost 120 women’s 

organizations, ensuring women’s issues and a diversity 

of voices are represented in Australian Government 

decision-making and policy development. Demonstrative 

of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s 

commitment to diversity, we sponsored emerging leaders 

from Indigenous, rural, and culturally diverse communities 

to attend the Global Summit of Women.” 

Dr. Pick Keobandith 

45

H.E. KHAMKHEUANG BOUNTEUM 

AMBASSADOR OF LAOS 

LET’S PUT LAOS ON THE MAP 

Now officially known as the Lao People’s 

Democratic Republic, the country sits in the heart 

of the Indochinese peninsula of Mainland Southeast 

Asia. The former kingdom and French protectorat 

Laos became independent in 1954, a member of the 

United Nations in 1955 and is now governed in a 

unicameral parliamentary system, in the process of 

continuous building and enhancing of the people’s 

democratic regime under the leadership of the Lao 

People’s Revolutionary Party. 

A long-term strategy to engage with global partners has seen 

annual GDP growth averaging 7% since 1997 since Laos 

became a member state of the Association of Southeast 

Asian Nations (ASEAN) and this strategy for developing 

more open relationships internationally saw the first ever 

presidential visit when President Obama visited the country 

in 2016 during Laos’ chairmanship of ASEAN Summits and 

Related Summits Meetings. 2018 sees the inauguration of 

the third ever Lao Tourism Year. 

Addressing some challenges and weaknesses, the agencies 

concerned are working expansively and inclusively with 

wide participation of the people, entrepreneurs, and the 

media, to improve quality of services, upgrade standards of 

facilities and hospitality, and address all related difficulties, 

including road access to some sites. 

2018 is “Visit Laos Year”, what can you tell us 

about the program that Laos is deploying to attract 

tourists ? 

Tourism is a main strategic sector, which contributes 

substantially to the national socio-economic development. 

In 2016, there were around 4.2 million visitor arrivals to 

Laos, and the sector generated a foreign income of more 

than 800 million dollars (6% of GDP). 

46 

In order to attract more foreign visitors to the country, with 

a goal of welcoming around 5 million foreign travellers this 

year, the Government has attached great importance to 

the development of a fully fledged tourism industry with 

more efforts in making eco-tourism in line with ‘green 

tourism’, combined with the modernisation of cultural and 

historic touristic sites to be more colourful and sustainable. 

H.E. Khamkheuang Bounteum and Barbara Dietrich

Dr. Pick Keobandith, Sabrina Tacca-Pandolfo, H.E. Nathalie Sabadnaze and H.E. Khamkheuang Bounteum 

At this junction, our people’s gratitude is expressed for the 

valuable support currently provided by Luxembourg and 

Switzerland towards the training of human resources at the 

Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (Lanith) 

in Vientiane Capital. 

The listing recognised the ‘exceptional merger of traditional 

architecture and European colonial urban structures from 

the 19th and 20th Centuries.’ UNESCO praised the unique 

urban setting of Luang Prabang and noted the unique 

preservation of the site. 

Visa exemption agreements with 45 countries, including 

Mongolia, Russia, and the other 9 ASEAN countries, 

and to citizens of 4 Scandinavian countries, Denmark, 

Finland, Norway and Sweden, have been initiated by the 

Lao authorities for this whole year. This is in addition 

to bilateral visa exemption agreements concluded with 

11 countries including Mongolia, and Russia; similar 

agreements with the other 9 ASEAN member countries, 

and unilateral visa exemptions offered to ordinary passport 

holders from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland and 

Luxembourg. 

Luang Prabang has joined the UNESCO world 

heritage list in 1995. How important is this 

recognition for Laos Tourism ? 

The addition of Luang Prabang to the World Heritage was 

a wonderful recognition by UNESCO. The special nature 

of the site came as no surprise to those of us who know the 

site well. 

The site, which demonstrates an interesting fusion of two 

different cultures, has continued to draw in tourists from 

around the world. 

Of course, tourists bring with them much needed business 

for local economies but what the UNESCO listing of 

Luang Prabang really means for Laos, is the promotion 

and support of a major and unique cultural site. Tourists 

take away the stories and experiences that can only be 

found here, so our Luang Prabang is shared to communities 

across the world. We continue to thank UNESCO for 

recognising this site and remain proud that our culture has 

the opportunity to be heard across the world. 

Peace and stability in the country, combined with 

harmonious life and ownership of the local people, must 

have been among the decisive factors that have enabled the 

preservation and cultivation of both tangible and untangible 

aspects of the heritage site. Visitors and tourists coming 

47

to Luang Prabang can really enjoy both the peaceful and 

hospitable atmosphere and the uniqueness of creative arts, 

culture and tradition of its multi-ethnic people. 

Because of its historical relations with France, 

Laos is part of the Francophonie. Do you nurture 

this relation ? 

With four French-speaking diplomatic colleagues currently 

based in Brussels, we have made our modest contribution 

to enhancing friendly relationships and cooperation within 

the context of Francophonie, in order to promote the image 

of Laos and people-to-people contacts in the BENELUX 

countries. To coincide with the Visit Laos Year 2018, 

on 24th March 2018, we organised a Lao Cultural Night 

in close collaboration and with valuable support of the 

‘Représentation Permanente de l’Organisation Internationale 

de la Francophonie auprès de l’Union Européenne 

(OIF-RPUE)’, celebrating the ‘Francophonie Laotienne’. 

During the week marking the International Francophonie 

Day in Belgium, the image of the Lao national flag could be 

seen on the OIF costumes specifically tailored and dressed 

on Manneken Pis in the City of Brussels. 

We have harmoniously collaborated with members of 

the Lao diaspora in Belgium and northern France, in 

promoting Lao culture and traditions. At the end of March, 

we arranged a cultural event in which four Laotian artists 

presented Laotian folk music, and dance performances. 

This event echoed the opening remarks and expression of 

the OIF spirit of Sharing, “Partager”, by H.E. Stéphane 

Lopez, Ambassador of RPUE. The Lao artists also had an 

opportunity to share their fine performing skills with Lao 

community members and French citizens at the Carnival of 

the City of Roubaix, Northern France. 

Having the majority of Laos’ Francophone ambassadors 

and staff previously and currently accredited, we have 

participated in various conferences and meetings, to 

promote cooperation with state agencies and private entities 

of Belgium and Luxembourg. We also secured the active 

participation of two Lao Parliamentarians representing the 

National Assembly of the Lao PDR, as Member State of 

the OIF, at the 43rd Session of the Parliamentary Assembly 

of La Francophonie (APF), hosted by the Chamber of 

Deputies of Luxembourg, marking the 50th anniversary of 

APF in July 2017. 

48 

Boats on the Mekong river, Luang Prabang, Laos 

© Shutterstock

Ketsavanh in Luang Prabang 

© Toulou Panyathip 

The last three decades have seen positive and fruitful 

developments in Laos’ cooperation with the Francophone 

authorities and agencies, since its full membership 

conferred at the 4th OIF Summit held in Paris, in November 

1991. It was at this summit meeting that late President 

Kaysone Phomvihane of the Lao PDR headed the official 

delegation in conjunction with the first and ever state visit 

to France by the Lao President of the Republic. 

As well as welcoming working visits to Laos by OIF 

personalities, conferences and activities have been organised 

directly relating to improving the capacity and valorisation 

of French-teaching, learning and application. It is also worth 

highlighting the support of the OIF for the establishment 

of Renovateur weekly. This support has lead to related 

activities organised under The OIF and APEFE Belgiumsupported 

Vocational Training Program (Cambodia, 

Laos, Vietnam). There is also much technical support 

provided to Laos’ SMEs, inauguration and advancement 

of bilingual Lao-French classes in thirteen primary 

establishments in four main cities, Vientiane Capital, Luang 

Prabang, Savannakhet and Paksé, with more than 3.000 

students having enrolled in 2010. The number of students 

commencing French learning in more than 80 colleges each 

year was around 30.000, making the total of French learners 

and students in secondary schools around 500.000 in the 

school year 2016-2017. 

Recently, there has been a mission to Belgium with an aim 

to visit some francophone universities, by the Francophone 

President and Vice-President of Savannakhet University 

(SKU), which is one of the three universities in Laos, which 

incorporates the French Language Teaching Programme 

(Applied Language), and teaches around 120 students 

taking French as their First Major, and over 300 students 

taking French as their second major. Their students have 

become more and more keen to take ‘Applied French 

Language’ as more employment opportunities have been 

created for them in sectors like tourism and light industries 

in Special Economic Zones of the neighbourhood localities. 

China is investing a lot in its Silk Road project 

which combines logistic routes between Europe 

and the Eastern coast of Asia, as well as cultural 

exchanges. Can you explain the part played by 

Laos in this initiative ? 

Keeping with the theme and guiding principles of the 9th 

Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM) hosted by the Lao People’s 

49

Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) in November 2012, the 

state institutions and private entities of Laos have continued 

to build on friendship and expand partnership with 

neighbouring Asian countries and European nations for the 

benefit of peace and development. Bilateral cooperation 

with China under the 2009 Comprehensive Strategic 

Partnership of Cooperation and with various friendly 

countries have been further enhanced ever since, creating 

economic opportunities for Laos in promoting foreign direct 

investments, widening trade exchanges, and implementing 

the national development priorities which include ‘turning 

the landlocked country into a land linked, logistically 

connected nation status’. 

As connectivity in terms of physical infrastructure is a focus 

for Southeast Asian countries dealing with their European 

partners, the Lao Leaders and Authorities continue to build 

upon their initial interest in the project and support the 

One Belt One Road Initiative (BRI) taken by the Chinese 

Leader. They have engaged in the consultative forums and 

sought Laos’ membership in the Silk Road Funds and the 

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). 

The Laos-China Railway Project, inaugurated in December 

2016 and planned to be completed at the end of 2021, 

is a mega investment jointly made (30-70%) by the Lao 

governmental bodies and the Chinese relevant institutions, 

under the Belt and Road Initiative. This project, which 

has gained valuable support, and uses technology and 

equipment from China, is considered to have been 

effectuated from historical decisions and the determination 

of the Lao Government and People. 

When discussing this international connection, it is 

important to refer to the statement by His Excellency 

Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, that 

‘this railway is a bilateral strategic cooperation project, and 

will forge win-win relationships and common development 

of the two countries’. 

As confirmed by politicians, analysts and experts involved, 

the railway will bring substantial benefits to the Lao people, 

and will contribute to expanding a trade, investment and 

infrastructure network connecting Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, 

and Singapore, with China and Europe. It is our expectation 

that in the near future, Lao export products could reach the 

Port of Antwerp in Belgium by freight train, at lower costs 

of transportation, following the admirable example of the 

First ‘Silk Road’ train that arrived from China to this city in 

May 2018, within 16 days. 

50 

Waterfalls in Laos 

© Shutterstock

A farmer is harvesting lotus in the swamp, an Asian way of life. 


H.E. KHAMKHEUANG BOUNTEUM 

AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM, 

THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG, THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS AND CHIEF 

OF THE MISSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION 

Date of Birth 10 March 1957 

Place of Birth Province of Champasack, Laos 

Marital Status Married with two teenaged sons 

EDUCATION 

Primary and Secondary Education completed in 

Province of Champasak, Laos, 1979 

Bachelor of Arts in Hungarian Linguistics and 

Literature, Jozsel Attila University of Sciences, 

Szeged, Hungary, 1985 

Certificate of International Crisis Management Course, 

Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations, 

Malaysia, 1995 

Master of Arts in Foreign Affairs and Trade, Monash 

University, Australia, 1999-2000 

Diploma of Politics and Public Administration, 

National Institute of Politics and Public Administration, 

Laos, 2008 

EMPLOYMENT 

Poland Desk Officer in Department No.1, following 

recruitment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

MOFA, 1986 

Executive Officer in Department of Press, and then, 

Ministerial Cabinet, 1989-1991 

Third Secretary in Embassy of the Lao PDR, Canberra, 

Australia, 1991-1994 

Executive Officer in Department of Treaty and Law, 

1994, then Chief of Bilateral Treaty Division, and then 

Director of the same Department, 2006-2010 

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the 

Republic of Austria, and Permanent Representative 

to United Nations Office and other International 

Organizations in Vienna, 2010-2014 

WORKING EXPERIENCE 

Involved in the informal bilateral dialogue on human 

rights with Sweden 2007-2010, with Australia 

2006-2009, and with the EU 2008 

Executive management of International Law Project 

funded and supported by Finland, the EU and UNDP, 

2003-2010 

Foreign Languages: English, Hungarian. 

51

A LAO WOMAN IN AWEN 

MAY 10, 2018 IN BANGKOK, THAILAND 

A glorious day in AWEN for Chanthachone Vongsay, 

President of the Lao Business Women Association, 

who after her participation in The Global Summit 

of Women in Sydney, Australia went to celebrate 

the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs 2018 Award 

Presentation. She spoke to me about the 10 

countries of the Association of Southeast Asian 

Nations by GDP: Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, 

Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, 

Cambodia, Laos, Brunei and told me about 

AWEN. 

WHAT IS AWEN? 

AWEN is a network of business women in the ASEAN 

region, operating to exchange knowledge, experience, 

develop and propose initiatives to promote economic and 

trade activities in order to enhance gender equality. 

Through our various activities we aim to empower and 

strengthen entrepreneurship skills for women in the ASEAN 

community and create more favourable environments for 

female-led enterprises. We wish to support and nurture 

more opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the 

region. 

52 

The group of women of AWEN 2018 with Prayut Chan-O-Cha, Prime Minister of Thailand

Chanthachone Vongsay with Prayut Chan-O-Cha, Prime Minister of Thailand 

WHEN WAS IT ESTABLISHED? 

The initiative to establish an ASEAN Women 

Entrepreneurs’ Network (AWEN) was announced by 

Vietnam at the 6th ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) 

Meeting held on 7-8 November 2007 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 

as part of its proposal to develop a cooperative programme 

between the ACW and the ASEAN Confederation of 

Women’s Organizations (ACWO) in addressing poverty. The 

initiative was warmly welcomed by ASEAN Member States. 

The inaugural AWEN Launch workshop was then launched 

in April 2014 by the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour and 

Social Affairs. 

Juan. She represents the Women’s Business Council of 

the Philippines. In March 2017, she was one of the 2017 

Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneur awardees at the Malacañan 

Palace. 

HOW DOES THE GOVERNANCE WORK? 

WILL THE AWEN EVENT ALWAYS BE HELD 

IN VIETNAM? 

In accordance with the Terms of Reference of AWEN 

(TOR), after launching the Network, the Coordination 

role is rotated amongst ASEAN Member States with 

Vietnam as the Coordinator for the first two-year term. 

Madame Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, Chairwoman of the 

Vietnam Women Entrepreneur Council (VWEC) is the 

Chairwoman of AWEN for 2014 to 2016. Madame Nguyen 

Thi Tuyet Minh's successor is social entrepreneur Pacita 

Chanthachone Vongsay and Irene Natividad, president of Global 

Summit in Sydney 2018 

53

10 delegates from ASEAN and General Anantaphone Kanjanarad, Minister of social welfare and human resource of Thailand at Women Economic 

Empowerment Forum May 10th in BKK, Thailand 

KC Group board Toulou and Ketsavanh Panyathip, Kissana and Chanthachone Vongsay in Brussels, May 16th 2018 

© Vincent Garnier 

MRS. CHANTHACHONE VONGSAY 

Laos born, Vongsay spent time studying business in 

France, after which she returned to Laos to establish 

and build upon her local and international connections. 

Eight years in senior roles at Laos Beer were followed 

by a return to education, studying English Literature at 

the National University of Laos. A short period working 

in the hotel industry inspired Vongsay to start her own 

business. Today, almost twenty-five years later her varied 

business interests through her company KC Group 

include garment exporters, hotels, media, real estate as 

well as advisory roles for international and local business 

partners. 

Vongsay held the position of vice president of Lao 

Business Women’s Association between 2006-2014 

before being elected as a president in July 2014. She has 

been a member of AWEN since April 2014. Through 

her varied interests and commitments Vongsay aims to 

help and contribute towards the program and success 

of Lao Business Women, working both locally and 

internationally. 

54

LAO DELEGATES FROM THE LAO WOMEN’S 

UNION AND THE LAO BUSINESS WOMEN’S 

ASSOCIATION LED BY HON. INLAVANH 

KEOBOUNPHANH, LAO PDR, MINISTER / 

PRESIDENT, LAO WOMEN’S UNION 

Diplomatic World had the great opportunity to 

attend the 2018 global summit of women under 

the theme of creating economies of shared value 

in Sydney Australia 26-28 April 2018. 

This summit allowed us to foster a stronger collaborative 

effort with many Women Leaders from both Government 

and Business sectors, including fellow Ministers and 

Business Women from 65 countries. This was a great 

pleasure and opportunity for us to exchange our experiences 

and discuss the most effective practices in advancing 

women’s economic opportunities. 

Throughout our participation in this Summit, we have 

gradually developed a comprehensive understanding from 

various successful leaders in regards to Business and 

View of speakers at Global Summit of Women 

55

Hon. Inlavanh Keobounphanh, LAO PDR, Minister / President, Lao Women’s Union 

56 

Politics. We have learned and agreed that in order for 

women to become successful in Business, there is a need for 

women to engage more in self-development and incorporate 

a more effective and suitable methodology in operating and 

developing their business. Moreover, the improvement of 

Business Women’s networking could also be seen as one 

of the most effective strategies to strengthen their Business 

Cooperation. From this, I am so delighted to become part 

of the Summit and to realize that a number of business 

companies have placed a stronger emphasis in promoting 

gender equality as can be seen from a higher number of 

women participation in a higher position within various 

organizations. 

For us, as Asian Women, there are still a number of 

challenges that we have to encounter and there is a need for 

us to work harder than men to succeed in our professions. 

Despite the fact that there are higher quotas for women in 

political and business participation, we are still struggling in 

gaining proper acceptance and reliability from some men. 

We believe that women have equal capability as men in 

various aspects of our lives and there is a need for us to 

develop a joint responsibility in promoting gender equality. 

I am profoundly confident that all the female leaders that 

attended the Summit this year cannot achieve their success 

in Business and political position without strong support 

and encouragement from their families and colleagues. 

No matter who we are and regardless of our professions, we, 

as women, are still the first to be up in the morning and the 

last person to go to bed at night, we are capable of taking 

care of our family and maintaining our professional lives at 

the same time. I believe that this is a time for our society to 

provide women with more room for growth and to engage 

more in the continual professional development both in 

political and business aspects. 

All Lao Women’s Union members are working harder 

everyday to develop Lao human resources particularly for 

women, to support women’s business opportunities as well 

as promoting foreign relations in improving Gender Equality 

in Laos. 

All in all, what we, women, can bring to international 

Diplomacy is our ‘devotion’ to everything that we do, 

not just for ourselves, but for everyone and everything 

surrounding us.

Lao Women group (students and CEO) at Global Summit of Women 

HON. INLAVANH KEOBOUNPHANH, 

LAO PDR, MINISTER /PRESIDENT, 

LAO WOMEN’S UNION 

Dr. Keobounphanh was born on April 29, 1960 in 

Huaphanh Province. She is married with two children. 

She graduated in Medical Assistance in 1976 and has 

a Bachelor Degree of Medical Doctor in Obstetrics 

and Gynaecology at Thai Bing University of Vietnam 

in 1983. She completed Hospital Management at 

KUMAMOTO, University of Japan in 2000, and a 

Master Degree at the National Academy for Political and 

Public Administration in 2015. 

Between 1976 and 2010, she worked for 103 Military 

Hospitals with progressive roles and responsibilities; 

physician of obstetrics, chief of administration section 

and chief of personnel section respectively. Then she 

was appointed as Director of Sisattanak District Health 

Office and the Director General of Vientiane Capital 

Health Department. In between, she undertook other 

honourable roles and functions such as: President of 

HIV Control Committee in Vientiane Capital; the 

President of Community-based Health Insurance of 

Vientiane Capital; and the Vice President of Mother and 

Child and Control Outbreak Committee of Vientiane 

Capital. 

From 2010 to 2015, she was appointed as a Vice 

Minister of Health in charge of Personnel and 

Organization and later in charge of Hygiene and Health 

Promotion to oversight MDG 1, 4, 6 and 7 and Village 

Health Model. In addition, she took other honourable 

positions as Vice President of The National Committee 

for Mothers and Children, Member of the National 

Committee for Inflation, the National Committee 

Member of Rural Development and Poverty Eradication, 

and Member of the National Committee for the 

Advancement of Women, respectively. 

In 2015, she was appointed as President of Lao 

Women’s Union and Vice President of the National 

Committee for the Advancement of Women and Mother 

and Children. 

Dr. Keobounphanh speaks fluent Vietnamese, Japanese 

and some English. 

57

SOUVENIR OF NORTH KOREA: 

KIETTISACK KEOBANDITH, 

FORMER AMBASSADOR IN 

NORTH KOREA DURING 2012-2015 

Diplomatic relations between Laos (Lao PDR) and North 

Korea (DPRK) were established on June 24th 1974. Laos 

first established its diplomatic residency in North Korea 

in September 1998 and North Korea its residence in Laos 

in September 1976. In reality, Laos and North Korea had 

diplomatic relations before their national Liberations by 

the two parties: the Labor Party of North Korea in Korea 

and the Laos People’s Revolutionary party in Laos. Since 

the establishment of diplomatic relations, Laos and North 

Korea have more than 20 MOU but only political relations 

have been implemented at the level of exchange regarding 

delegations. Other sectors such as economic, social-cultural, 

educational and sport are yet to be implemented due to the 

lack of adequate funding. 

Culturally, life in North Korea and in Laos is very similar. 

Familial relations greatly inform life in the two countries 

with people often sharing similar familial relationships. 

Families live as one unit and usually consist of father, 

mother and children. The children normally leave the family 

unit when they get married. The people of North Korea 

live in peace and in unity under the leadership of the Labor 

Party of Korea. 

Portrait Kiettisack Keobandith, April 2018 

I think that diplomatic relations between North and South 

Korea should be re-established in the near future if there is 

no external interference. After the Korean war in 1950–1953 

finished, the leadership of both North and South Korea have 

met from time to time and in reality both countries have the 

Joint Venture in North Korea and also closely monitor the 

joint border. Meetings have also been held by families which 

were separated by the Korean war, these meetings have 

occurred one to two times per year. 

58 

Kiettisack Keobandith presented his credentials to H.E. Kim Yong Nam, 

President of Presidium of National Assembly of North Korea 


Director and Founder Inspiring Culture 

www.inspiringculture.com

Diplomatic Corps and representatives of the International Organisations at the opening of the Snow Sky Resort in North Korea 

National Day Party 

KIETTISAK KEOBANDITH (APRIL 10, 1949) 

After graduating from Vientiane Higher School of 

Pedagogy, Kiettisak Keobandith spent eleven years 

teaching in Vientiane. Six years at the government 

of Laos Agriculture and Forestry agency followed. 

Keobandith’s passion for protecting the unique Laotian 

landscape was combined with a passion for teaching 

during his next position spent as Deputy Director at the 

Laotian Forestry Training Center. Further roles within 

the Laotian government followed including Secretary 

for Foreign Affairs, as well as Deputy Directory of 

Research and Documentation and Director General, 

both positions in the State President’s office. His 

time at the State President’s office was spent working 

with a special focus on North Korean diplomacy, in 

preparation for his next role as Ambassador to North 

Korea. Three years (2012-2015) as Ambassador of 

Lao PDR to DPR of Korea were spent sensitively 

building and maintaining close working relationships 

with counterparts in North Korea. Upon the successful 

completion of his assignments in North Korea, 

Keobandith returned to Laos to work as Director 

General to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before 

retiring in 2017 to spend more time with his wife and 

family. 

59

BHUTAN: REVOLUTIONARY 

CONCEPT OF GROSS NATIONAL 

HAPPINESS 

Officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, the country 

which has become known for pioneering the 

concept of gross national happiness, is located 

in the Eastern Himalayas between China 

and India. Situated on the Silk Road Bhutan 

is a Buddhist country and the religion still 

informs the leadership of the country. Bhutan 

comprises of rich and varied landscapes, 

ranging from the Himalayan mountains in the 

north to subtropical plains in the south. 

60 

Is it possible to measure happiness? It is quite normal for 

the facts and figures of most countries to include indicators 

of wealth, of export and imports as well as access to 

education and leisure pursuits, it is less common however 

for a country to offer figures of happiness and for a country 

to place significant emphasis on such figures. 

Positioned between India and China, Bhutan has pursued 

ambitions to assess national levels of happiness since 1971 

and has used such figures to change or create new national 

policies in order to improve life in Bhutan. 

First conceived by Bhutan’s fourth King Jigme Singye 

Wangchuck, the philosophy of Gross National Happiness 

places happiness at a greater level than Gross Domestic 

Product and since has brought much international interest 

and attention to the country. 

How the figures of happiness are measured are 

complicated, and much discourse surrounds the ways to 

achieve the most effective and accurate parameters to 

measure happiness. 

Differing sources offer up different information with one 

site stating twenty-six variables for measuring happiness 

whilst another researcher speaks of the nine domains and 

thirty-three indicators of GNH. 

Ambitions to place a nation's happiness centre stage are 

inspirational, but when most countries figure their progress 

in purely monetary terms, how does Bhutan hope to 

communicate their strategy to the world? 

Although the King is known as the architect of the bold 

sounding strategy, the philosophy has recently found a more 

grounded realisation in the implementation of The GNH 

Assessment Tool for Business, which was initiated by Dasho 

Tshering Tobgay, the Prime Minister of Bhutan in 2015 at 

the sixth annual International Conference on GNH. It is here 

that the ambitions of the King can be seen as materialising 

and functioning on the level that many international 

businesses and diplomatic strategies may understand, that of 

promoting and pursuing sustainable business. 

The tools and parameters of assessment include such titles 

as Psychological Wellbeing, Health, Time Use, Education, 

Cultural Diversity and Resilience, Good Governance, 

Community Vitality, Ecological Diversity and Resilience 

and Living Standards. 

“While Business is important for the economy” the 

accompanying leaflet from the conference reads, “it can be 

harmful to society if the business is conducted purely for 

economic ends.”

It is here then, that Bhutan’s emphasis on measuring 

national levels of happiness, and subsequently to strive to 

achieve high and sustained levels in the growth of happiness 

rises to meet what have become key global issues, that of 

ensuring that business does not exploit national resources, 

that businesses are held accountable to the lives they 

alter and that ecological issues are placed at the centre of 

sustainable business growth. 

Bhutan, with its dreamy sounding GNH may have been far 

ahead of its time when it first announced its programme in 

1971. And as the UN and other international organisations 

continue to take on such parameters for happiness, we may 

all have Bhutan to thank for a potentially happier world to 

live in. 


Barbara Dietrich, H.E. Pema Choden and Dr. Pick Keobandith 

H.E. PEMA CHODEN 

Ambassador of Bhutan to Belgium and the European 

Union with concurrent accreditation to Sweden, 

Netherlands, Finland, Denmark and Spain. 

Royal Bhutanese Embassy 

H.E. Mrs Pema Choden studied a degree in Arts 

in Bhutan after which she worked in the Bhutanese 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Attaché. Following 

further studies in Advanced French Language Skills, she 

returned to the Ministry of Foreign affairs to take up the 

role of Assistant Director. She was seconded to be first 

secretary at the Permanent Mission of Bhutan to the 

UN in Geneva between 2000 and 2003 after which she 

was first Under Secretary and then Head of Policy and 

Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Four years 

(2007-2011) was spent as Managing Director of The 

Bhutan Broadcasting Service. Choden was then Chief of 

Europe, Americas and Africa Division of the Bilateral 

Department. She has been Ambassador of Bhutan since 

2014, her first position in Bangladesh has been followed 

by her current role in Belgium and to the European 

Union. 

61

MATTHIEU RICARD 

SPIRITUALITY 

AROUND THE WORLD 

MATTHIEU RICARD IS PROMOTING THE VIRTUES 

OF HAPPINESS FROM BHUTAN TO UAE 

I discovered Matthieu Ricard in 2003 whilst reading 

“Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life’s Most 

Important Skill”. I remember how I smiled when the 

monk talked about the revolutionary concept of Gross 

National Happiness in Bhutan. The country appeared 

to me as a sort of sunny dreamy Shanghri-La. 

62 

A few days ago, even more powerful and intriguing 

information about my favourite philosopher monk 

Matthieu Ricard surprised me. He had been recently 

invited to the “World Happiness Summit” in Dubaï. He 

used this opportunity to talk about Altruism in the Arabic 

country where the Minister of Happiness is a woman, 

Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi. 

MATTHIEU RICARD ON STAGE AT UAE 

HAPPINESS JOURNEY 

Much of the media were talking about the Happiest Man in 

the World who addressed the audience at the second edition 

of the UAE’s Happiness Journey. Ricard gave four main 

“recipes” that lead to happiness: Altruism, Compassion, 

Wisdom and Empathy. He encouraged everybody to 

meditate: “Even 20 minutes of meditation per day for a 

period of five weeks is enough to train our brain.” He added, 

“money can’t buy happiness. It can, however, bring happiness 

to both the giver and the receiver when donated.” “When 

enough individuals change themselves on purpose, we will 

head towards a happy society,” he said. “There needs to be a 

balance between social, financial and environmental wealth.” 

The Happiness Journey is inspired by the legacy of the 

UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al 

Nahyan, and highlights his values which have been adopted 

as national values. 

Later, Ricard inaugurated the first day of the World 

Government Summit 2018 by leading the audience in a 

guided meditation. He repeated again what he has been 

saying for ten years in the World Economic Forum in 

Davos. 

“Our beautiful planet is in urgent need of a strategy that 

focuses on a qualitative life that achieves sustainable 

harmony by remedying inequalities and achieving social 

justice, as well as caring economics that balances financial, 

social and environmental prosperity.” 

Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi is 

the Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing 

in the UAE Government. H.E. Al Roumi is also the 

Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office at 

the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future in the 

UAE government. Al Roumi is the Vice-President 

of the World Government Summit Organization 

that holds the World Government Summit annually 

and brings together governments leaders, policy 

makers, and private sector to explore the future of 

governments. H.E. Al Roumi is a member of the 

Higher National Committee for the Year of Giving, 

established in 2017 to lead the development of a 

comprehensive framework for the Year of Giving 

initiative.

The Budhists believe the mango tree to be holy, capable of granting wishes. 

© Luna Brusselaers 

Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk, writer and 

photographer. He has been the French interpreter for the 

Dalai Lama since 1989. He has lived in the Himalayan 

region for the last forty-five years. Born in France in 

1946, as the son of philosopher Jean-François Revel 

and artist Yahne Le Toumelin. He earned a Ph.D. in cell 

genetics at the Pasteur Institute under Nobel Laureate 

Francois Jacob. He travelled to the Himalayas in 1967 

and has studied with some of the greatest masters of 

Tibetan Buddhism. 

He lives at Shechen Monastery in Nepal. Matthieu 

Ricard donates all proceeds from his books and 

conferences, as well as much of his time to 200 

humanitarian projects in Nepal, India and Tibet which 

serve over 250,000 persons every year in the fields of 

health care, education and social service. He is also 

active for the preservation of the Himalayan cultural 

heritage. 

www.karuna-shechen.org - www.shechen.org 

63

JOURNÉES 

EMERGENCES 

8 - 9 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 8 

1 0 t h e d i t i o n 

B o z a r - B r u s s e l s 

" T A K I N G C A R E O F L I F E " 

INSPIRING 

SPEAKERS 

MINDFUL 

MOMENTS 

WORKSHOPS 

Céline Alvarez, Christophe 

André, Alexandre Jollien, Edel 

Maex, Ilios Kotsou, Matthieu 

Ricard, Frédéric Lenoir and other 

fa 

mous authors will take part in 

this anniversary edition. 

Changing yourself to change the 

world is our deepest aspiration. 

All the benefi 

ts of this event are 

donated to solidarity proj 

ects 

around the world, fr 

om Belgium 

to India and Brazil. 

Choose between fi 

ve thematic 

workshops off 

fe 

red by our 

speakers: Health, Education, 

Interdependence, Joy or Nature. 

BOOKING & INFOS: 

- 8/09/18 : SOLD OUT 

- 9/09/18 : 8h30 - 13:00 - 45 euros. 

Bozar, Ru 

e Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels 

This event will be in French. 

B O O K O N L I N E : 

J O U R N E E S E M E R G E N C E S . O R G 

64


PROUDLY ANNOUNCES 

THE LAUNCH OF 

A NEW DIGITAL PLATFORM 

DESIGNED TO BRING THE LATEST NEWS, 

INFORMATION AND TRENDS 

FROM THE GLOBAL DIPLOMATIC CORPS 

TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC 

The information will be made available on state of the art 

interactive touchscreen totems. The totems will be installed 

at strategic locations such as embassies and consulates, 

international institutions, universities and other public and 

private spaces. 

Besides content provided by Diplomatic World, the screens 

will display personalised content provided by the host. 

The project is a joint venture initiative between Diplomatic 

World and Visualys, a market leader in digital screens and 

communication networks with over 10 years of experience 

and expertise in this field. Both companies are members 

of The Anchor Group (www.anchorg.com) who made the 

match possible between both partners. 

The new generation, fully Android-operated, robust touch 

screens and the cloud-based DSMS software Visunet make 

it possible to individually manage and update personalised 

content per screen in a few clicks. 

“For Diplomatic World this innovative project is in line with 

our strategy which is to enlarge the scope of Diplomatic 

World beyond the paper magazine and to embrace 

technology to spread diplomacy, celebrate diverse cultures 

and bring messages of hope and peace,” says Barbara 

Dietrich, owner of Diplomatic World. 

The goal is to deploy a pilot of 10 screens to be installed 

at key locations by the end of 2018 and scale up the 

diplomatic network to over 100 screens in 2019. 

“We are very excited about this partnership” explains 

Yannick Kalantarian, CEO of Visualys. “The Diplomatic 

World digital platform fits perfectly in our strategy to 

develop our indoor digital communication platform”. 

“With our newest generation Android operated professional 

IPS posters and totems and our Visunet cloud based 

management systems we are able to operate the network 

remotely, both for content and maintenance.” 

Ivan Hiel, co-founder of The Anchor Group adds, 

“I am proud that our B2B network managed to bring two 

completely different companies and industries together to 

work on a common project; it encourages us to keep doing 

what we do best, building bridges between cultures and 

companies around the globe with the goal to make them 

grow. And isn’t that the ultimate goal of diplomacy.” 

For more information about the project or any digital 

advertising and communication solutions, please contact 

Yannick Kalantarian at yannick@kalantarian.eu or visit the 

Visualys website (www.visualys.eu). 

65

H.E. DR. SERGIO JARAMILLO CARO 

AMBASSADOR OF COLOMBIA 

OLGA DE AMARAL AT THE PATINOIRE 

The work of the Colombian artist Olga 

de Amaral has almost single-handedly 

opened a space for weaving in the 

contemporary art world. 

Since 1967 her textiles have travelled the world, as the long 

and distinguished list of museums and galleries where her 

work has been exhibited attests. She was, for example, the 

first Colombian woman to be honored with a Guggenheim 

Fellowship, which she received in 1973. Her long career 

both in Colombia and in Europe received the recognition it 

deserved in 2005 when she was named “Visionary Artist of 

the Year” by the New York Museum of Art and Design. 

But perhaps “textile” is not the right word to describe her 

work. In fact, what de Amaral does is build on a tradition of 

methodical and precise weaving techniques and through the 

development of her own language of color and texture, move 

textiles into a new domain. In the end, her textiles could 

be described more accurately as sculptures or paintings. Or 

perhaps the description does not matter: they are simply 

works of art. Curiously, the more abstract they appear, the 

more real and concrete they seem to us. 

De Amaral has developed at the same time – and for 

that very reason – a very personal language and a 

universal language that builds bridges between weaving 

traditions and contemporary art, as can be seen in the 

numerous exhibitions of her work in museums such as 

66 

H.E. Dr. Sergio Jaramillo Caro and Valérie Bach

Olga de Amaral 

the Metropolitan Museum of New York, the Museum of 

Modern Art in Paris or the Museum of Contemporary Art 

in Boston. 

We now have the privilege to view her textiles in Brussels at 

the La Patinoire Royale, an extraordinary space which does 

full justice to the range and depth of her work. 

Increasingly, Colombian art is seen in the leading galleries 

of Europe; names like Doris Salcedo or Oscar Muñoz have 

been household names of the contemporary art scene for 

some time now. And Bogota itself has become a major 

centre of contemporary art in the Americas. It is yet 

another merit of the Patinoire exhibition to remind us that 

that great outburst of creative energy in Colombia did not 

come out of nowhere, but rather is itself a continuation of 

the visionary work of artists such as Olga de Amaral. And 

for that, La Patinoire Royale deserves our thanks. 

La Patinoire Royale / Galerie Valérie Bach 

67

OLGA DE AMARAL’S EXHIBITION 

‘THE LIGHT OF SPIRIT’ 

ENCHANTS AND DELIGHTS 

On 25 April the Embassy of Colombia in Belgium 

and Inspiring Culture co-organized an event 

celebrating the exhibition “The spirit of Light” by 

Olga de Amaral at La Patinoire Royale in Brussels. 

Diplomatic World also attended and we are 

delighted to share some pictures and impressions. 

THE LIGHT OF SPIRIT 

The Patinoire Royale - Galerie Valérie Bach has become, 

for the length of this exhibition, a temple housing the 

Amerindian spirit and its powerful spiritual charge, in direct 

connection with the cosmos, through the timeless work of 

the Colombian artist Olga de Amaral. This unclassifiable 

artist and her creative production, whose eternal strength is 

haloed with gold - a pure, magnificent and divine material, 

comprising her means of expression – are presented here for 

her first retrospective in Belgium, and shows a selection of 

some forty exceptional works, made during the last 15 years. 

Her luminous work re-explores the textile tradition of South 

America, with direct reference to the colours, shapes, 

graphics and materials of the pre-Columbian world, using 

gold or silver leaf, as well as natural pigments such as 

indigo, amaranth, turquoise, and earth-colours, in a vast 

firework display against a backdrop of Andean music. 

Her great sensitivity, applied to a meticulous textile 

practice with an innate taste for interlace, mosaics and 

braids, makes Olga de Amaral an intermediary between the 

ancestral spirituality of the Incas and contemporary society. 

These artefacts are a poignant testimony to this immense 

civilization, which disappeared in the first half of the 16th 

century. 

68 

Pueblo J, 2011, linen, gesso, gold leaf and acrylic paint, 200 x 80 cm - Courtesy of Casa Amaral 

© Diego Amaral

Olga de Amaral at La Patinoire Royale / Galerie Valérie Bach 

The work of Olga de Amaral, characterized by a high 

degree of unity and integrity for over sixty years, is so 

much more than a simple visual manifestation, purely 

attractive, without any function other than the very 

decorative, achieved through colour and metallic sparkle. 

The work of weaving, cutting and combing textile fibres, 

sometimes freed from linen straps or organized by falling 

wire curtains, sometimes immersed in gesso, or using the 

art of gluing Japanese paper stiffened by cord, these are just 

some of many surprising techniques directly inspired by 

the ethnographic skills of Amerindian civilizations. They 

constitute the structuring axis of a timeless production, 

with the boundaries shifting between contemporary work 

and archaeological remains. 

A powerful force runs through these colours and metallic 

tones, which range from bronze to silver, from gold to 

mother of pearl, leading our imagination to focus on a 

shape raining with reflections and colour, its strength 

borrowed from Russian icons or Buddhist Stupa. The artist 

has invested these murals with a deeply spiritual, almost 

sacred perspective, which results in the subtle effect of a 

creative process similar to prayer or meditation. Each of 

Olga de Amaral’s works, in its singular originality, appears 

as the narrative of an inner journey, recounting the joys and 

sorrows, the difficulties and the epiphanies, the worries and 

the certainties of this artist who, at the height of her fame 

and international renown, continues to practice her art as a 

tireless and humble seeker. 

To contemplate a work of Olga de Amaral is to be dazzled 

by the light of a spirit. 

La Patinoire Royale / Galerie Valérie Bach 

www.prvbgallery.com 

15, rue Veydt - 1060 Bruxelles 

T +32 2 533 03 90 

info@lapatinoireroyale.com 

info@galerievaleriebach.com 

69

ARI EPSTEIN 

ANTWERP WORLD 

DIAMOND CENTRE 

The AWDC acts as the steward as well as the voice 

of the Antwerp diamond industry. 84 percent of 

all rough diamonds and 50 percent of all polished 

diamonds traded in the world pass through Antwerp 

at least once. A round-up. 

As CEO of AWDC – Antwerp World Diamond 

Centre – could you explain the importance of 

your organisation and its position in the world of 

diamonds? 

With the entire spectrum of diamond industry services 

condensed into a small location, Antwerp is really a 

bellwether for trade as a whole. We view Antwerp as the 

world’s leading trade hub, and act accordingly. That means 

we at the AWDC assume responsibility for promoting a 

sustainable, innovative and compliant diamond trade, that 

we try to steer the industry in the right direction either 

through our own initiatives, or through our support for 

organizations we believe are best in class, such as the 

Kimberley Process, the World Diamond Council, the 

Diamond Development Initiative, and so on. 

banks, the KP, NGOs, and individual traders, we need to 

make sure that the trade runs smoothly and correctly. The 

Diamond Office is housed in our building and is under 

our umbrella. This government-controlled body is where 

all diamond imports to Belgium arrive and where they are 

checked before being exported. The Diamond Office has a 

huge role to play in the compliance of our industry. They 

physically inspect every single shipment that comes through 

our doors, and issues KP certificates for the ones that leave. 

The AWDC acts as the steward as well as the voice of 

the Antwerp diamond industry. It is our task to ensure 

that all of the 1.600 diamond companies that do business 

here, whether large or small, enjoy a business climate that 

facilitates their growth. To this point, it appears we have 

achieved that, as 84 percent of all rough diamonds and 

50 percent of all polished diamonds traded in the world 

pass through Antwerp at least once. In hard figures, this 

translates into a yearly average of 225 million carats valued 

at $48 billion, making Antwerp’s diamond trade responsible 

for 5 percent of all Belgian exports and 15 percent of all 

Belgian exports outside the EU. This means diamonds are 

Belgium’s most important export product outside the EU. 

Despite these impressive figures, we take nothing for 

granted. We try to ensure that Antwerp remains the most 

favorable location to do business in our industry. Whether 

70 

this entails working together with the government, the 

Ari Epstein 

© AWDC

© AWDC 

We organize and participate in many missions and visits 

around the world, from major to emerging diamond centers. 

We maintain relationships in Russia, Canada, throughout 

Africa, China, Japan, Brazil and wherever diamonds are 

traded. We also are the focal point in the industry for 

foreign visits to Antwerp. We work to bring rough and 

polished business to the Antwerp trade – for instance, the 

three biggest new mines to start production in the last year 

are all bringing their goods to Antwerp. 

We also make great efforts to be at the forefront of positive 

changes in the industry globally. We advocate for a 

sustainable industry, and want consumers and the public at 

large to know about it, so we put a lot of energy, resources 

and talent into communicating about the industry. The 

AWDC also assumes its responsibility when it comes to 

marketing the industry as a whole. A few weekends ago, 

we hosted an innovative hackathon to bring young minds 

to bear on industry issues, we partnered with CARAT+, a 

major diamond trade fair and we saw the opening of a new 

diamond museum, a project we have assisted the City of 

Antwerp with for a long time. We held our first Antwerp 

Summer University last year, and will be organizing it again 

this year. And we are a strong partner in the European 

Union KP Chairmanship through the World Diamond 

Council (WDC), representing the industry within the KP. 

Could you share with us some key factors that will 

influence the future of the diamond business? 

The biggest factor, ultimately, is consumer confidence. How 

do we make sure consumers continue to desire and purchase 

our product? This entails myriad issues, from CSR to 

transparency to effective marketing. Our duty in this regard 

is to make sure the trade is embracing the expectations of 

21st century consumers. Is it a sustainable trade? Is it fair? 

And do people understand the good diamonds do for so 

many people in developing countries? 

The industry, as a whole, needs to continue erasing the 

causes of doubt among consumers if it wants to have a 

prosperous future. We need to stay current so the younger 

generations will still want our product in twenty years. This 

is not so obvious any more. We have come a long way in 

cleaning up our reputation and earning their trust, but we 

still need to improve and stay focused. On the other hand, 

it may be the case that the industry is sometimes judged 

unfairly. In this regard, we need to make more efforts to 

educate people about the trade. As for factors internal to 

the trade, there are many. Rising prices for rough goods 

and stagnating polished prices leave manufacturers and 

traders in the midstream with very small margins. Access 

to financing is still a major challenge, and high-profile cases 

centered around certain bad actors do not help. To this end, 

71

we need diamond companies to have clear and transparent 

accounting and trade practices, and we are working to give 

them the tools to have that. 

It is also the case that AWDC’s commitment to promoting 

the 5th C of compliance and CSR in the Antwerp trade 

sometimes left us at a short-term disadvantage compared to 

other trade centers that pay less attention to these matters. 

However, we fully believe that in the long run, implementing 

sustainable business practices is putting us in a better 

position to succeed. 

Could you share with us how process innovation and 

technology, from vertical chain point of view, both in 

mining and craftsmanship and distribution will evolve 

the diamond business in the next coming years ? 

We have already seen significant amounts of streamlining 

throughout the industry, particularly from major players as 

they harness technology to control their supply chains from 

mine to finger. This is commonly referred to as ‘track and 

trace’ technology. For example, in the last two weeks alone 

we have seen major announcements from leading industry 

organizations concerning innovations designed to bring 

greater transparency to the trade. 

The world’s largest diamond grading lab, the GIA 

(Gemologicial Institute of America), just announced the 

launch of their pilot program, together with Hong Kong/ 

China’s leading jewelry retailer, Chow Tai Fook, which will 

use blockchain technology to deliver secure, digital diamond 

grading reports to consumers for the first time. Then we 

heard that the United States’ largest diamond jewelry 

retailer Signet will be participating in De Beers’ blockchain 

pilot for tracking diamonds by providing a digital link 

from diamond production to retail. Every diamond on the 

blockchain will carry a digital certificate storing its key 

attributes and transactions, enabling consumers to know 

that a stone is natural and conflict-free. They started this 

project with the Diamond Development Initiative, an 

organization we have long supported, which advocates on 

the behalf of small-scale artisanal miners in Africa. 

Then you have one of the leading miners, Lucara Diamond 

Corp., rolling out a digital platform aiming to transform 

the way diamonds are sold. Finally, right here in our own 

back yard, we have the winner of our Hack4Diamonds 

Blockchain challenge, DiaVest, which focused on finding 

a solution for invoice financing. Building their prototype 

on the Hyperledger Fabric, they developed an alternative 

financing method whereby third-party financiers could 

bid to service an invoice for a diamond purchase at very 

favorable rates, supplying the capital needed to purchase 

goods. Using blockchain technology, they built in a system 

of checks to validate transactions and ensure invoices match 

shipments. 

It is safe to say the digital revolution has finally taken root 

in the diamond industry, and its transformation is well 

underway. People are still exploring how they might be able 

to implement the latest technology, but we are clearly on the 

way to achieving a great deal more clarity as to how goods 

move and are sold throughout the supply chain. This will 

only increase in the coming years. 

72 

 

© AWDC

© AWDC 

You are travelling all over the world to compose 

a thorough view of your business. Do you see 

certain evolutions that could affect the position 

of stakeholders in the global diamond business? 

Perhaps the best way to address this is to look at market 

developments. Globally, diamond demand should grow 

at approximately 3%, based on trends in the U.S., China 

and globally. The United States market continues to be the 

bedrock of global diamond demand, representing nearly 

50% of the market. In this regard alone, we should have 

reason to feel confident about the strength of the market. 

US consumer confidence hit an 18-year high just a couple 

months ago, reflecting its stable economic environment. 

And the dollar has trended down, making diamonds 

cheaper to import and to purchase. Statistics from the US 

show that jewelry demand as a whole rose by about 7% 

from 2016 to 2017. We just have to make sure that they are 

buying diamond jewelry. 

this lowers the barrier to a repeat purchase. So, sales might 

rise, but I worry that margins could stagnate, particularly if 

rough prices remain high, and every indication is that they 

will, as we are gradually heading toward a scenario where 

demand will outstrip supply. We have seen polished prices 

increasing in 2018, but De Beers, for instance, has also 

raised their rough prices to match. This makes it tough on 

our market. 

Concerning the large and upcoming markets, Greater 

China’s consumer demand for diamonds is now about 20% 

of global demand and is clearly on the rise. The economic 

downturn of 2015 seems to be in the rear-view mirror. 

The market’s largest jeweler, Chow Tai Fook, has seen 

several consecutive quarters of sales growth, and the other 

major retailers have experienced the same. The sheer fact 

of middle-class population growth in Mainland China 

and India will continue to be a consistent driver of global 

demand. 

The fears that millennials are no longer interested in 

diamonds have really been calmed by the facts and figures 

from the major diamond retailers. They are still buying 

diamonds whether they are getting married or not. The 

one negative is the trend for purchasing smaller goods, 

which is spreading beyond the US and into China. Then 

again, once consumers have acquired their first diamond, 

AWDC has been a pioneer related to stress the 

importance of a global sustainable diamond 

business environment and create the necessary 

tools to manage this sustainable process. How do 

you see the future of ethics, audit processing and 

certification schemes – like the Kimberley Process 

Certification Scheme – evolve? 

73

At the risk of repeating myself, the AWDC takes great pride 

in promoting what we call the “5th C” (referring to the 4Cs, 

which define the parameters of a diamond), standing for 

Compliance, Confidence, and CSR. This is the core of our 

business model and a strong focus in our medium and longterm 

strategy, not only for the Antwerp diamond industry, 

but also for the global diamond industry. We deliberately 

opted several years ago to make this a focus of our business 

model. I am proud to say that the AWDC made sustainable 

business a priority in the diamond industry well before 

many others had even woken up to the idea, and now we 

are seeing it start to pay off, as the industry moves in this 

direction. 

More and more companies and organizations are reaching 

out to their suppliers and customers to work together on 

issues of sustainability, environmental responsibility, ethics 

and compliance. Unfortunately, there are still companies, 

and diamond trade centers, that have refused to get on 

board. Some players in our industry continue to believe 

the myth that the only legitimate way of doing business is 

to brush aside concerns for anything but the bottom line. 

We do not view this as a viable approach any more, as 

adherence to a sustainable diamond trade is here to stay. 

We are hoping for the best with regards to the Kimberley 

Process moving forward on its reform agenda, but the 

structure dictates that reform is only adopted by consensus 

rather than majority. Regardless, we are promoting 

progressive reform, and hope the global industry will 

listen. 

Personal trust and the simple gentleman’s 

transactional agreement are still key factors in 

closing multimillion-dollar sales of diamonds. Do 

you see these old school personal relations evolve in 

a digital age? 

It is true that trust in gentlemen’s agreements continues 

to play a major role in the industry, but with finance and 

bankability being such crucial issues these days, we apply 

more than old-school faith in a handshake. To put it bluntly, 

the banks no longer trust our system of trust. We are hard at 

work to build their confidence, and take many initiatives in 

this regard. 

For instance, together with our counterpart in India, the 

GJEPC (Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council), 

we have set up an industry-wide Know Your Customer 

exchange platform, called my KYC Bank. And we have been 

developing a Blockchain platform, which has the ambition 

to get all active diamond traders to use it. It will be a system 

for the largest companies already receiving bank financing 

to disclose their invoices and related information, and it will 

increase the bankability of smaller traders by simplifying 

their accounting and making it accessible to the banks. In 

other words, when it comes to sealing diamond deals, it 

will be a significant step toward replacing the romanticized 

handshake with invoices and normal terms and conditions. 

We also hold regular seminars and provide information 

to traders in Antwerp about proper financing and about 

anti-money laundering, and have provided them access to a 

huge KYC database. We help them to stay aware of their tax 

74 

 

© AWDC

© AWDC 

obligations and try to make sure they follow best practices. 

The industry is evolving quickly toward heightened 

compliance and transparency, and we intend to stay at the 

top of the evolutionary ladder. 

diamond trade. To put that in hard figures: in 2017, the 

AWDC’s Diamond Office registered imports of nearly 

31 million carats of rough diamonds from Russia, 

representing a total value of 2.7 billion dollars. 

In April you visited Russia, being part of an 

economic mission of the City of Antwerp. 

The baseline of the mission to Moscow and 

St. Petersburg was named ‘connecting worlds, 

moving to solid partnerships’. Russia and especially 

Alrosa are preferred partners of Antwerp for rough 

diamonds for ages with a solid history. How do you 

see this relationship evolve? 

As you know, Russia is now, without a doubt, Antwerp’s 

most important commercial partner, representing 32% of 

all rough goods traded in the diamond capital in terms 

of volume, and 25% of the total value of Antwerp’s rough 

Over the years, our relationship with ALROSA has 

become much more than just a formal strategic 

alignment. We have redoubled our commitment to 

building this relationship between the world’s largest 

diamond producer and the world’s leading trade center. 

With this in mind, in April we signed a new cooperation 

agreement that goes further than the previous ones. 

With this cooperation agreement, ALROSA and 

AWDC commit to supporting one another across a 

broad spectrum of topics, from the open exchange 

of information to the promotion of joint marketing 

initiatives. 

75

Antwerp Diamond Quarter © AWDC 

76 

It also seals our commitment to protect the integrity and 

transparency of the diamond value chain by supporting the 

work of the World Diamond Council and the Kimberley 

Process, and reaffirms our efforts to improve consumer 

confidence in our product. Signing this agreement sends a 

clear signal that we embrace our leading roles in the global 

diamond industry, and that the AWDC and ALROSA will 

continue working together, commercially as well as from a 

leadership perspective, for what I believe will be a long time 

to come. 

How could universities and schools create or 

adapt special programs that stimulate and build 

knowledge and expertise to a new generation of 

entrepreneurs, professionals or masters in diamond 

cutting? AWDC in collaboration with the University 

of Antwerp will organize a 2 week summer school 

in August-September. Last year the summer school 

was attended by students, young professionals and 

researchers from 4 continents. How can you grow 

these educational programs? 

We are very proud of the success of the very first Antwerp 

Summer University last year, and are looking forward to the 

second edition this year. The registrations are well ahead of 

our expectations already. We should also not forget all of the 

diamond training courses on offer by HRD Antwerp, which 

offers a wide assortment of certified courses in diamond 

grading, polishing, sorting and planning, among others. 

AWDC encourages businesses to provide apprenticeships 

to diamond cutters and polishers in training, and last year 

we collaborated with a local university college to create a 

diamond-themed syllabus for children aged 10 to 12 for use 

in schools, to generate interest from a young age. 

We also offer many seminar-style lectures and discussion 

groups about a wide variety of topics for people in the 

industry, and are encouraging cross-pollination with other 

industries, for example during a recent ‘power breakfast’, 

where we invited innovators from various backgrounds to 

share their expertise with diamond industry members, but 

also people from outside our industry. The first session was 

well-received, and we already have a second session planned. 

Early May, Antwerp was host for the second time to 

CARAT+, an important trade fair for diamonds and 

jewels in a b-to-b context. How important is this fair 

for Antwerp as a diamond centre? 

AWDC was proud to be a Main Partner of CARAT+. After 

bursting onto the diamond scene last year with a successful 

maiden edition, we knew CARAT+ represented the future of 

diamond trade shows in Antwerp, and also knew we wanted 

to be part of it. The second edition of CARAT+ was another 

giant step forward in their objective to become the world’s 

premier diamond event.

We agree with the organizers that the Diamond Capital 

needs a trade fair worthy of this title, one where diamonds 

are the main attraction rather than a side-show. We feel 

it is important to support our traders – whether they deal 

in loose stones, jewelry or diamond services – by bringing 

in buyers and showing the world that Antwerp is open for 

business, and that we offer more than the harsh concrete 

streets of the diamond district. We think it will continue to 

grow. 

In parallel with Carat+ the first Diamond 

Hackathon – Hack4Diamonds – took place 

in Antwerp. Over 60 hackers challenged the 

diamond industry in its core processes. Specific 

and confidential data that moves around, related 

to financial transactions, trade and sales, 

certification, shipping, communication with 

government and general documenting, the flow of 

process information is enormous. What were the 

results of the hackathon and how do you see the 

role of blockchain evolve in your business? 

I was very pleased with the results from this maiden 

Hack4Diamonds. By implementing new technologies, such 

as Blockchain, Antwerp intends to secure for the future its 

leading position in the global diamond trade. We might be 

the most important diamond trade center in the world right 

now, but the task at hand is to make sure we stay there, 

and this means proactively searching for solutions to the 

challenges our trade faces. Thanks to Hack4Diamonds, we 

have some new ideas to start working on. 

The first week of May DIVA – the new diamond 

museum in Antwerp – opened as an interactive 

museum, telling stories while showing magnificent 

pieces. What are your personal highlights in the 

DIVA museum? 

The interactive nature of DIVA as a whole, which makes 

it an engaging experience center rather than just another 

traditional museum, was one of the highlights as such. In 

this way, it welcomes people of all ages and walks of life, 

rather than people already interested in diamonds like a 

traditional ‘museum’ might offer. Antwerp was really in 

need of an accessible focal point for people to learn about 

the trade and to experience some incredible pieces of 

jewelry, and DIVA is just the ticket. 

Personally, I am a little biased as a result of my position in 

the industry, but I particularly enjoyed the interactive globe 

showing the various diamond trade routes and the history 

of the trade, demonstrating how Antwerp came to be the 

diamond capital of the world. The vault is a really engaging 

and informative space, and the spectacular diamond boots 

are a cannot-miss. 

Bruno Devos and Barbara Dietrich 

www.awdc.be 

www.divaantwerp.be - www.caratplusantwerp.com 

Furthermore, in order to stay ahead of global competition, 

it is important that we engage with external businesses and 

professionals, and listen to their insights and particular 

expertise. This culture of co-creation, led by the inaugural 

Hack4Diamonds event in Antwerp, is what will truly spur 

innovation across our industry. 

As I already mentioned, we have been developing a 

Blockchain platform, which has the ambition to get all 

active diamond traders to use it. It will be a system for 

the largest companies already receiving bank financing to 

disclose their invoices and related information, and it will 

increase the bankability of smaller traders by simplifying 

their accounting and making it accessible to the banks. We 

are also excited to see the result of the invoice financing 

solution currently being developed by our Hack4Diamonds 

blockchain challenge winner DiaVest, which I mentioned 

above. 

Barbara Dietrich and Ari Epstein 

77

Transience 

Season 2018—2019 

CHOREOLAB 

dancers Ballet Vlaanderen 

from 08.09.18 

LOHENGRIN 

Richard Wagner 

from 20.09.18 

GISELLE 

Akram Khan 

from 16.10.18 

SATYAGRAHA 

Philip Glass 

from 18.11.18 

LES PÊCHEURS 

DE PERLES 

Georges Bizet 

from 14.12.18 

FURIOSO 

Tankard / Brown / Brabants 

from 19.12.18 

BOLÉRO 

Cherkaoui / Graham / Béjart 

from 25.02.19 

CARDILLAC 

Paul Hindemith 

from 03.02.19 

JOY 

Inger / Ekman 

from 29.03.19 

LES 

BIENVEILLANTES 

Hèctor Parra 

from 24.04.19 

BACH STUDIES 

Benjamin Millepied 

from 19.05.19 

MACBETH 

Giuseppe Verdi 

from 21.06.19 

LA JUIVE 

Jacques Fromental Halévy 

from 10.03.19 

Beeld: Hans Op de Beeck 

78

PEACE ANGEL FOR 

PRIME MINISTER 

SHINZŌ ABE 

OF JAPAN 

PEACE & CULTURE RALLY 

SPIEF'18 - ST. PETERSBURG 

INTERNATIONAL 

ECONOMIC FORUM 

At a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzō Abe of Japan, 

Diplomatic World presented a 'Peace Angel' by Ulrike 

Bolenz. Thanks to the support of Mr. Kiury Usmanov. 

The Peace Rally is a part of St. Petersburg International 

Economic Forum (SPIEF). 

"Rally of the World 2018 - Monaco - St. Petersburg - 

Monaco", the first run of which was held in 1911 under the 

patronage of Prince Albert I of Monaco and the Emperor 

of Russia Nicholas II. 

'Peace Angel' by Ulrike Bolenz 

79



META-MORPHOSIS 

Meta-Morphosis specializes in preserving cultural 

and industrial heritage and visualizing memories 

through the conservation or re-orientation of 

patrimony and objects. Their strength lies in the 

ability to balance complex subjects and rendering 

them intelligible and appealing. 

Meta-Morphosis was founded in June 2015 by Axel 

Ruhomaully and Franck Depaifve after the discovery of 

an ancient coalmine in Belgium: le Hasard de Cheratte. 

The “Ceci n’est pas que du patrimoine” project intended 

to introduce children who lived near the mine to their 

patrimony and show them that their roots have a rich 

history. Ruhomaully and Depaifve then built a company 

around their shared vision: the active preservation of 

historical places and the memories attached to them. With 

their work they wish to convey a sense of pride to the next 

generations, ensuring that a lack of interest does not destroy 

the memory of historical places, even when they themselves 

have transformed or disappeared. 

Many treasures are dormant in museums and historical 

places. Therefore, Meta-Morphosis makes deals with 

them to photograph the pieces, exposed or non-exposed. 

The photographs can be sold and 30% of the earnings are 

donated to the place or institution where the pieces are 

kept. Simultaneously, Meta-Morphosis scans the historical 

locations and makes models to present them to clients for 

sponsorship. 

Meta-Morphosis also publishes books and editions of 

certain projects. In 2019, they will bring out a new artbook 

celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Justice Palace in 

Brussels, with Stockmans Art Books as a co-publisher. 

THE META-MORPHOSIS CHARTER 

Do not forget to find pleasure in what you do 

Do not fear coincidence or the unknown 

Listen to experts 

Feed children’s imagination 

Find beauty in everything 

Open a range of possibilities 

Accept perceptions as reality 

Build bridges to give meaning 

Be where you are not expected 

Show pride that inspires 

During these explorations (of industrial terrains, 

administrative buildings, museums, …) they often discover 

objects, furniture or accessories that have no museum 

value but that have an important historic ‘charge’. 

Meta-Morphosis certifies their origins, repairs them when 

necessary, cleans them up and then sells them in their 

original state or after they have been treated by an artist. 

The results of these sales fund the realisation of 

Meta-Morphosis’s multimedia projects. 

Pages 80-89 

Meta-Morphosis 

© Meta-Morphosis 

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81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88



META-MORPHOSIS 

A SAMPLE OF THEIR PROJECTS 

SULTAN, KING OF THE JUNGLE OF NEW-YORK, 1931 

Page 81 

©Axel Ruhomaully / Meta-Morphosis 

La Fonderie, Museum of Industry and Labor, Brussels, 

Belgium, 2016 

Used by the biggest art foundry in Belgium, la Compagnie 

des Bronzes, this plaster lion is the foundry model for the 

monuments for the Bronx Zoo in New York. Twenty-two 

animals are represented there with Sultan, the lion of the 

Atlas, as their crown jewel. Whether you choose to go to 

Brussels or New York, you can admire Sultan in both places. 

The plaster statue is exhibited at the Brussels Museum of 

Industry and Labor. 

CECI N’EST PAS QUE DU PATRIMOINE 

Page 82-83 


Ancient coal mine of Hasard de Cheratte, Belgium, 2015 

“Ceci n’est pas que du patrimoine” or “this is not just 

patrimony” is the first preservation project by Meta- 

Morphosis. After the discovery of an old Belgian coal 

mine, le Hasard de Cheratte, Meta-Morphosis intended 

to introduce children who lived near the mine to their 

patrimony and show them that their roots have a rich 

history. Conveying a sense of pride to the next generations, 

ensures that a lack of interest does not destroy the memory 

of historical places, even when they themselves have 

transformed or disappeared. 

PHARMACY SARRÁ IN HAVANA 

Page 84-85 

©Axel Ruhomaully / Meta-Morphosis, 

Musée de la Pharmacie, La Habana, Cuba, 2017 

THE INDUSTRIAL JEWELS OF VERVIERS 

Page 86-87 


Verviers, Belgium, 2016 

The steel industry was the first to develop in Wallonia, but 

the city of Verviers quickly made a name for itself thanks 

to the textile industry that brought a lot of prosperity from 

1799 onwards. Nowadays, Verviers still has one of the most 

extraordinary collections of machines in the textile industry. 

Meta-Morphosis gained the city’s permission to access and 

photograph this discrete and prestigious collection. 

TENOR SAXOPHONE, ADOLPHE SAX, 1876 

Page 88 

© Axel Ruhomaully / Meta-Morphosis 

Museum of Musical Instruments (Brussels) 

Adolphe Sax (1814-1894) developed the saxophone in 

his father’s ateliers in Brussels, where he presented the 

first design in 1841. He patented the instrument in Paris 

five years later. His instrument, available in different 

sizes, brought a radically new voice to the musical world. 

Nowadays, the saxophone is used in a wide range of genres, 

from classical to modern, and is one of the universal icons 

of jazz. 

Meta-Morphosis Organisation & Productions 

175 Rue Bara - 1070 Brussels - Belgium 

20 avenue Dorade - Sorèze - Mauritius 

T +32 25 60 21 53 - info@meta-morphosis.org 

www.meta-morphosis.org 

Franck Depaifve - Co-fondateur 

franck@meta-morphosis.org 

Axel Ruhomaully - Co-fondateur 

axel@meta-morphosis.org 

89

SARAH FABERGÉ FOR 


EMOTIONS, TRADITIONS AND 

NEW BEGINNINGS! 

I write this article on a Monday morning having 

been enraptured, like many other people around the 

world, by the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan 

Markle. Whatever one’s political views or beliefs 

and whether a royalist or not it is hard to ignore the 

collective joy, emotion and unity that was radiating 

from the love of two people for each other and the 

celebrations that surrounded this event. Traditional 

but with an emphasis on looking forward. Of 

evolving and growing. As someone said to me 

“we all need something to celebrate.” 

Fabergé has always been about celebration and gifting and 

therefore sharing happy moments and special milestones 

in life. The late Frederic Zaavy, the first workmaster 

for the reunified Fabergé, said of his sea horse brooch: 

“When he looks at you and when you look at him there is 

something happening that somehow makes you feel better 

and lighter.” 

The name of Fabergé seems to have stayed in people’s 

minds for many years. This history of Fabergé is a 

long and chequered one with many ups and downs. 

French, Russian, Royal families, eggs, jewellery, objet, 

even perfume and we continue to discover additional 

90 

We all want to feel better and lighter and weddings, 

whether royal, family or friends make us feel just that. 

A common interest and harmony is of course what 

connects us all. As I approach the age of 60 I find 

this a time for reflection. I like to think that if I have 

learned anything in this life it is a greater appreciation 

of the differences between us and tolerance for another 

view. Listening more, talking less and not jumping to 

automatic assumptions. 

We never stop learning from one another. I recently 

attended an international conference in Brussels entitled 

“Air, land and sea - vital challenges of this century” 

which looked at major environmental challenges to life. 

The fundamental message was that without the blue (sea) 

there is no green. A simple statement but one which 

carries so much weight and stays in the mind. 

Gustav Fabergé

information. The name evolved over the years through 

Favri, Fabri, Favry, Fabrier to Fabergé. We know that the 

Favris were Huguenots living in Northern France when 

Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685. The 

family escaped persecution and sought refuge in what is 

now Eastern Germany. We can pick up the story in 1800 

with a Peter Favry who had settled in Pärnu, in modern 

day Estonia where the family took on Russian citizenship. 

It was Peter Favry’s son Gustav, a goldsmith, born in 1814 

who started a jewellery company in St Petersburg in 1842 

and so you can say that the company that was to become 

so famous was “born” in Russia. 

It was Gustav’s son, Peter Carl Fabergé who took the 

company to international acclaim. As a trainee goldsmith 

he served an internship at The Hermitage where he saw 

and handled the treasures of the Romanov household. 

Some years later the Fabergé company made a replica of 

a Scythian Treasure from The Hermitage collection and 

displayed it at an exhibition in Moscow in 1882. The fine 

workmanship caught the eye of Tsar Alexander III and by 

1885 Fabergé was “Goldsmith by special appointment to 

the Imperial Crown”. So began the special commissions 

and the famous Fabergé eggs. Primarily a jeweller, Fabergé 

didn’t just make eggs but many other luxury items and 

accessories including: picture frames, timepieces, cigarette 

cases, table top wear, carved hardstone figures and many 

other items too numerous to mention here. Peter Carl 

described himself as an “artist jeweller” painting with 

coloured stones. The company was renowned for its use 

of different coloured golds, coloured stones and guilloché 

enamel. As success grew the Company opened branches 

in Moscow, Odessa, Kiev and London. It made perfect 

sense for the company to open in London because the 

Romanov Family were related to the British Royal family 

and Fabergé was a popular gift, not only among the Royal 

Families of Europe but eminent business people of the 

day. 

Peter Carl had five sons. The youngest, Nikolai (known 

as Nicholas), came to London to oversee the running 

of the London branch of Fabergé. He was married to 

Marion Tattershall, a beautiful red-haired woman who 

was painted by the artist Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema. An 

artist himself, Nicholas was also a keen photographer 

and opened a studio in Fulham, London. His interest in 

photography lead him to meet my grandmother Doris 

Cladish, a beautiful young model with red hair. 

91

They fell in love, and Doris became pregnant with my 

father Theodore. He was born in 1922. Even though they 

all appeared to be living an artistic and bohemian life this 

situation would, at that time, have caused a scandal if it 

had become public news. Therefore, baby Theodore was 

given to Doris’s married sister Linda to raise as her own 

with her husband Norman Woodall. Theo’s real identity 

was to be kept secret for many, many years. My father 

recalled meeting his “Aunt Doris” regularly and, as a very 

small boy being taken out for afternoon tea on Saturdays 

by Doris and a gentleman. We can assume this was 

Nicholas. 

The First World War followed by the Russian revolution 

of 1917 resulted in the closure of Peter Carl’s Fabergé 

Company. He managed to escape to Switzerland and died 

near Lausanne in 1920 a broken man. However, this is not 

the end of the story but merely the closing of one chapter. 

Young Theodore, known as Theo, was growing up in 

England. He excelled at draughtsmanship and design. 

He trained as a fine instrument maker and engineer. 

Known as “an ideas man” he could always find a solution 

to technical engineering problems. A natural creative 

Peacock Egg of 1908, Courtesy of the Tatiana Fabergé archive 

(I have a table that he made at around the age of 14 

and candlesticks that he turned on a lathe) he always 

had a notebook with him, sketching ideas and planning 

inventions. Theo “Woodall” never had any suspicion that 

he was not the son of Linda and Norman until, at the age 

of 47, he attended the funeral of an aunt who advised 

him to seek out his birth certificate. You can imagine his 

92 

Photo of Theo in his studio

Nicholas Fabergé (edited) 

surprise when he discovered that his mother was in fact 

his aunt and his father was Nicholas Leopold Fabergé! 

Theo was a very sensitive and artistic man and this 

discovery affected him deeply. It answered many questions 

within him as to his artistic nature and character. At the 

time of this discovery he was the owner of a small but 

niche light engineering company. He decided to devote the 

second half of his life to following his creative nature. He 

had always had the ability to repair antiques without any 

formal training. I remember a Boulle table in his workshop 

that he restored beautifully but it was at ornamental 

turning on a lathe that he would really excel. His 

engineering background meant that he was already skilful 

on a lathe. He took lessons from a friend and mentor 

and went on to win many awards from The Worshipful 

Company of Turners of London, to the ancient Guild 

which represents the Art and Craft of Turning on a lathe. 

He also designed and approved designs for a Company 

called The St Petersburg Collection. Talks and displays of 

his work took him around the world. My father remained 

passionate about his work until, at the age of 80, ill health 

prevented him from continuing. He died aged 84 in 2007. 

He was of course my dear father whom I adored but he is 

also the link between Fabergé past and present. A natural 

ideas man, a creative designer/maker, who lived his life, 

you could say in two halves, that is pre and post Fabergé. 

As I write this article I am planning to make a film about 

his extraordinary life. 

SO, WE COME TO THE LATEST CHAPTER IN 

FABERGÉ’S LONG HISTORY. 

In 2007, I was invited, together with my cousin Tatiana 

Fabergé along with family friend and Fabergé connoisseur 

John Andrew, to form the Fabergé Heritage Council for 

a company that had bought the Fabergé trademark from 

Unilever. The Fabergé family, through no fault of their 

own, had lost the right to use the trademark in 1951. The 

new owners intended to reunite the Fabergé family with 

the trademark and to once again create jewellery and 

objets. The Heritage Council exists to advise and guide 

the new Fabergé company on its history and heritage. We 

also work closely with Dr. Géza von Habsberg, Curatorial 

Director of Fabergé. On 9 September 2009 at 9am, the 

Fabergé Company was relaunched at Goodwood House 

in Sussex with a collection of high jewellery created by 

our aforementioned workmaster, the late Frederick Zaavy. 

He understood our wish to revive the spirit and ethos of 

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Zaavy Seahorse 

94 

the “artist jeweller”, painting with coloured stones to use 

them to their finest advantage. Today’s company has gone 

on to create a wide collection of jewellery, including of 

course egg pendants and objets. We do not make copies 

but take inspiration from our past. For example, our Lady 

Compliquée watch is inspired by the Peacock Egg created 

for Tsar Nicholas II and presented to his mother, the 

Dowager Empress Feodorovna in 1908. The rock crystal 

egg contains an automaton peacock. Our watch tells the 

time using individual peacock feathers which spread out 

minute by minute, folding back again on the hour. This 

complicated movement was created for us by Jean-Marc 

Wiederrecht in conjunction with our in-house design and 

watch teams. 

Today’s Fabergé company continues to be inspired by the 

spirit and ethos of Peter Carl Fabergé and his workmasters 

to create jewellery and objects for the 21st century. We 

take forward the concepts of fine craftsmanship, creativity 

and collaboration not only with our makers but also with 

our clients. Last year my son Joshua joined the company 

and I am looking forward to seeing future chapters unfold. 

Fabergé aims to stir the emotions. After all, we all need 

something to celebrate! 

Sarah Fabergé 

www.faberge.com 

www.turnersco.com

Lady Compliqée Peacock Watch 

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Fabergé Heritage Pendants (002) 

THEODORE FABERGÉ (1922-2007) 

Theodore (known as Theo) was a Grandson of Peter 

Carl Fabergé. He was not raised by his parents Doris 

Cladish and Nicholas Fabergé but by his maternal aunt 

and her husband as if he were their own son. It was not 

until a great aunt suggested that he obtains a copy of 

his birth certificate years later, that Theo discovered his 

true identity. At 47, his ‘aunt’ became his mother and 

his ‘mother’ his aunt. He was no longer Theo Woodall 

(his aunt and uncle’s name) but Theo Fabergé. He had 

always excelled at fine instrument making, engineering 

design and craftwork. Naturally creative and artistic 

this newly found knowledge answered many questions 

for Theo. He set out to learn all he could about 

silversmithing and ornamental woodturning. With his 

career background these skills came naturally to him. 

In 1974, he sold his successful engineering business 

and began to earn a living restoring antiques and 

creating objets d’art. He excelled at ornamental turning 

and entered a box made to commemorate the Silver 

Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II into the 1978 annual 

competition of the Worshipful Company of Turners. He 

was awarded the Lady Gertrude Crawford Medal, which 

is the highest award for ornamental turning. He was 

also granted the honour of Freeman Prizeman of the 

Turners Company. This honour had not been bestowed 

for 22 years; the medal had not been awarded for nine. 

In 1984 he entered a life-long contract to design for the 

Saint Petersburg Collection. At the age of 80, Theo’s 

lifetime achievements were once again recognised by 

The Worshipful Company of Turners and this time he 

was made an honorary liveryman of the Company. Sadly, 

Theo’s health deteriorated rapidly from the age of 80 

onwards. He was, however, delighted to learn that the 

Fabergé trademarks had been secured from Unilever by 

a group wanting to restore Fabergé’s original heritage of 

excellence in creativity, design and craftsmanship, and 

with his daughter Sarah he agreed to become a founding 

member of the Fabergé Heritage Council. He passed 

away shortly afterwards in August 2007. 

96

A selection from our EMOTION ring collection 

SARAH FABERGÉ 

Like her late father Theo, Sarah has always been 

interested in the arts. However, she pursued a career 

in management training and development until she 

decided to follow in her father’s footsteps when she was 

invited to design and approve designs for a company 

called the Saint Petersburg Collection. She maintained 

both careers until 2007 when Sarah resigned from the 

Saint Petersburg Collection in 2007 to join and work 

solely with Fabergé Limited with the aim of helping to 

resurrect and reposition Fabergé once more, as a creator 

of high and fine jewellery and objets. A keen supporter 

of the artisan and individual craftsmanship, Sarah is 

a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Turners 

of London. This ancient Guild supports the craft of 

turning on a lathe and aims to raise the profile of this 

unique art through its Wizardry in Wood Exhibitons 

and Competitions. Together with her father Theo, 

cousin Tatiana and family friend and Fabergé scholar 

John Andrew, Sarah became a founding member of the 

Fabergé Heritage Council. Today, as Director of Special 

Projects, Sarah works closely with the Fabergé team and 

is an ambassador for the Company. 

97

HANS WAEGE 

OUT OF THE SHADOWS 

For the past two years Belgian National 

Orchestra has been undergoing 

a company-wide rebranding and 

rejuvenation operation. Maria Roberts 

caught up with CEO Hans Waege to 

find out what it takes to reinvigorate a 

national institution. 

I met up with intendant Hans Waege at a bar in New York 

as he’s on his way to another meeting. He lollops over 

to me, a great ball of energy, chatting at speed. He’s 

a likeable character: friendly, commanding, cheerful 

and intensely passionate about developing the Belgian 

National Orchestra (BNO). Once managing director 

of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, and CEO of the Royal 

Flemish Philharmonic, his portfolio to date has seen him 

reinvigorate regional orchestras, giving them the edge in 

a competitive market and a strong unique identity. Waege 

has been at BNO since April 2016, and set about the task 

with the diligence of a house renovation. He began by 

stripping the operation back to its individual components 

and clearing the decks so that the orchestra could freshen 

up its offer for modern audiences. The essence of BNO, 

he says, had fallen by the wayside. As a seasoned change 

maker, he made it his responsibility to tackle despondency 

among the ranks by means of a dynamic strategy. 

now we are more connected with BOZAR, innovate with 

the schedule of the orchestra, and we have many exciting 

young conductors that broaden the repertoire. This season 

James Feddeck, Stanislav Kochanovsky, Elim Chan and 

Constantinos Carydis will come to BNO for 2018-19, 

“Much of an organization’s success comes down to the 

morale of its staff,” he tells me over a glass of white 

wine. “That’s probably the most important thing to talk 

about. It happens anywhere. With any company, with any 

institution, you go through ups and downs. When I arrived 

at BNO I saw the urgency of change: it was a company 

that didn’t innovate especially well. “Over the last 10 years 

the orchestra had been resting on its laurels, playing the 

main repertoire, introducing few new conductors. And 

at BOZAR, the home of BNO, the orchestra was very 

much on the back burner. “Together with the arrival of 

our new chief-conductor, Hugh Wolff, I thought it was 

98 

very important to refocus the strategy on different levels: 

Hans Waege 

© Veerle Vercauteren

Hans Waege 

© Veerle Vercauteren 

and the musicians reacted wonderfully to that, they are 

very happy.” Waege’s strategy at BNO has four key areas: 

one of which was the name and logo of the orchestra. “A 

meaningless three letter abbreviation wasn’t very helpful 

in terms of corporate marketing, especially regarding 

the international profile of the orchestra,” he reveals. So 

they opted to use the English title in its branding. The 

intendant adds that he wanted to ‘dynamize’ the repertoire 

by programming contemporary music. Going forward, he 

plans to modernise the use of BNO’s marketing tools and 

rich data. 

More importantly, he wants to add family programmes 

to the schedule which somewhat remarkably (and almost 

unbelievably) had remained non-existent. The new 

approach, he says, has been well received: “Strangely 

enough, when you take the risk of new music seriously, 

and when you take your audience seriously, you are 

sometimes surprised by the positive reactions you get.” 

Despite being an academic himself (he’s been a professor 

at Ghent University for almost 20 years), his objective 

is to present music that gets a raw emotional response 

from the audience. “We avoided some of the repertoire 

that was, what can I say, inwardly intellectual towards the 

classical music and too theoretical, we kept away from 

that in preference for something that is reflective.” This 

portends to contemporary works as well as the classics. 

“This season we have a focus on John Adams and Ligeti. 

Although Ligeti is not quite so easy, it is superb music 

that reaches right into the emotions of the audience. 

The idea is to get an audience that is willing to come to 

whatever you programme, and to eradicate this feeling 

99

100 

of ‘Oh my God, contemporary music is awful’. “The most 

daring project during the current season was a Webern- 

Ligeti-Kodaly programme. We also had Scriabin’s Mysterium 

in March at Klarafestival. When you have your audience 

endlessly applauding after the Ligeti Requiem, you know 

that your orchestra has done something special. To be able 

to bring the Hungarian National Choir over to Brussels for 

this Ligeti concert was the icing on the cake. Doing this type 

of concert for your musicians and your audience is extremely 

rewarding. If an audience enjoys the concert, they will come 

back to take a chance on other lesser-known programmes, 

that’s what we call building trust with your audience.” He 

references Mahler here, adding that the great Austrian 

composer had a way of connecting with the audiences of his 

time by making use of music they were familiar with. 

“I want to find this vibration that links contemporary 

composers with the sounds and the music of today. This 

is a very special task, I’m not here to commission yet 

another violin concerto.” Has BNO’s modern take on 

programming refreshed the approach of the rank and file 

players? “Absolutely. They needed this change because 

they had been playing the same repertoire on loop. 

They love to be challenged with fascinating pieces of 

music and exciting concert programmes.” Waege pauses 

for a moment to reflect on what he has just said: “I’m 

probably sounding too positive: yes, it’s not easy to make 

changes and we will make mistakes, that’s true, but the 

whole purpose of reinvigorating your players is to give 

them a challenge and you can do this by bringing young 

conductors and composers, from a new generation, who 

carry that energy with them.” 

How is BNO measuring up to the ‘cool’ vibe he created 

in Rotterdam? “I think we do much more contemporary 

repertoire at BNO than Rotterdam, and that’s good, it 

makes the musicians feel that they are relevant to today. 

At the same time, we’re also bringing more established 

conductors like Hartmut Haenchen, recently elected 

“dirigent des jahres” by Opernwelt, who will bring a 

complete Brahms-Bruckner cycle over several years. He’s 

over 70 years old and says his life’s work now is to focus 

on Bruckner as a last big statement. To bring a conductor 

of that level to your orchestra is a gift to the city, the 

people and the musicians. 

Much like any renovation project, Waege is doing more 

than plastering over the cracks but digging deep to create 

a sturdy framework. He also embarked on a fundraising 

initiative so that BNO could buy more instruments. 

“One of the first things we did was raise more money 

to invest in the orchestra by buying new double basses, 

they are important as they are the basis of the sound for 

the orchestra.” But it’s not all work and no play; BNO 

has also been zany in some of its activities: “We started 

some riskier high-profile concerts. While classical music 

has been presented in nightclubs by chamber groups and 

soloists, it’s not so common to place a full symphony 

orchestra in a nightclub. We did this at the Bloody Louis 

in Brussels with a Bates-Mozart-Beethoven programme. 

There were a few issues with lighting and acoustics, you 

run into practical issues and make mistakes on projects 

like these, but it sounded OK.” Was he discouraged by the 

experience? “Even though we ran into certain practical 

problems, that’s not a reason not to do it. It’s not our 

focus to go into a nightclub per se, but it is our focus to 

go into the city again and to meet our audience. Yes, we 

play Mozart, but we also play Mason Bates [a Grammynominated 

American composer of symphonic music and 

DJ of electronic dance music who was recently named the 

most-performed composer of his generation and the 2018 

Composer of the Year by Musical America].” What are the 

principles he follows as intendant at BNO? “The guideline 

is that we are not serving one community, for example the 

core audience of symphonic music, but we are serving a 

community of communities. I don’t mean this with regards 

to gender or race, as we all mingle nowadays, instead I 

refer to our fragmented spheres of interest.” 

And how does BNO fit in with the wider cultural offer 

in Brussels? “Enjoyment, having a good time, and 

nourishment inform what we do. A huge proportion of our 

audience will have been working hard all week and when 

they come to us on a Friday evening, for example, we must 

make sure that it isn’t too complicated an experience. At 

the same time, we must remember that we are bringing 

them into a zone that is not natural: the beauty and 

success of a concert comes from managing that tension 

in the hall. Yes, sometimes it is wise to present easygoing 

evenings but sometimes you need to present wellconsidered 

complex programmes that bring people into an 

inconvenient, demanding world.” 

www.nationalorchestra.be 

This article is written by Maria Roberts and was first 

published in ‘International Arts Manager’.

WALTER VAN BEIRENDONCK 

31 

WALTER VAN BEIRENDONCK FOR BNO, SEASON 2018–2019 

WALTER VAN BEIRENDONCK

WAKE UP EUROPE! 

CHRISTOPH LEITL 

PRESIDENT OF EUROCHAMBRES 

AT THE ASSOCIATION’S 

60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 

60 years – a long time, much content, and a lot of 

success! Today we are grateful to our predecessors. 

With their important economic input, they were 

building a Europe of freedom, democracy, rule 

of law and human rights. EUROCHAMBRES 

contributed a lot to that. 

102 

We can be proud of the result and at this point we want to 

give a cordial thank you to all stakeholders that influenced 

Europe in the last 6 decades. In ten years, we will be 

celebrating our 70th anniversary. What will Europe look 

like in ten years’ time? You may say future predictions 

are always uncertain. However, as businesspeople we are 

used to doing critical analysis. Ten years of Euro crises are 

behind us and now we are in a period of two years of Brexit 

discussions. 

Today Europe is in a difficult situation: We depend on the 

United States, we are afraid of Africa and Asia and our 

relations with Russia are worsening constantly. 

Europeans make up only 7 percent of the world's 

population, but account for 25 percent of the world's 

economy and of more than 50 percent of social and 

environmental expenditures. These are our European 

standards of living. How can we keep that up for the next 

10 years? What should Europe look like in 10 years? The 

other important world regions are very dynamic. Europe is 

saturated. The alarm bell is ringing! Wake up Europe! 

Many people have lost confidence in the European project. 

Nationalism, egoism, and populism rule Europe instead 

of unity and solidarity. There are fears of globalisation, 

technological innovations and migration including 

integration. But is nationalism an answer? Nationalism has 

caused the most terrible events in Europe’s history in the 

past. 

Should this then be the concept for the future? No, we have 

to go another way. As the business community, we want an 

open Europe, free trade agreements around the world and 

fruitful corporation with all continents. Yes, China, India and 

others will become stronger. However, that must not weaken 

Europe. We can remain competitive and successful, too. 

With a clear goal, a clear strategy, and the following 

principles we can achieve that. 

1. Do not divide Europe! You know all the clichés: the rich 

north paying for poor southern countries, the democratic 

west against the autocratic east … Instead, we should find 

a way back to unity. 

2. We have to reform our European Institutions, by a 

supplementary treaty with voluntary access for those 

countries that want to participate. We have many ideas to 

suggest in this point. 

3. New economic priorities: innovation, qualification, skills 

and creativity will enable us to form the future. 

Moreover, we need one essential thing: Mental change to 

transform fears into hope. We must see Europe not as a 

fortress, but as an open society. Europe always was an idea 

to overcome borders and integrate cultures. 

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, made a 

suggestion to make integration work within the local 

communities and subsidise them. I would like to add: why 

not also help companies doing the same?

Christoph Leitl - President of EUROCHAMBRES 

© veldemanphoto 

Within the next 10 years, that will be a profit for all of us. 

We will compete in the global competition; we will keep 

our prosperity and have additional life perspectives for the 

young generation. A win-win situation. 

We can have innovation-driven growth and employment. 

We can have a common foreign visibility, towards the other 

parts of the world. 

Economy can contribute to Europe’s strength! With its 

help, Europe will be among the three economic powers 

in worldwide comparison in 10 years. And remain in the 

economic champions league of the world! 

But we have to work on that! Who is showing us the 

way? Do we recognise visions? And are we able to realise 

them? Who are our European leaders with vision and 

courage? 

EUROCHAMBRES can accompany this way! With 46 

members, we are a support for the business in Europe 

and a bridge-builder for politics. 1.700 regional and local 

chambers and 20 million companies give the response to the 

challenges of our time. They employ, educate and innovate! 

As part of our compromise with Europe, EUROCHAMBRES 

plays an active role, a role which we will use in a very 

proactive way during the election campaign of the European 

Parliament. 

There will be no political integration without economic 

integration. And there will be no economic integration 

without the chambers. 

Time passes by and in a few years, we will be in 2049. This 

year will be a remarkable date for Europe: 100 years ago– 

1949– the Council of Europe was founded in Strasbourg. It 

was dedicated to the rule of law, human rights and cultural 

cooperation. It was very important for the traditional values 

of Europe to be put down in writing. With European talents 

and creativity, with European values and philosophy, we will 

win the competition with autocratic systems and proof that 

our kind of government is the better one. 

It will be the better one, if bureaucracy is not killing 

democracy! We urgently need efficient democracy, meaning 

respecting the rights of our citizens and delivering quick 

decisions. It is a matter of surviving and becoming 

successful in 2049. 

Finally, for us Europe is a great vision and fascinating to 

contribute to. A few days ago, a young woman was telling 

me: “Europe is so far away!” I answered: “No, it’s very close 

to all of us including you. It’s also your life perspective.” The 

young woman answered: “Perhaps you’re right, Europe is in 

our minds, but not in our hearts!” She is right. Let’s make 

Europe a matter of our hearts! This is the best response for 

the coming challenges! 

103

LIVING TOMORROW MOSCOW 2030, 

WHERE VISIONS MEET 

Living Tomorrow is all about what we are going to 

be doing in the near future. The concept is unique 

in the world. Located in Brussels, Living Tomorrow 

provides a hub for innovative enterprises where 

visitors can experience products and services that 

could vastly improve the quality of our future life, 

home and workplace. Together with its partners, 

Living Tomorrow offers an experience of future 

possibilities and innovations to the thousands 

of visitors it receives. Visitors are given expert 

explanations, while Living Tomorrow and its 

partners receive valuable feedback. The latter 

can then be used to inform future research. 

THE CONCEPT 

Living Tomorrow is an innovative meeting place that offers 

three special qualities. The first is a forum for companies to 

meet each other and exchange best practices and concepts. 

The second is a unique location to highlight a company’s 

104 

Living Tomorrow representation, Joachim De Vos – CEO Living Tomorrow - TomorrowLab, Celie Dehaene, Herman Van Rompuy - President Advisory Board, 

Frank Beliën – CEO & Founder Living Tomorrow, Jacques Heynen - President Strategy Board

latest products, services or plans to clients, business 

relations and employees. Thirdly, Living Tomorrow acts 

as a medium to literally be acquainted with the future: 

visitors connect with tomorrow’s technologies in a real-life 

environment and companies get connected with the market 

and customers of tomorrow, visiting Living Tomorrow. This 

is much more efficient than any market research could offer: 

it’s a real-life experiment. 

LIVING TOMORROW MOSCOW 2030 

Living Tomorrow also forges plans to go international once 

again. In May 2018 a delegation of Living Tomorrow, led by 

Living Tomorrow founder Frank Beliën and joined by Living 

Tomorrow curator Barbara Dietrich, travelled to Moscow. 

There they were accompagnied by Ashot Danielian, owner 

Even Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft, who inaugurated 

the project in Brussels back in 1995, clearly understood the 

long-term importance of the project: “… I think a project 

like Living Tomorrow - where you are brainstorming about 

what is possible and you’re getting people to come, look, 

and talk about what this all means – is really fantastic … I 

am certainly impressed with what I’ve seen …”. 

In 2012 the project in Brussels evolved to “Living Tomorrow 

2020”, integrating brand new innovation areas, such as the 

“Smart Cities area” with real-life innovation like for example 

the street of the future, smart grid at home, the solar fast 

charging station for e-drivers and augmented reality in 

public transport. Other new concepts that were realized are 

the Restaurant of the Future and a brand new Office of the 

Future. 

Currently Living Tomorrow is back to the drawing board 

preparing a next phase of innovations to be announced in 

the capital of Europe later on. 

Moscow 

105

106 

of the company Termoros, who has been living and working 

in Moscow for decades himself. A few weeks earlier he 

came to visit Living Tomorrow in Brussels and saw the 

opportunities for a similar project in Moscow. 

The prospection tour took the delegation to the Russian 

“city of the future” Skolkovo, an innovative urban 

environment of 400 hectares. It is exactly here that Living 

Tomorrow plans to create the Living Tomorrow Moscow 

2030 project. Frank Beliën: “Skolkovo is so much more than 

just a city. It is a city for living, science and business with 

parks, avenues and family areas. It is a city with a modern 

infrastructure, a city of scientists, innovators and inventors, 

a city of successful businessmen and a city of gifted students 

and teachers. A visit to Skolkovo is a true experience. It is a 

site built on the foundations of R & D, innovation, scientists 

and inventors. That’s why we from Living Tomorrow, 

breathing innovation, feel at home here. Skolkovo, like 

Living Tomorrow, creates synergies between companies, 

governments, universities and people.” 

The Living Tomorrow 2030 Moscow project will be the 

new Living Tomorrow demonstration and innovation 

platform that investigates and sensitizes how our future will 

evolve. It will consist of several “Future” demonstrations 

and show solutions for tomorrow and a future on the long 

term. This "Smart City 2030" project will demonstrate the 

future vision of governments, cities, government-companies 

and companies active in Russia, Moscow and the rest of 

the world. Frank Beliën: “The innovative strength of a 

country is a cultural issue, the innovative climate strongly 

determines motives and opportunities for innovation. As 

a neutral catalyst, Living Tomorrow wants to play a role 

in broadly cultivating the innovation idea by bringing 

innovative companies to the attention, by stimulating 

synergies with and between its participants and by showing 

concrete results of these collaborations.” 

As he continues: “We take into account that eighty percent 

of the innovations we show are market ready (or will be 

in a few months’ time), that they are accessible to a large 

target group. Twenty percent of the project focuses on 

visions for the future, where affordability is less important 

still, but in the first instance a total solution for a problem 

must be sought through cooperation between governments, 

cities, universities and companies.” Themes that could be 

developed in Living Tomorrow Moscow 2030 are mobility, 

sustainability, services and care, technology, communication 

and automation, safety, energy, environment and garden, 

food, relaxation, health and wellness, media, education and 

information, art and leisure, construction and architecture, 

design and interior. 

Living Tomorrow Moscow 2030 aims to open its doors in 

2021.

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THE MOBILITY OF THE FUTURE 

FEATURED DURING PUBLIC EVENT 

OF LIVING TOMORROW 

IN BRUSSELS 

On Sunday, 22 April 2018, the doors of Living 

Tomorrow in Brussels were once again open to 

the general public. This Public Event was devoted 

entirely to the theme of the mobility of the future: 

electric cars, drones, smart street lighting and street 

furnishings, charging stations for e-drivers and 

much more. Visitors were immersed in a world of 

innovation and experience! 

It is estimated that by 2050, 66% of the world’s population 

will be living in urban areas. How can we keep the 

city liveable? Easy: by making it smarter and more 

sustainable. Mobility will play a major role in this. Public 

transport with appropriate waiting spaces, electric and 

self-driving cars, smart road surfaces and innovative street 

108

lighting. During the Public Event, the guides at Living 

Tomorrow showed visitors the latest state of play. 

The guided tour also moved on to other topics to do with 

housing, living and working in the future. What kinds 

of sustainable technologies will further optimize our 

energy use? Or how will smart appliances in the home be 

integrated in order to make our lives even more agreeable? 

What about the evolution of health care? And will we soon 

all be wearing “smart clothing”? Plenty to think about! 

In addition to the tours, additional experiences were 

offered such as a test ride in electric cars, virtual reality 

experiences and drone flights. 

Living Tomorrow seeks to provide its visitors with an 

experience centre focused on innovation and to get people 

to think about the future in an entertaining manner. In that 

matter, it aims to be the most beloved place to experience 

and explore the future. 

More info: Living Tomorrow Brussels 

www.livingtomorrow.com 

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VILVOORDE 

Enjoy a unique eating experience 

Distinctive dishes made with innovative techniques 

Innovative culinary concepts by topchef Marc Clément 

Various works of art by renowned artists are integrated symbiotically 

Easily accessible large parking lot 

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You will be cooked for by top chef Marc Clément, who has certainly earned 

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The Bistronomy team serves affordable gastronomic delights in the form of 

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In short, gastronomy with a nod to the future. 

Opening times 

Open from Monday to Saturday (from 6 pm on Saturday). 

Monday & Tuesday from 6 pm by reservation for groups of 

20 people or more. 

Sunday closed. 

Info & reservations 

www.thebistronomy.com 

02 263 01 31 

Indringingsweg 1, 1800 Vilvoorde 

Topchef Marc Clément 

111

ZURICH'S BLOCKCHAIN INCUBATOR 

FACING THE NATIONAL BANK 

OLD MONEY, AND NEW MONEY IN 

FRONT 

Interview with Anton von Golub 

Co-founder Lykke, Advisory Board Member 

Forctis AG, Co-founder TRUST SQUARE 

Right in the heart of Switzerland’s financial center and right 

in front of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), in world famous 

Bahnhofstrasse, Trust Square has opened its doors for the 

Blockchain community. 

The private Hub and Lab replaces the Liechtensteiner VP 

Bank, who left the 2.300 sqm location on Zurich’s most 

expensive street in March 2018. Offering 200 workplaces 

Trust Square was already rented out within the first few 

days. Blockchain technology is the common denominator, 

that brings together entrepreneurs, businesses, investors as 

well as academics and researcher in an open and diverse 

environment. And despite the hype, there is one vision: to 

completely transform how we will exchange assets. 

A TECHNOLOGY CAN SUPPORT A VISION 

To make a very general statement: I do believe that 

Blockchain is the greatest discovery of our lifetime. The 

same way the internet has transformed how we exchange 

information, Blockchain will completely transform how we 

will exchange assets. Blockchain will be the infrastructure 

that supports the global marketplace, where people can 

freely exchange assets. Unimaginable 30 years ago, but today 

we have the ability of complete democracy in accessing 

information, a few years ahead we will have the ability 

of complete democracy in exchanging assets. In the end 

blockchain is a technology, and a technology can support 

a vision. My father, who is a retired veterinarian living in 

Croatia, can have the same power in finance, in exchanging 

assets, as Jamie Dimon, who is the CEO of JPMorgan Case, 

which is the largest bank of the planet. This is my vision 

of the blockchain – complete democracy in finance. This 

is what actually motivates me every day to wake up and try 

to fulfill my mission. Swiss is the birthplace of the crypto 

world and Zurich is the natural center. Trust Square is a 

Blockchain Hub in the center of Zurich and in the Center of 

the Swiss financial system. Since April 2018 we opened the 

gates of the former VP Bank building, exclusively for Crypto 

and Blockchain Companies. 

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Bahnhofstraße 3 is a very special location. We directly 

face the Swiss National Bank, SNB. I think that is kind of 

symbolic. A Chinese friend used to say: “new money” and 

across the street it's “old money”. 

I personally believe that Switzerland is the birthplace of the 

cryptoworld for many different reasons and naturally the 

most prominent center in Switzerland is Zurich. Definitely 

Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies and Cryptoassets are an 

integral part of Zurich. Indeed it is absolutely natural, 

that everybody of the Blockchain community gravitates 

towards Zurich. It was our "job" and mission to create the 

Blockchain Hub in this beautiful city. 

Trust Square is co-founded by Daniel Gasteiger, 

Semih Kacan, David Simon, Pascal Grämiger, 

Manuel Krieger and Anton von Golub – Ed. 

FULL TRANSPARENCY AND EXCELLENT 

SUBSTANCE 

From the very beginning Trust Square is fully booked up by 

over 30 Blockchain companies with an excellent substance - 

this is absolutely the key. We do host the largest blockchain 

and crypto companies here in Trust Square, as well as 

mid-sized startups. We host the world’s largest blockchain 

venture production studio, global marketplace platforms, 

Mining facility producer, crypto exchanges and many more. 

Besides we all have our own Blockchain projects. 

Apart from regular company access, we especially attach 

importance to academic collaboration, and we do have very 

strong partners: The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology 

in Zurich (ETH Zurich), the University of Basel, the 

University of Zurich, the University of Applied Sciences 

Rapperswil (HSR Rapperswil). Our transparent and active 

community is very important for the success of the project. 

DEVELOPMENT 

Trust Square has to take a life of its own. Actually we are 

just at the beginning. Imagine the internet in 1982, which 

is where we are exactly with the development of blockchain 

technology today. We barely had a few successes like the 

simple exchange of crypto currencies. The development we 

will see in blockchain is to really make it work constantly 

and smoothly. We will improve the technology, so that any 

user experiences the benefit and an amazing joy to use 

applications on the blockchain. 

Making the blockchain a mainstream application for the 

global marketplace, that is the hot topic. 

ANTON, WHAT IS YOUR MISSION? 

My mission is that my father, who is a retired veterinarian, 

in 10 - 15 years is as powerful as the CEO of the biggest 

bank on the planet. And I may be provocative: maybe 20 

years ahead we even don't have banks anymore. Maybe 

we will have something different. That is my goal. The 

imagination, that maybe 20 years ahead my father is proud 

to say that his son was a part of this big initiative of a 

group of people to create democracy in finance. That is my 

mission. 

Nina Anne Pahnke 

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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 

AND MOBILITY 

Artificial Intelligence (from now on referred to 

as “A.I.”) is a term or concept that undoubtedly 

invokes mixed feelings. One might see it as a threat 

to our humanity because, as far as we know, we 

are the only intelligent species in our universe. 

But to another it might be a vessel to transcend 

our limitations. 

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Tensions between conservative and progressive forces are 

at an all time high: FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) 

is completely ignored by believers who see A.I. becoming 

reality like in the 1927 Fritz Lang epic movie, Metropolis. 

But is there reason to fear or doubt? I would like to share 

my personal thoughts on this regarding mobility. Statistics 

show that 93% of all traffic accidents are caused by human 

error. The first step towards traffic safety could be the 

development of driver assistance systems, leading to an 

increase in passive security, such as power steering, ABS, 

ESP, airbags, rear view cameras, park assistance, ... A.I. will 

eventually enable the upgrade to a (semi) autonomous and 

connected vehicle network. 

A.I. that will slowly replace human drivers never gets 

tired, is uninfluenced by alcohol, distractions or bright 

traffic lights. But does this evolution, which is undoubtedly 

positive, have a dark side? 

Will this actually improve our mobility? Will our road 

capacity increase? Will traffic run more smoothly? 

But most importantly: how and by whom will this system 

be operated, organized and monitored? What of the parallel 

evolution of technologies that improve the quality of our 

traffic control, like smart cameras and radar? What will 

become of the automation of our control-punishment process? 

Many believe that this might bring forth a society like 

George Orwell described in “1984” and Aldous Huxley 

did in “Brave New World”. One that comes terrifyingly 

close to a “Big Brother”-esque A.I. that orchestrates our 

world from the shadows. I personally share the opinion of 

multiple speakers at the European Automotive Forum of 

2018 in Brussels. If our approach to traffic regulation stays 

the same, there will be no other outcome than a “mobility 

crisis” while it is a fundamental construct of our society and 

civilization. 

If we are to guarantee mobility, we have to chance our train 

of thought and should act consistently, even if this breaks 

certain dogmas. It is without a doubt that our privacy 

will come into question, coming to no one’s surprise. The 

smartphone, our largest threat to privacy, has already been 

accepted into our lives and has integrated itself to a degree 

that it’s essential to our way of living. 

Mobility will go down the same path: privacy will be 

sacrificed at the altar of comfort and safety. As politically 

correct protecting our privacy is, citizens themselves will 

give up this right, as long as they gain immediate advantage 

from it. Recent surveys show that the majority of drivers 

are willing to let their driving behavior be monitored in 

exchange for cheaper insurance policies. In other words: the 

right to protection of personal privacy is no longer sacred 

and certainly not untouchable.

It seems to me it’s rather a question of how flexible we are 

and how fast we are able to assimilate the approaching 

evolution. In most cases, it simply involves gadgets like 

those presented at the 96th Car Show in Brussels: park 

assistance through smartphone, ISA-systems (Intelligence 

Speed Adaptation) which relieves you of braking and 

changing gears in traffic jams. Other aspects are more 

complex, involving and complicated to incorporate into our 

traditional way of thinking. 

First and foremost, we will have to think three-dimensional. 

By introducing drones and the explosive evolution of it, 

we will not only have to think in a horizontal orientation, 

but also in a vertical one. Namely, in contrast to airplanes, 

drones actually will play a larger role in daily mobility 

because of their physical proximity. 

Furthermore, we will have to accept that A.I. is self-learning, 

which in turn requires integration of ethical values and 

premises into the learning process. More importantly, 

supervision and regulation over these premises are required to 

insure its improvement and technical evolution. For example: 

• In case of danger, the protection of a life and the physical 

integrity prioritizes material goods and damages. 

• If bodily harm cannot be avoided, there can be no 

differentiation based on race, gender, age or any other 

human factor. 

• Et cetera. 

Finally, A.I. will also affect the most conservative forces 

in our civilization: law and regulations. Who will claim 

property rights when A.I. becomes “self-learning”? Who will 

be responsible for possible damages caused by self-learning 

machines? The A.I., the human, or the system administrator? 

(At present, the question is critical as autopilot controls 

are not yet fully capable of functioning without human 

intervention – but they’re good enough to lull us into a false 

sense of security.) Who will be allowed to gather data? How 

and by whom will this data be used? How do we protect 

ourselves from cybercrime and cyber terrorism? 

The challenge before us is phenomenal. The question 

is, how will the law system keep up with the technical 

evolution? How can we ensure that the law is future proof? 

Certainly to be continued ... 

Jean De Brabander, Lawyer 

Legal drone expert & consultant 

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HUMAN CREATIVITY & AI 

PROF DR. JAN DE MAERE 

Like mindfulness and meditation 

before it, creativity today has become a 

mainstream commodity, creating some 

holistic benefits and self-fulfillment. 

Artists declaim their ability to push the boundaries of a 

chosen genre. We all walk a thin line between inspiration 

and aspiration. A life only coordinated by order and ratio 

reduces men to tools of productivity. Creativity, investing 

disproportionately in love, dreams and hope, is driven 

by curiosity, not by fear or rules. Non-direct utility and 

uncertainty are essential in this personal expression. It 

helps to make sense of a deluge of sensorial information by 

updating our expectations by trial and error. 

Thanks to the growth of big data, better computer 

technology and hardware, algorithms can copy human 

neural networks better than before. Such a system copies 

a selection of the brain’s most efficient neural connection 

patterns, but developers often do not know how their 

self-learning networks arrive at their decisions. AI became 

the leading differentiator in manufacturing, services, retail 

and transportation. It is made by humans and behaves 

like a human, until its self-learning capacity (ML) starts 

Our brain constantly tries to predict the future and updates 

his expectations to match reality as much as possible. 

Therefore, high-level processing brain centers, such as those 

in the parietal or temporal cortices, create internal models, 

according to our sensorial input. The bottom-up sensory 

systems interact with top-down information of the cortices 

to generate an awareness of a prediction error, first nonconscious 

and then conscious. This signal returns to higher 

brain-computing centers, creating fresh guesses about the 

perceived reality. 

Machines already exceed human abilities for specific 

tasks. AI is mainly American (GAFA) and Chinese, not 

a European business. Could AI become creative in a 

meaningful way by replicating part of a human brain? Can 

AI and virtual reality (VR) play a transformative role in 

human culture? Dory is a new kind of neuro-morph-chip 

produced by ‘Imec’ (Leuven) based on OxRAM, a new 

kind of memory. 

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Its expert systems make associations between actual 

experiences and earlier ones. After being fed with musical 

menuets, it makes a new one. Similar self-learning tools 

produced a new Rembrandt portrait. Is AI challenging 

human creativity by expressing art’s traditional concerns? 

Jan De Maere

to modify the initial program without any human control. 

Analysts creating algorithms make mistakes and are biased, 

since they are human. Their product should be statistically 

reliable and fair to all. Only reverse engineering of the 

program can reveal its flaws and mistakes. AI is directly and 

narrowly target-oriented to anticipate our needs in a strictly 

rational and defined way. Computers don’t have intentions; 

they repeat and adapt learned patterns. But our intelligence 

is profoundly influenced by context and emotion, and 

therefore sensitive to nuances and aesthetic awareness. 

The major aspect of human perception is its ontological 

complexity, beyond the grasp of today’s algorithms and the 

understandings of the analysts creating them. The glitches 

of AI can have dangerous consequences. 

To make AI more sensitive to the complete scope of 

human thought requires insight and collaboration with 

people with highly specialized domain knowledge. On 

the other side, since wellbeing is not an exact science, 

the immense variation of individual conscious and nonconscious 

requirements will have to be centralized roughly 

in a pre-determined number of prototypes. This will lead 

to a schematic reduction of human diversity. Orwell is 

not far away. How will the deep-learning algorithms adapt 

themselves to the real-life circumstances of their targets 

without being connected to a refined application of all 

fields of cognitive science, sociology, psychology and a final 

human control? The simple fact that they modify themselves 

continuously to upgrade their performance will make it 

nearly impossible to monitor them in real time. No amount 

of human ingenuity will eliminate this threat. Moreover, the 

main concern is that the analysts, creating AI algorithms, 

will not necessarily be motivated by a human-centered 

morality. Underrepresented communities will not be taken 

into account. The threat of job displacement is real. The 

only question is: How much, where and when? 

CATALOGUING ART 

Collectors are progressively more interested in using the 

Internet to manage their collections. According to the Art 

Market report (2018) of Art Basel and UBS, online sales 

increased 10% year-on-year to $5.4 billion and accounted for 

8% of the value of global sales in 2017. Since 2011, ‘Google 

Arts & Culture project’ combines AI with image data of 

artworks and art historical content. On the basis of selfies, 

produced by the social media, it searches their ‘doubles’ 

in art history, making amazing random connections. It 

discovered that the ‘Irises’ of Vincent van Gogh used the 

same colour-chromatism palet as the ‘Waterlilies’ of Claude 

Monet. Its algorithms classified 30.000 photographs of the 

New York MOMA’s exhibition archives since 1929, all the 

photographs of TIME magazine, etc. You can search them 

with tags such as: love, sorrow, babies, etc. Google Cultural 

Institute’s director Amit Sood declared that 1500 museums 

and cultural institutions in 70 countries contribute images 

(already 6.000.000) to it. The Google Art Camera takes 

images in such high resolution that each brushstroke is 

visible. It’s the closest one can get to the traditional ‘handson 

experience’ of a connoisseur. Its Art & Culture website 

produces cultural content in an organized way, gathering 

huge social media impact. The cultural world of museums 

and collectors is neither organized nor easy accessible, 

Google is. Everybody can see the Grand Tour series, the 

Horse race in Sienna or stories told by museum curators 

about their institution’s works. 

In the online art market, buyers want total transparency and 

certainty, because the financial services industry looks at 

art as an alternative asset class that requires data. Buyers 

look for information, but also for expert opinions about the 

artness of art and the way social media reflect the art world. 

Artsy, claiming 24.000.000 visitors yearly, is a new power 

player/matchmaker in the art market. It is a facilitator to 

existing trusted brands such as Gagosian Gallery, providing 

live-bidding technology. Live video capability is essential to 

maintain the feeling of excitement in online auctions. 2.000 

galleries around the world publish inventory and exhibition 

lists on the site, driving $20 m of monthly sales. Last 

year, Artsy acquired ArtAdvisor to lean more heavily on 

personalized data to create actionable insights and to create 

a better customer experience. 

Boston based Invaluable.com, including a vast auction 

price database, has monthly more than 5.000 sellers, 

3.000.000 visitors and $3 bn in listed items. It acts as a 

personal shopper across 5.000 auction houses, going trough 

10.000 catalogues. Sales totaled $217 m last year. EBay 

and Sotheby’s use Invaluable since 2015. The Dallas-based 

Heritage Auctions is the market leader with $348,5 m in 

sales last year (2016). 

ArtAssistant, developed by the Belgian Alexander Tuteleers 

is one single and secure online site for all actors in the 

art world. It uses leading edge technology and AI on its 

platform, such as Blockchain for transactions. Collectors 

need an inventory of their collections. They follow their 

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favorite artists and like to know in good time when 

exhibitions or sales are being held. Transactions should be 

honest and transparent, without excessive costs, preserving 

privacy and discretion. ArtAssistant manages the websites 

of museums, auction houses, art dealers, galleries and 

collectors. They all need a single portal, allowing them 

to: manage their databases; automate the production and 

distribution of catalogues and invitations; access specialised 

translators; call on experienced insurers, shippers and 

carriers; make inventories; promote future events. 

With ever-tightening budgets, museum curators can access 

a detailed database of works to borrow for exhibition. 

Collectors want to preserve their privacy. Artists search to 

be recognized and represented. ArtAssistant displays their 

works online. Everybody can stage online exhibitions and 

sales. All these activities are accessed by one ArtAssistant 

software program, syncing all others, and a CRM (customer 

relations management) system. We all can be curators 

today in a free world. The power of the art experience will 

always be in art itself and with the artists who make it. 

Online censorship pops up more and more. In this media 

and online hurricane connoisseurship is seldom present. 

In order to distinguish copies from masterpieces, one 

has to differentiate hands and individual characteristics. 

This needs experience and skill to understand an artist’s 

creative power, clarity of line, his specific way of abstracting 

recurring motifs, patterns and sureness of form. In the 

immediacy of the digital world, this becomes a rare 

commodity. 

Less and less people hold the power to decide what kind of 

art is made visible. Censorship pops up in China, Turkey 

and other autocrat regimes, boosted by populism. Art is our 

last free continent to explore unconsciously the roots of the 

self and our aspirations.

FACING CHANGE 

“Facing Change!” is an ongoing column by 

senior media industry expert and Diplomatic 

Council’s Chairman Global Media Forum, 

Dieter Brockmeyer. He throws a light on 

burning issues of our digitalization driven 

global societies from his own perspective. 

LOOKING FOR MR. EVIL IS THE WRONG APPROACH 

This kind of shitstorm was to be expected at some 

point and Facebook and its founder Mark Zuckerberg 

are in their biggest crisis so far. However, the moment 

and the occasion are peculiar. The facts were known 

for over a year and nothing new has happened since: a 

service provider forwarded Facebook user data illegally 

to their client Cambridge Analytica who used it in a 

highly questionable manner to promote its client – the 

Trump campaign during the last US presidential election. 

Cambridge Analytica used this info right after the Trump 

success for its own public relations and the facts are public 

ever since without anything happening for long. 

Let’s look at the harm really done: Facebook’s mistake 

was that of not communicating in a transparent way and 

failing to close the breach. Let us try to analyze the harm 

done. Cambridge Analytica was able to define people that 

could be accessible for the Trump message, so they could 

be addressed directly. Well, would they not have received 

the message anyway, one way or another since they were 

open for the Trump arguments? 

This is nothing but my personal view: I’m very skeptical of 

how reliable personal profiles really are that you can create 

from social media data. People lie on Facebook and liking 

a page does not really mean that you are open to this 

subject. Most of my likes are because I want to support 

a friend without knowing the band or the organization – 

and I never take a closer look at it. 

Of course, it was a mistake that should never have 

happened and as it did, Facebook should at least have 

been more transparent immediately. Now to quit Facebook 

or to demand a shutdown of the entire service is just 

overdoing things once more. Facebook – and other social 

media – has become part of our lives. To shut it down 

most likely would create more harm to both businesses 

and individuals that run global campaigns or friendships 

on the platform. 

Therefore, Facebook will react, and it is very likely that 

Facebook will rise stronger from the ashes. Already now 

we see with astonishment that this “scandal” had no 

impact on the company’s quarterly financial statement! 

If we look towards China, with its totalitarian regime 

and society’s completely different approach to privacy 

and see how big data is used there to control people 

by sanctioning un-social behavior we really see a dark 

scenario of an unfree and illiberal society. That is what 

we should defend! This can not be compared to the socalled 

Facebook scandal. We need to look out for the real 

threats! 

Anyway, social media users should do what they should 

have done from the very beginning: being aware of what 

to post and who to let it see! Because no system is perfect, 

and leaks can always happen – and there are always those 

who want to take advantage of it. 

Profiles created out of that data therefore are not reliable 

since a significant share of social media profiles is not 

reliable. 

Dieter Brockmeyer, 

Chairman DC Global Media Forum and initiator 

and curator of the annual Global Media Innovator 

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ZAHA HADID INSPIRED 

BY SUPREMATISM IN ANTWERP 

PORT AND GUANGZHOU OPERA 

Two years have passed since the untimely death of 

British architect Zaha Hadid in March 2016 and yet 

her international legacy continues to grow as large 

scale international projects are won by her architect 

studio, Zaha Hadid Architects. As more and more 

cities around the world realise their ambition to 

build inspiring development projects, the dominance 

of the British architect’s firm serves to demonstrate 

the huge demand for bold and striking architectural 

centre pieces. 

ANTWERP AND GUANGZHOU PROVIDE A 

MEMORABLE SENSE OF PLACE WITH ZAHA 

HADID 

Opened in 2017, the new headquarters for the rapidly 

expanding Port of Antwerp is one such centre piece. The 

building features a vessel shaped, diamond like surfaced 

addition which sits positioned atop of a listed former fire 

station. The Port of Antwerp, who sought to re-position 

their new headquarters between the old historical port 

and the modern sprawling port, wished to create a striking 

new port hub from which new international and local 

connections could be forged. The building is a shining 

beacon at the centre of an open and globally facing port. 

If the building in Antwerp can be seen as part of a business 

plan engaged with enriching and developing international 

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Tom Monballiu, Deputy Port Ambassador - Antwerp Port and Inspiring Culture Team 

(Sabrina Tacca-Pandolfo, Raizo Wang, Pick Keobandith, Edward Liddle) 

© Inspiring Culture

Port of Antwerp 

© Inspiring Culture 

trade development, then the 70.000 square metres and 1.800 

seat Guangzhou Opera House acts to show how culture 

and the christening of a new cultural centre is another way 

in which bold and innovative design is part of how cities 

are choosing to promote themselves internationally. These 

are projects to inspire, projects which seek to go above and 

beyond purely functional architectural design. 

Hadid’s love for the art movement Suprematism can still 

be seen in the projects which continue to bear her name. 

The influences of the abstract art movement, which is 

characterised by strong simple geometric forms and which 

was named by the Russian artist Kasimir Malevich in 1913, 

remain the focus of the designs, giving preference as they do 

to the stylised distortion, abstraction and fragmentation of 

architectural forms. 

These stylised forms continue to intrigue clients around the 

world as bigger and more ambitious projects are awarded 

to Zaha Hadid Architects. Two such projects of note and 

which are both part of large airport expansion plans will be 

built in China and India. Beijing will be home to the biggest 

airport terminal in the world whilst the project in Mumbai 

will be, once completed, the biggest airport in India. 

All of this begs the question of what the impact of such 

projects is and whether they are merely a shining jewel in 

the crown of a country wishing to confirm their position 

internationally? Criticism has been raised that the ways 

in which the buildings are experienced by those living and 

working in them are placed as secondary to the ambitions of 

the client, who wish to have their very own sparkling Hadid 

project regardless of the consequences. 

It cannot be ignored that the countries which wish to 

be seen as promoting photogenic, avant-garde inspired, 

ambitious buildings are the countries which have 

experienced rapid unparalleled economic growth during the 

past years and who, due to this increase in wealth continue 

to grow as world powers. 

It is not that the world is unaware that countries such as 

India and China are now leading the world in economic 

growth but rather it must be noted that much like the 

historical leaders of the past, the leaders of today understand 

and continue to place the role radical architecture has in 

international image building as a high priority. 


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Guangzhou Opera House 

© Hufton + Crow Photographer


© Iwan Baan 


© Iwan Baan 

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CHINA’S MESSAGE TO THE WORLD: 

THE SILK ROAD – BUILDING BRIDGES 

BETWEEN THE STATES AND PEOPLE 

OF THIS WORLD 

Roads and railway tracks across thousands of 

kilometres between Asia and Europe, ports and 

airports, power plants, pipelines and logistics 

centres in Pakistan and Poland – China is investing 

900 billion dollars in the “New Silk Road”. 

124 

The network of trading routes on land, water and in the air 

is to link up the Asian, African and European states situated 

between China and the Old World. It is also being called 

“One Belt, One Road”. The mammoth project that has been 

pushed by head of state Xi Jinping since 2013 is probably the 

largest development programme ever in the world. 

The Chinese “World Public Diplomacy Organization” 

(WPDO) has now been founded with its head office in 

Geneva as part of implementing the Silk Road objectives. 

WPDO has set itself the target of stabilising the political 

and economic links between the East and West. Diplomatic 

World spoke to lawyer Helmut Naujoks, President of WPDO 

in Germany. “We want to build bridges to strengthen the 

harmony between nations,” says Naujoks, summarising the 

WPDO’s visions as follows: “We want to help shape the 

economic future between the East and West. We are building 

bridges out of music, art and language and bringing the 

world’s states and people together.” The WORLD PUBLIC 

DIPLOMACY ORGANIZATION uses art as the means of 

communication for this dialogue between cultures. “Art is 

a suitable medium to sustainably support harmony between 

nations,” accentuates Naujoks to Diplomatic World. 

WPDO proudly presented itself for the first time during “The 

Silk Road Concert” gala by the United Nations Alliance of 

Civilizations (UNAOC) and Fundación Onuart at Palais 

des Nations, United Nations, in Geneva in October 2017. 

“The Silk Road Concert” brought together the Symphonic 

Orchestra of the Balearic Islands directed by Maestro Pablo 

Mielgo, with eight distinguished artists from Silk Road 

countries, namely the violinist Yasmine Azaiez and the 

singers Bing Bing Wang (Soprano, China), Burak Bilgili 

(Bass, Turkey), Fatma Said (Soprano, Egypt), Huiling 

Zhu (Mezzo, China), Vladimir Galouzine (Tenor, Russia), 

Warren Mok (Tenor, China), and Yuan Gao (Soprano, 

China). The musical performance was preceded by remarks 

by Michael Moller, Director-General of the UN Office in 

Geneva, Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli, President of the 

UN Human Rights Council, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, 

UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations 

(UNAOC), and Miguel Ángel Moratinos, President of 

Fundación Onuart. The setting of the Human Rights and 

Alliance of Civilizations Room in the Palais des Nations in 

Geneva provided the ideal backdrop to promote dialogue 

and peace around the world through music. A special dinner 

attended by prominent figures from political, diplomatic, 

social, and media circles followed the concert. 

Sylvia Gallus, member of the WPDO Board in Germany, 

explains that The Silk Road is going to create thousands 

of jobs worldwide. “A close network of trading routes is 

evolving that links Central Asia with the Old World and the 

roughly 60 countries situated between them,” emphasises 

Sylvia Gallus. WPDO wants to contribute to this: several 

infrastructure projects are being developed along the routes, 

such as new railway and road links, airports and ports, 

logistics centres, commercial and industrial parks, pipelines 

and power plants. 

SMEs with huge expertise and international experience are 

predestined for the planned infrastructure projects in the 

Eurasian region. Machinery and plant manufacturers as

Zhenxuan Ma and Helmut Naujoks 

well as suppliers of special equipment in the energy, railway 

technology and port development sectors in particular can 

rely on packed order books, says Sylvia Gallus. The SME 

segment in particular can find respect in its worldwide unique 

innovation pool that also reliably completes complex projects 

under difficult conditions, states Sylvia Gallus. 

WORKING WITH CHINA TAKES PATIENCE 

“No authority provides any information when presented with 

such a document.” The business card is similarly important. 

It is considered to be the “key to Asian business”. A bilingual 

card in English and Chinese is recommended. It is a deadly 

sin in the Far East to take a partner’s business card without 

reading it carefully and then put it in your back pocket. “As 

then,” according to Naujoks, “the Chinese feel that you are 

sitting on their face when you sit down.” 

Wanting to understand the Chinese culture is mainly crucial 

for success. “Patience is important,” knows Helmut Naujoks. 

“I recommend entrepreneurs to seek dialogue time and time 

again. It is part of the Chinese way of working to proceed 

cautiously. European impatience is not helpful, quite the 

opposite. Cultural and interpersonal aspects determine success 

or failure,” says Naujoks, who is in China ten to twelve times 

a year. The Chinese are polite, issue invitations to potential 

business partners, give them gifts. “But that doesn’t say 

anything about a possible deal,” explains the China expert. “It 

may even be the case that you never hear from the potential 

Chinese partner again.” Nevertheless, European entrepreneurs 

should overcome their shyness towards the Chinese and 

exercise patience: “Nothing happens quickly in China. It takes 

a lot of talks before something binding ends up on the table.” 

Supposedly mere formalities are also given top priority in the 

land of smiles. The company stamp is given a prominent role 

as a result. “Even a document with a signature does not have 

any legal significance without a stamp,” clarifies Naujoks. 

WPDO has set itself the specific goal of confronting any 

fears about China. “The new Silk Road shows how visionary 

China is in its thinking and action.” The development of 

infrastructure links between Asia and Europe is “a major 

opportunity for China and Europe’s citizens and national 

economies.” Of course there is a different culture in the 

People’s Republic of China than in Europe: “But I see this 

culture as being open and trusting,” says Naujoks who 

regularly meets up with investors in China throughout the 

year who are looking for collaborations in Europe. He 

advises European entrepreneurs taking a leap into China to 

be willing to adapt and develop good contacts: “Otherwise 

you will fail there.” “Friendship comes before business. 

Or in business German: sustainability creates prosperity,” 

according to Naujoks. One thing is certain for WPDO: a 

close economic and cultural belt between Asia, Africa and 

Europe serves to stabilise world peace. “WPDO is committed 

to this all over the world month after month; this is our 

contribution to maintaining peace in the world,” explains 

Naujoks. 

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LA FRANCOPHONIE 

A unique multilateral organization, the Organisation 

Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) has some 

84 states and governments, including 30 Europeans, 

which is why it opened a Permanent Representation 

to the European Union in 1995. Today, the OIF 

counts 17 member states of the European Union 

and others are already applying for membership 

on the occasion of its imminent Summit of Heads 

of State, to be held in Yerevan on 11 and 

12 October 2018. 

What are the main projects at the core of your action 

as representative of the Organisation Internationale 

de la Francophonie? 

The action led by the Representation of the Organisation 

Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), in order to unite 

and mobilize the different francophone influence actors who 

are active on the Brussels scene, is based on the work with 

several influence groups, such as the Group of francophone 

Ambassadors of Brussels (which includes 106 Ambassadors), 

the office of the francophone Members of the European 

Parliament, the francophone journalists of the Press club, the 

francophone European officials, businessmen and bankers. 

126 

Francophonie S. Lopez and King Philippe

Manneken Pis 

More precisely, events, projects, debates and conferences with 

these groups are organized on topical issues of the European 

Union. 

The OIF Representation to the EU also participates in the 

meetings of the Committee of Ambassadors of the African, 

Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group). 

Therefore, the Representation is working, through strategic 

advocacy, to consolidate the achievements of the ACP-EU 

relationship and its strengthening at the end of the post- 

Cotonou negotiations, particularly on issues related to the 

official development assistance, immigration management, 

digital development and economic and trade relations. 

How have you celebrated the recent International day 

of la Francophonie on March 20th? 

The Permanent Representation celebrates the foundation of 

its Organization every year and this year on the occasion of 

the International Day of la Francophonie, it came up with the 

initiative to offer, for the first time, a costume inspired by the 

colors of the Organization and its States and Governments 

to Manneken Pis. The ceremony was held according to the 

ancient Belgian tradition and represented the expression of 

francophone diversity and richness as well as a symbol of 

unity in the name of common values of democracy, solidarity 

and peace to which francophones are truly committed. 

To achieve the goal of maintaining an effective connection 

between the various francophone groups of actors, the 

Permanent Representation invited the francophone 

Ambassadors of Brussels, the francophone Members of 

the European Parliament, the European and international 

francophone officials, as well as other academic and 

associative personalities, to celebrate the International Day 

of la Francophonie at the reception organized at the Château 

Malou. On the occasion, the Permanent Representative, 

his Excellency the Ambassador Stéphane Lopez, made a 

very committed speech highlighting the responsibility of 

francophones to federate and mobilize in order to increase 

and enhance the place of French language in the European 

Union debates. To highlight French, Moroccan, Canadian, 

Quebec and Laotian Francophonies, the Permanent 

Representation organized, for the same occasion, shows 

and concerts in collaboration with the Embassies of these 

countries in Brussels and with the Federation Wallonie- 

Bruxelles. Each year different countries, members of the OIF, 

are chosen to organize similar events. 


127

UNIVERSITIES BOOSTING 

ECONOMIC GROWTH, 

SOCIETAL INNOVATION AND 

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION 

CIDIC (EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR ECONOMIC, ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL DIPLOMACY), 

DIPLOMATIC, ECONOMIC, ACADEMIC, AND CULTURAL (DEAC) MISSION TO SOFIA, 

23-26 APRIL 2018, IN COOPERATION WITH UNICA AND BACES, VUB-BRUSSELS DIPLOMATIC 

ACADEMY AND DIPLOMATIC WORLD 

SOME REFLECTIONS BY JAN CORNELIS, 

ACADEMIC ATTACHÉ CIDIC, 

EMERITUS PROFESSOR AT VUB – WITH CONTRIBUTIONS 

BY XINNING SONG AND GUNTER GAUBLOMME 

On May 12th, in the evening news of the French television 

channel TF1, Bulgaria was presented as the Eldorado for 

startups. “Attractive features are: the average monthly 

salary of 460 euro (compared to 2.250 euro in France), 

the flat tax rate of 10% for companies and persons, the fast 

launch of startups within a week, the absence of customs 

formalities since Bulgaria joined the EU.” Moreover, 

broadband communication is widely available throughout 

the country, and higher education institutions are excellent 

at providing technical and scientific skills to young talents. 

Also, universities feel the urge to participate actively in 

innovation and in economic and societal impact creation. 

As an example, TF1 news mentioned that Sofia University 

is offering lab space free of charge for a smart clothing 

startup. Finally, however, on the negative side, the persistent 

perception of corruption was mentioned as one of the main 

factors deterring investment in Bulgaria. 

I am situated in Bulgaria”, where the traditional sectors 

of manufacturing, food and agriculture remain the only 

meaningful poles of economic activity. These contradictory 

messages are typical for a country in transition. While, 

128 

During the CIDIC mission in Sofia, the encouraging climate 

to attract foreign investors and business collaborations 

to Bulgaria was highlighted on several occasions and, in 

particular, at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce - BCC. 

Local VC funds, incubators, co-working spaces and a 

growing entrepreneurship spirit are emerging, while “10 

years ago there were no startup companies,” said a BCC 

employee. But we also heard less enthusiastic echoes: the 

brain drain is a serious problem, certainly in the ICT sector 

(which was already a focus in Soviet times), and universities 

are not organized and equipped for technology transfer. 

The CEO of a young startup told us, “My problem is that 

© Barbara Dietrich

© Barbara Dietrich 

politically, Bulgaria is integrated in the EU, economic 

and academic integration is proving a slower process that 

is still ongoing. However, internet browsing reveals the 

existence of startup ecosystems and startup success stories, 

including some first exits due to explosive startup growth. 

To my perception, these are still single shot successes of 

exceptionally talented entrepreneurial individuals, rather 

than a systematic and sustainable approach to enable 

startup creation, coaching and growth. 

Therefore, one of the DEAC mission’s academic panels 

“Startups, motors for new economic and societal activity” 

focused, first, on understanding the startup landscape 

and then on the more specific subject of the role of 

universities in the startup landscape, including social 

entrepreneurship, education, spinoff and entrepreneurial 

talent creation. The other academic panel was dedicated 

to “16+1 in EU-China relations”. The 16+1 cooperation 

framework refers to different mechanisms and 

arrangements involving China and the 16 Central and 

Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The 16+1 fits in 

with China’s more general Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) 

that re-imagines the Silk Road. Bulgaria’s interest in 

becoming more deeply integrated within the EU and the 

implications of China’s growing relations with the CEEC 

were central themes of the panel. 

The subjects were covered from a political and an economic 

(diplomacy) point of view. The 16+1 framework is also 

full of symbolism and is often perceived as a threat to EU 

cohesion, so the subject could not be left unaddressed. In 

addition, during the CIDIC mission in Sofia a particularly 

caustic report about the BRI, cosigned by 27 of the 28 EU 

Ambassadors in China, leaked into the press. Although the 

report emphasizes that Chinese state-owned companies 

are the primary beneficiaries of the BRI, it was a slap in 

the face for the European companies which had prepared 

themselves to join the economic boost triggered by the BRI. 

China invests heavily in infrastructure, and infrastructure is 

equivalent to strategic power. But building walls around the 

EU is no option either. China strongly limited the outflow 

of Chinese capital in 2017 to protect its own vulnerable 

financial system and Chinese companies are becoming 

more reasonable in their foreign takeovers and investments. 

129

Despite these kinds of self-regulating mechanisms, the huge 

BRI initiative and the associated Chinese strategic vision, 

comparable to the Marshall plan after the Second World 

War, merit critical academic attention to avoid populist 

reactions that are often based on perceptions and intuitions 

that are unsubstantiated by facts. It is an excellent subject 

to initiate the adhesion of Sofia University to BACES 

– Brussels Academy for China European Studies – that 

focuses its research on contemporary China and EU-China 

relations. 

In the session at the National Assembly, the CIDIC 

delegation was received by parliamentarians representing 

the different political factions. The general theme of the 

discussion was “Bulgaria as a bridge between the Western 

Balkans and the EU”. The Q&A session was initiated by 

two short presentations: “On the importance of Economic 

Diplomacy, the Brussels Diplomatic Academy (BDA) 

and international collaboration perspectives”, by Gunter 

Gaublomme, Director of the BDA, and “The role of the 

Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) for the development of 

small and medium-sized companies” by Sophia Kassidova, 

Financial Strategy Advisor of the BDB. 

STARTUPS, MOTORS FOR NEW ECONOMIC 

AND SOCIETAL INNOVATION – PANEL IN SOFIA 

UNIVERSITY 

The core business of the university remains research and 

education based on research. Research is the unique selling 

proposition with respect to other actors in higher education. 

But also, community services and the creation of societal 

and economic impact are part of the “new normal”. Towards 

our students, we have the social responsibility to help them 

ensuring their lifelong employability, and therefore not only 

research but also entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial 

attitudes have to be incorporated in the learning outcomes 

of the curricula. The latter are core competences that 

are expected from our graduates: “Some will want to 

become entrepreneurs, all will have to be entrepreneurial”. 

This transformation is crucial to avoid the danger of a 

new societal “divide” between entrepreneurs and nonentrepreneurs. 

The Bulgarian Ministry of Economy, represented by 

Tihomira Palova, wants to encourage entrepreneurship 

and innovation in new companies. Sectors of primary 

130 

From right to left: Prof. Lyu Jie, Deputy Director, International Office, RUC; Prof. Zhang Xiaohui, Deputy Director, President Office, RUC; Prof. 

Yang Weiguo, Dean School of Personnel and Human Resources, RUC; Prof. Zhang Jianming, Executive Vice President, University Council, RUC; 

Prof. Song Xinning, Director of Confucius Institute at VUB and Jean Monnet Chair ad personam at RUC; Prof. Huang Weiping, Chairman of Academic 

Board, Centre for European Studies; Ms. Song Yiran, International Office, RUC – Renmin University of China

From left to right: Prof. Zhang Jinming, Executive Vice President University council RUC, Prof. Jan Cornelis, Pro Vice Rector VUB, 

Prof. Anastas Gerdjikov, Rector Sofia University 


importance are manufacturing and knowledge-intensive 

services. Thematic priorities are mechatronics and 

clean technologies, informatics and ICT, health and 

biotechnology, creative and recreational industries. “In 

2016, 40 % of young people aged less than 24 years in 

the EU preferred to be self-employed and only 4,1 % 

succeeded”. Therefore, the ministry encourages universities 

to promote entrepreneurial skills in the curricula and to 

build new systems for structured knowledge and technology 

transfer. 

At first view, in my opinion, the type of support instruments 

provided by the government are the right ones, but the 

structure to ensure their effective exploitation is still 

under construction, certainly at the universities. Hence 

this deserves at least a follow-up workshop on exchange 

of best practices – Belgium being a country where 

structured university technology transfer has existed for 

at least 25 years. Maria Niculescu, Directrice de l’Ecole 

Supérieure de la Francophonie pour l’Administration et le 

Management (ESFAM) – Sofia, talked about how to include 

entrepreneurship practice in the curricula. She elaborated 

a particularly original example: ESFAM students from 

developing countries can choose a special project to carry 

out under supervision during their studies, giving them 

the opportunity to prepare for the subsequent launch of a 

company in their homeland. 

Abdellah Touhafi, professor at VUB and CEO of the spin-off 

company Lumency (smart lighting), made a presentation on 

the development of Lumency, emphasizing the symbiosis 

between his entrepreneurial ambitions and the different 

players in the regional innovation ecosystem, including the 

university’s technology transfer office. 

Nikolay Dentchev, Professor Entrepreneurship and 

Corporate Social Responsibility at VUB, emphasized 

the need for support mechanisms to create (social) 

entrepreneurial dynamics and to coach potential social 

entrepreneurs. He presented a very successful model, 

namely VUB’s social entrepreneurship platform, and gave 

an open invitation to share the platform structure with a 

similar endeavour in Bulgaria. As a result, in follow-up to 

the CIDIC mission, a workshop on new business models 

will be organized from 26 to 28 June 2018 in the Bulgarian 

University of National and World Economy. 

Teodor Sedlarski showed a video presenting Sofia Tech 

Park, a successful example of interaction between private, 

public and academic institutions. Ivan Todorov, head expert 

at Invest Bulgaria Agency, spoke about the policies for 

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132 

foreign investments in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian startup 

association (BESCO), an active organization that takes 

up an important interface function in bridging the gap 

between the startup ecosystem and government agencies, 

was represented by its vice-chairman Dobromir Ivanov. 

Milanka Slavova, Professor at the University of National 

and World Economy, presented the results of a 2008- 

2009 study on attempts to establish technology transfer 

infrastructure in Bulgarian universities. At that time, these 

were unsuccessful. She analyzed the main bottlenecks, 

a traditional story that I often encountered in classical 

universities: they are at the forefront in research but tend 

to be ultraconservative when it comes to their internal 

structuring and governance. 

Professor Desislava Yordanova quoted an OECD 

report “Bulgarian higher education institutions exhibit 

narrow understanding of the concept innovative and 

entrepreneurial university (OECD, 2014)”. She confirmed 

the most important bottlenecks hampering the transition 

towards an entrepreneurial university. She ended her talk 

with some of the best practices at the University of Sofia, 

illustrating that “times are changing”. Let us collaborate 

in an international context, skip some transition phases 

in the transformation process towards an entrepreneurial 

university and accelerate the change. As a result of the 

CIDIC mission, a joint workshop is being set up in Q4 of 

2018. 

“Cooperation between academia and business is a 

good proxy for the quality of both, but it is rarely 

institutionalized and above all virtually unknown even 

within academia and business circles,” says Professor 

Todor Yalamov. This statement has indeed been confirmed 

quantitively in many studies. He mentions that in Bulgaria 

academic entrepreneurship has been a story of ups and 

downs: “Academic entrepreneurship has deep roots in 

technical universities: highly institutionalized in the 

80s, banned in the 90s leading to a lot of exits from 

academia, invisible in the 00s, too noticeable in the 10s.” I 

appreciated his statement that academic entrepreneurship 

not only exists in technological domains, economics and 

finance but also in the humanities such as for example 

philosophy (ontologies). Establishing a meaningful 

involvement of humanities is indeed a challenge to be 

developed everywhere in the world. 

“Our ambition for research is that it impacts society. 

We used to think of impact as starting with an idea, then 

developing that idea into a prototype, then turning the 

prototype into a product, then marketing the product, 

and so on – it is a long march and the problem with long 

marches is that most ideas don’t make it. I will provide 

examples of a different model, one where society is part of 

the research process,” said Prof. Robert Calderbank (Duke 

University, International Francqui Chairholder 2017-2018 

at VUB), in his lecture on “Data+”. 

These new models require a large paradigm shift for 

universities: living labs, citizen science, transdisciplinary 

R&D, and research and innovation platforms are bringing 

new societal stakeholders in the core of Campus life 

and require novel university governance attitudes and 

mechanisms. These developments provide valuable 

opportunities for a country like Bulgaria – where the 

classical sequential way of societal impact creation 

sketched by Calderbank is not yet fully structured 

inside the university – to skip a few stages and join the 

international community in these change dynamics. 

16+1 IN EU-CHINA RELATIONS – PANEL 

IN SOFIA UNIVERSITY, BY PROFESSOR 

XINNING SONG (CHINESE DIRECTOR OF THE 

CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE AT VUB AND JEAN 

MONNET, CHAIR AD PERSONAM AT RENMIN 

UNIVERSITY OF CHINA) 

On 27 November 2017, the 6th CEEC-China in Budapest 

decided that Bulgaria will host the “7th Meeting of State, 

Government leaders of China, CEE Countries” in 2018. 

With this as a background, the Confucius Institutes at 

VUB and Sofia University decided to organize a panel 

on 16+1 in EU-China relations on 25th April in Sofia. 

Scholars from Central and Eastern Europe and China 

discussed EU-China relations in general and CEEC- 

China cooperation as well as Bulgaria-China relations. 

H.E. Mr. Haizhou Zhang, the Chinese Ambassador to 

Bulgaria, gave the keynote speech. According to him, 

EU-China relations went through development periods of 

constructive partnership, comprehensive partnership and 

comprehensive strategic partnership, and three dialogues, 

namely high-level strategic, high-level economic and 

trade, and high-level people to people. The EU is China’s 

number one trade partner and China is the EU’s number 

two trade partner. In 2017, bilateral trade reached US 

$616.92 billion, with increases of 8% and 20% in exports 

and imports, respectively.

EU-China cooperation provides the fundamental basis 

for the growing relationship with the CEEC. The 16+1 

framework forms an important part of this, and serves as 

a valuable addition to EU-China relations. Collaborative 

projects between China and the CEEC should not, 

therefore, divide the EU and hamper European 

integration. 

Foreign policy is to serve domestic politics and economic 

development. Professor Chunrong Liu from the Fudan 

Centre at Copenhagen University discussed recent 

Chinese domestic political changes and their impact 

on Chinese foreign relations and the interconnectivity 

with the EU and the CEEC. Professor Nako Stefanov 

from Sofia University commented on the Chinese “new 

normality” economic policy. He concluded that “new 

normality”, together with the fourth industrial revolution 

(based on the fusion of diverse technologies) for which 

China is well-positioned, explained China’s active 

international cooperation programmes such as the 

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), providing bigger 

opportunities for further EU-China and CEEC-China 

cooperation. 

EU-China and CEEC-China cooperation 

is important for both sides 

Professor Chun Ding, Jean Monnet Chair of the Centre 

for European Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai, 

gave an overall review of EU-China economic relations. 

Specifically, he discussed several key areas of ongoing 

EU-China economic disputes such as the free market 

economy status, trade imbalance, comprehensive 

investment agreements, European skepticism on the BRI, 

… He remained quite optimistic about the future of EU- 

China relations and especially the CEEC-China economic 

cooperation. Professor Weiping Huang, Jean Monnet 

Chair of the Centre for European Studies at Renmin 

University of China, compared the advantages of CEEC- 

China cooperation for both China and the CEEC. 

For China, it is an opportunity to promote further market 

reform and innovative capacity development. China and 

the CEEC have a long-standing deep-rooted friendship. 

The six-year 16+1 mechanism has already produced 

an early harvest. He suggested five fields for further 

cooperation, namely trade and investment, connectivity, 

cooperation modes, financial support, and people to 

people communication. 

The Role of the Balkan region and Bulgaria in 

EU-China and CEEC-China relations, and the BRI 

Professor Dinko Dinkov from Sofia’s University of 

National and World Economy, gave a presentation on “The 

Balkans Crossroad: Opportunities for enhancing EU-China 

Relations”. He argued that the Balkans are well located on 

the crossroad connecting Europe, Asia and Africa. It is a 

paradox that the region’s infrastructure remains very poorly 

developed, with restricted capacity to support the current 

high level of interactions in all fields of social and economic 

life. The CEEC-China cooperation framework and the BRI 

provide good opportunities for the region to promote the 

interests of the EU and China, as well as the region itself, 

and to reinforce the development of Balkan infrastructure, 

transport, communication and trade. 

Professor Georgi Chobanov from Sofia University 

provided a picture of Balkan short cuts in a modern silk 

road. It seemed to him that the BRI can be regarded as 

a world geo-political and geo-economic development, 

and a win-win project for generating additional resources 

and furthering the historical convergence of Eastern and 

Western Civilizations. He also advocated the concept of 

the “Rose Road”, i.e. “the short cut of the Silk Road via 

Bulgaria”. The city of Bourgas and the Port of Bourgas 

could serve as a logistic centre on the Silk Road, both 

on land and sea, with further railway connections to 

Plovdiv–Sofia-Vidin and Central Europe. Professor 

Evgeniy Kandilarov from Sofia University gave a detailed 

analysis of the role of Bulgaria in the 16+1 and the BRI. 

The inclusion of the 16+1 cooperation mechanisms into 

the BRI was the most important and promising element 

for the CEEC. 

The Bulgarian government declared its strong commitment 

to supporting Chinese companies wishing to invest in 

Bulgaria in sectors in which Bulgaria has traditional 

strengths, especially those providing high added value and 

increased competitiveness, such as engineering, automotive 

technologies, electronics, information and communication 

technologies, the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, 

agriculture and the food industry, increasingly supported 

with the facilities of new industrial zones and hi-tech parks. 

Bulgaria has always emphasized its desire to attract Chinese 

companies to invest in Bulgarian industrial zones, which 

are supported by the National Company Industrial Zones. 

Professor Xiang Deng, Jean Monnet Chair from Sichuan 

University in Chengdu, described recent developments of 

133

the China-Europe cargo railway. So far there have been 

more than 6.300 trains from 33 Chinese cities, which have 

reached 36 cities in 13 European countries, including 

1.000 trains from Chengdu to Lodz, Poland. But they 

also experienced some problems, such as high outbound 

transport costs, high operating expenditures, low bargaining 

power of the stakeholders and high subsidies. Further 

expansion will be subject to local dynamics, and further 

opening up of the BRI within a long-term perspective. 

European-Asian cooperation 

in higher education 

Professor Maria Stoicheva, Jean Monnet Chair and Vice 

Rector for International Cooperation of Sofia University, 

presented a new project called EURASIA: European 

Studies Revitalized Across Asian Universities, co-funded by 

the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme. The project, coordinated 

by Sofia University, includes five European, two Chinese 

and two Indian universities. The main objectives are to 

contribute to capacity building in the field of EU studies, to 

strengthen the internationalization of education, to improve 

competences and skills in the partner institutes for higher 

education, to encourage intercultural communication, and 

to provide faculty and young researchers with innovative 

opportunities for training, mobility and learning exchanges. 

Everyone in the panel agreed that educational cooperation 

should be promoted as a very important component of EU- 

China and CEEC-China relations. 

countries. Bulgaria-China trade increased 29.8% in 2017, 

but the total trade only represented a combined value of 

US $2.13 billion. Professor Xinning Song stated that EU- 

China relations are entering a new era. China’s strategy of 

seeking a stable and balanced power in its relationships, 

and of positioning China as a safeguard for global peace, 

a contributor to the world economy, a participant in 

global governance and a maintainer of international order, 

provides new opportunities to deepen the EU-China 

partnership. 

BULGARIA AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE 

WESTERN BALKANS AND THE EU – 

SESSION IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 

The underlying themes of the discussion at the Bulgarian 

National Assembly were economic diplomacy and political 

economy. “Economic diplomacy is the field of diplomacy, 

whether or not in partnership with non-state actors, aiming 

at maintaining and creating domestic economic prosperity 

by means of policies and actions in relation to foreign 

countries,’ explained Gunter Gaublomme, Director of 

the Brussels Diplomatic Academy. The strength of this 

definition is that it refers to what economic diplomacy really 

is, namely securing a nation’s domestic economic prosperity, 

and that this purpose is realized not only through the 

commonly known instruments, such as trade fairs, economic 

missions, … but is also taken care of by the legislature and 

the executive (i.e. government and diplomats). 

134 

Discussion and conclusions 

The European and Chinese participants had great 

expectations about the further evolution of EU-China and 

CEEC-China relationships. Professor Antonya Tsankova 

from the Chinese Studies Department of Sofia University 

appreciated the achievements of the 16+1 cooperation and 

the BRI over the last five years. At a recent meeting, leaders 

from Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Serbia confirmed 

their willingness to work together in support of the 16+1 

and the BRI initiatives. Increased efforts are needed to find 

new, concrete formulae for cooperation. Although CEEC- 

China cooperation has progressed, trade and investment 

between the CEEC and China are still limited. In 2017, the 

trade volume was US $67.98 billion, an increase of 11.6%, 

but this is still only 1.65% of China’s total foreign trade, 

and 9% of China’s trade with Europe. The CEEC is still 

not the main destination of China’s FDI in Europe. Some 

90% of China’s FDI is still with the traditional developed 

Rumen Gechev, Bulgarian parliamentarian, remarked that 

sometimes the preliminary studies on potential economic 

and financial impacts of laws adopted by the parliament are 

inadequate, resulting in insufficiently refined laws that often 

have to be modified and brought into line with EU directives 

afterwards. This creates a perception in the international 

community of instability which is harmful for business and 

investments. He welcomed regular meetings with mixed 

delegations such as the CIDIC mission. 

Gunter Gaublomme proposed to create a Balkan Chair in 

the Brussels Diplomatic Academy. He felt that diverging 

views can lead Eastern and Western Europe to grow apart: 

“I am convinced that a lack of mutual understanding 

lies at the basis of this threat to European construction.” 

The Chair would aim to bring together the positions of 

both sides, from the point of view of society, business, 

academia and governments, so that enhanced awareness 

and understanding would facilitate European cooperation.

A university, being a neutral platform for discussion, is the 

ideal forum to host this dialogue. 

The Bulgarian Development Bank, represented by Sophia 

Kassidova, described its business model that is aimed at 

developing and invigorating the economy, as well as its 

policy in support of small and medium-sized companies, 

startups and infrastructure. The infrastructure connecting 

countries within the Balkans has not been sufficiently 

developed in the aftermath of the recent turbulent history 

and wars in the area. The BDB also has a policy of 

promoting international relationships and cooperation, 

particularly with Asia and Europe. 

As with the previous CIDIC missions, the CIDIC DEAC 

days in Sofia were overwhelmingly rich in terms of content 

and camaraderie among all participants, and they have 

directly resulted in several new exciting collaborative 

initiatives that will take place in the coming months. 

HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE OF ECONOMIC 

DIPLOMACY – GUNTER GAUBLOMME 

Economic diplomacy is as old as diplomacy itself. 

Together with security and military politics, it forms the 

DNA structure of diplomacy. One can argue that the 

establishment of the League of Nations in 1927 marked 

the sudden interest in and rapidly increasing importance of 

economic diplomacy. Business representatives, economists 

and diplomats came together to answer the question how 

international trade could be promoted. The idea was that 

the elimination of trade barriers could stimulate growth 

in international trade. Till then, economic diplomacy had 

consisted of bilateral trade diplomacy; now a new dimension 

was added: multilateral negotiations. Bilateral trade treaties 

were incorporated in a multilateral network based on the 

principles of free trade. As such, international trade became 

based on a set of uniform rules and agreements. 

Other milestones in the process of enhancing the role of 

economic diplomacy, were the Bretton Woods system and 

Europe’s economic integration. Furthermore, it was Bill 

Clinton’s famous words “It’s the economy, stupid!” that 

gave economic diplomacy a significant boost in the 1990s. 

America’s economic diplomacy went into overdrive. The 

main aim of the United States’ foreign policy became that 

of regaining the apparently deteriorating American power 

position in the world economy. Old market positions had to 

be recaptured and new market shares had to be sought after. 

The reemergence of economic diplomacy was noticeable 

in nearly all OECD countries. There are several reasons 

to explain its renewed importance. Shifting economic 

power balances, sharp international economic competition, 

monetary instability, the extension of the trade agenda 

to include services and ICT, and the promotion of 

deregulation, all caused an uncertain environment for 

companies to operate in. Companies had to knock on the 

door of their governments asking for help; governments had 

no other choice than to help them, otherwise they would 

have been disadvantaged by their foreign competitors. 1 

Economic diplomacy’s important role is also clearly 

illustrated by its economic return. In the Netherlands, for 

example, trade missions led by experienced government 

officials increase the country’s welfare by 100 to 200 

million euro per year. 2 Knowing that this kind of mission 

only represents a very small part of economic diplomacy 

activities, one can only conclude that economic diplomacy 

– at least in this case – succeeds in its aim to increase the 

country’s economic prosperity. 

THE SOFIA DIPLOMATIC, ECONOMIC, 

ACADEMIC, AND CULTURAL (DEAC) DAYS – 

PROGRAMME OUTLINE 

Under the auspices of H.E. Mrs. Maya Dobreva, 

Bulgarian Ambassador to Belgium, H.E. Mr. Francois 

Bontemps, Belgian Ambassador to Bulgaria, and 

supported by strategic partners: UNICA – Network 

of Universities from the Capitals of Europe, BDA 

- the Brussels Diplomatic Academy, Diplomatic 

World, UBB - part of the KBC group, BMW. 

April 24th: Visit to the municipality authorities, 

guided tour of the city, working session and B2B 

meetings at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, 

CIDIC European Awards Ceremony, diplomatic 

reception at the Belgian Ambassador’s residence. 

April 25th: Two parallel discussion panels at Sofia 

University, session at the National Assembly, 

CIDIC’s dinner 

April 26th: Visit to the National History Museum 

and Boyana Church 

1 Coolsaet, R., Kesteleyn, J., Na honderd jaar: wederopstanding van de 

economische diplomatie, in Internationale Spectator, vol.: 64, issue: 2, 

94-96 

2 Okano-Heijmans, M., Hantering van het begrip economische 

diplomatie, in Internationale Spectator, Jaargang 64 nr. 2, Februari 

2010, p. 73. 

135

THE CIDIC INTERNATIONAL AWARDS 

SOFIA 2018 

PRINTIVO is a young biotech company working in the 

field of bio-fabrication and tissue engineering. The staff 

developed a cutting-edge 3D-bioprinting technology and 

a unique bio-ink formula capable of sustaining cellular 

life and proliferation. Currently, they are focusing on 

3D-bioprinted bone and cartilage grafts for dental and 

orthopedic procedures. Several private clinics are involved 

in pilot tests and trials. The business model is a print-ondemand 

platform for highly customized and personalized 

tissue grafts. They plan to widen their portfolio to five 

different tissue analogs by the end of 2019. Printivo received 

the international CIDIC award for its capacity to become 

a real game changer in biomedical industry, based on new 

technology developed in-house, its creative innovation 

potential and the synergy within its interdisciplinary team. 

MICAR INNOVATION is a drug discovery factory. The 

company has found a niche where it is able to create a large 

societal impact by improving the quality of life through new 

blockbuster drug molecules for a large class of diseases. 

It focuses on non-clinical Proof-of-Concepts (POCs) in 

preclinical R&D and Hit-to-Lead (H2L) achievements in 

areas such as neuroscience, oncology, cardio-vascularity, 

dermatology, rare diseases. MICAR21 is their drug 

discovery platform for small molecule drug candidates. 

The business model is based on licensing their intellectual 

property to commercial partners and on the creation new 

spin out companies. Micar Innovation received the CIDIC 

award for its well-chosen positioning in a complex and long 

value chain, where it can create key-value contributions by 

delivering non-clinical POCs. The company can be qualified 

as a fountain of intellectual property and an IP broker for 

new pharma startups and big pharma industry. 

AMMEX, SPADEL and EUROSENSE, companies rooted 

in Belgium, received the international CIDIC awards for 

their involvement in strong commercial and collaborative 

activities with Bulgaria. 

136 

From left to right: Prof. Anastas Gerdjikov, Gerdjikov, Rector - Sofia University, Prof. Zhang Jinming, Executive Vice President University council – Renmin University 

of China, Prof. Jan Cornelis, Pro Vice Rector – Vrije Universiteit Brussel, H.E. Mrs. Maya Dobreva – Bulgarian Ambassador to Belgium. © Barbara Dietrich


BACES and Sofia University received a joint International 

CIDIC award presented by the Bulgarian Ambassador to 

Belgium, H.E. Mrs Maya Dobreva, for their multicultural 

and trans-disciplinary approach in bridging the gap in 

intercontinental contemporary societal studies and building 

bridges of mutual understanding. 

UNIVERSITY OF SOFIA JOINS BACES DURING 

CIDIC’S DEAC MISSION TO SOFIA 

BACES, the Brussels Academy for China and European 

Studies is a platform for exchanging new ideas concerning 

contemporary China and China-Europe relations. It promotes 

understanding and critical analysis in this area. BACES 

was officially launched in China, at Diaoyutai State Guest 

House in Beijing, on 6 September 2014 by EU Commissioner 

Androulla Vassiliou and China’s Vice premier Liu Yandong, 

in support of the EU-China High Level People-to-People 

Dialogue. From the start, BACES was supported by the 

Huawei chair on Contemporary China Studies. The founding 

members are: the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Renmin 

University of China (RUC), Sichuan University and Fudan 

University. After the launch, membership has been extended 

to three European universities, Ghent University, Lancaster 

University and Sofia University. This extended membership 

fits into the strategy to establish among European partners 

several geographical foci, currently Bulgaria and the Balkan 

area, UK, Belgium and Western Europe. The platform 

provides post-initial education, research and policy advice. 

It is supported by the scholarship programmes of CSC 

(China Scholarship Council). At this moment it operates 

along 4 thematic clusters: Competition, Governance and 

Representation, Investments, Innovation & Technology 

Transfer. 

The signature of the BACES partner agreement 

with Sofia University took place on 24 April 2018 in 

Sofia. Rector Anastas Gerdjikov of Sofia University 

signed the agreement after prior signature by the 

Rector of VUB Caroline Pauwels. Prof. Zhang 

Jianming (Executive Vice Chairman of the University 

Council at RUC) and Prof. Jan Cornelis (Pro Vice 

Rector Internationalization at VUB) co-signed as 

witnesses. BACES and Sofia University received 

a joint International CIDIC award presented 

by the Bulgarian Ambassador to Belgium, H.E. 

Mrs Maya Dobreva, for their multicultural and 

trans-disciplinary approach in bridging the gap in 

intercontinental contemporary societal studies and 

building bridges of mutual understanding. 

BACES: www.baces.be 

137

CONNECTING PILOT INITIATIVES TO 

DECISION MAKERS … 

BOOSTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT! 

PILOT4DEV is an independent initiative 

that connects global stakeholders active in 

Pilot development initiatives in the areas 

of Climate, Cities, Governance, Conflicts/ 

Stability, the Environment and more generally 

the implementation of SDGs including Gender 

Equality. 

“THERE IS NO MAGIC RECIPE FOR SUSTAINABLE 

DEVELOPMENT” EAST PROJECT 

Environment and Climate Change are increasingly gaining 

momentum among decision-makers, the private sector and 

civil society. Initiatives and opportunities are mushroomed: 

36.000 jobs linked to circular economy should be created 

in Belgium only before 2020, the European Union has 

issued a new strategy on circular economy, management 

of plastic waste in the last weeks. The pledges of the Paris 

Agreement to keep Global Warming below the threshold of 

1,5C is a strong basis for actions, reinventions, changes and 

transitions to more sustainable actions including renewable 

energies as a growing market, and energy efficient buildings. 

SDGs provide a logical and needed answer to the challenges 

of the world we have created. 

tragic: we are not enough aware of it. It does not care 

about good feelings and virtuous outrage … not even about 

justice”. According to recent estimates released last June 

by newspapers The Guardian, 1,2 million plastic bottles 

are bought every minute, and this figure only reflects an 

ocean of challenges. The impacts of human activity on 

climate but also on health and the environment are often 

underestimated. The European Parliament’s reports indeed 

show that half a million premature deaths occur yearly in 

Europe because of poor air quality. Floods, heat waves and 

desertification will be increasing, while the level of seas is 

threatening coastal areas. Oceans are becoming acid and 

polluted with plastics and micro-beads. Agriculture and 

fisheries in specific areas are threatened, and mega cities of 

more than 5 million inhabitants become the norm creating 

enormous challenges … 

They recognise the need for systemic change and integrated 

action on all dimensions of sustainability. While the actions 

for climate change are both ambitious and timid, growing 

world’s population and economic activities increase 

pressure on resources and results in an unjust distribution 

of wealth and inequalities. There will therefore be no easy 

victory, and among certain circles, awareness raising on 

the dangers of climate change are still insufficient to lead to 

consistent action. 

138 

Experience, research and history show that country’s 

choices and decisions aren’t always rational and based 

on rational choices. French political scientist Raymond 

Aron used to write about the 20th century “History is

INSTABILITY 

Another threat is unpredictability linked with instability. 

The geopolitical situation is more instable and unclear 

than in the last decades because of the emergence of new 

threats. We have moved away from clear and identified 

blocks and partnerships to “less formal alliances”. The 

necessary search for stability in a new quickly changing 

environment will need to go hand in hand with economic 

needs, and the fight against climate change. The way things 

look, climate may appear at the bottom of the priorities’ 

list … while we need stronger leadership, improved global 

governance and better mobilization of financing potential. 

The third problem, and equally important is the lack of 

clear-cut solutions to solve climate change. In the areas 

of energy, green economy, waste management, growing 

demography or even sustainable urbanization, there is 

no easy solution. It is almost impossible to find a holistic 

approach where partners could agree. But why is climate 

always presented on the bottom of priorities whereas 

drastic choices are needed? The question of fossil fuels, but 

also demography booming to 9 billion in the next decades 

are likely to hamper optimistic forecasts and scenarios. 

One of the findings of U.N. International Resource Panel 

is that “the richest countries consume on average 10 times 

more materials than the poorest ones and consumption 

has been in the last decades a stronger driver of growth 

in material use than the population growth.” Inequalities 

and climate justice are really a big part of the problem in a 

context where Official Development Aid is decreasing … 

In addition, there is no international convention on the use 

of the resources … In particular, the question of fossil fuels 

being at the center of the world’s production and economy 

starts becoming problematic in the view of the current 

situation. 

In conclusion, we should nurture all possible progress. 

Jobs created by circular economy in Belgium for instance 

are very good news. It shows that we can make progress 

and involve civil society, industries and governments in 

finding solutions. But optimism will not be sufficient. 

We will need a lot of raising awareness, coordinated 

international action, better measurable solutions and 

certainly additional resilience and mitigation measures … 

This is why we have created PILOT4DEV to share 

thoughts, ideas, strengthen existing actions and policies, 

connect initiatives to decision-makers. We fight for 

Sustainable Development! 

Please join us and get in contact www.pilot4dev.com 

139

ENCYCLOPEDIA 

OF RUSSIAN AVANT-GARDE 

IN FRENCH 

Encyclopedia of Russian avant-garde – is the 

first publication of its kind, comprehensively 

reviewing the history and theory of the 

avant-garde movement in Russia, dating 

back to 1907-1932 by the authors. The chiefeditors, 

authors of the idea and leaders of the 

scientific and editorial work are art historians 

Andrey Sarabianov and Vasily Rakitin. 

Published in three volumes, the encyclopedia contains 

more than 1.200 encyclopedic articles and 4.000 

illustrations. The first and second volumes of the edition 

are devoted to biographies of participants of avant-garde 

movement - artists, architects, writers, playwrights, 

everyone who played a more or less significant role in a 

given context. The third volume, consisting of two books 

is dedicated to the history and theory: ideas, concepts, 

schools, exhibits and more, that are important and 

necessary for understanding the avant-garde art. 

140

The publication is intended to fill numerous gaps in the history 

and correct inaccuracies and errors that occurred in the avantgarde 

science in previous years. To succeed in this ambitious 

goal the team of 238 of the best professionals around the 

world was formed by the chief-editors of Encyclopedia. The 

"Encyclopedia of Russian avant-garde" was created with the 

active participation of 88 foreign and domestic museums. 

The edition received a number of national awards, including 

the "Book of the Year" and won the national contest 

"Best Books of the Year - 2015". At the end of 2016, 

the encyclopedia was published in French (1st and 2nd 

volume), and in March 2017, it was presented at the Georges 

Pompidou Center in Paris. The publisher has already started 

work on the English edition and is negotiating with potential 

partners interested in financing this large-scale project. 

To order books in Russian: 

http://rusavangard.ru/buy/ 

To order books in French: 

www.apopsix.fr 

To buy books in Paris: 

Librairie Flammarion Centre Pompidou 

141

MASTERMIND 

ANOTHER VIEW 

MICHELANGELO, KREISLER, VAN MEEGEREN 

This report is about people who made it based on 

their skills for negative headlines: counterfeiters. 

Deception/counterfeiting was already used by the 

primeval hunters when they imitated the sounds of 

animal calls. Cave painting proves that. This deception 

would have been considered a vital skill, and no one 

would have begrudged the hunters success. 

AND TODAY? 

When spectacular art forgeries become publicly known, 

the skill of the counterfeiter is admired, like the skills of 

the early hunter. On the other hand, the experts who have 

previously recognized the counterfeiter’s art as the work of 

great masters are being taunted. 

The enthusiasm to discover the yet unknown and to make 

the first in the world goes hand in hand with a lack of care. 

Numerous forgeries aroused attention: alleged Hitler diaries 

by Konrad Kujau, for which the magazine “STERN” paid 

almost 10 million DM in 1983; the Hungarian Elmyr de 

Hory, about whom Orson Welles made a film; Christian 

Goller, whose Grünewald-counterfeit graced the wall of a 

museum; in 2005, the discovery of an edition of Galileo 

Galilei with hitherto unknown pen- and ink drawings, 

celebrated by experts as genuine and authentic - the list 

could be considerably continued. 

sculpture of a Cupido, in which the young Michelangelo was 

involved. 

There are two versions of the story. Cardinal Lorenzo di 

Pierfrancesco, for whom Michelangelo worked in Florence, 

recommended that Michelangelo should bury the statue of 

Cupid in order to make it look antique and sell it in Rome 

at a high price. Another report says that it was the art 

dealer Baldassare di Milanese who buried the Cupido in 

his Roman vineyard and then sold it as an antique for 200 

scudi to Raffaele Riario, Cardinal of San Giorgio. The scam 

was discovered when a cardinal’s visitor stated that he had 

seen the Cupido in Florence when it was not yet antique. 

Milanese had to take back the Cupido against payment of 

200 scudi. Michelangelo had previously been paid only 30 

scudi, the Cupido unfortunately could not be sold for a 

higher price. Michelangelo as a cheated cheater? Vasari’s 

report suggests it, no matter which version is right. 

142 

Three forgers have drawn my attention since my early years: 

the sculptor Michelangelo, the violinist Fritz Kreisler and 

the painter Henricus Antonius “Han” van Meegeren. 

MICHELANGELO 

Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) narrates in his 1550 and 

1568 published “Le Vite ...” about more than 100 artist 

biographies, including the forgery of an 80 cm marble 

FRITZ KREISLER 

Forgery/counterfeiting happens in all areas of art, even in 

music. The world famous violinist Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) 

was not only celebrated as a virtuoso performer, but also as 

a composer. 

He named some of his own compositions as the works 

of great masters whose autographs he owns: Antonio 

Vivaldi, Gaetano Pugnani, Giuseppe Tartini. The music

critics were enthusiastic about the discoveries that Kreisler 

presented in his concerts. The ever-increasing desire of 

musicologists for insight into the compositions, for the 

purpose of classification into the respective complete work, 

led to a scandal in 1935, when Kreisler had to declare that 

he had composed them himself. The music critics that 

were previously cheering, were ashamed. The popularity of 

Kreisler did not get detracted by that. 

Incidentally, Leopold Mozart is also said to have taken over 

the art of decorating Tartini in his violin school. 

PLAGIARISM OR IMITATION? 

Berthold Brecht’s “Die Dreigroschenoper” refers to John 

Gay’s Beggar Opera, some of his poems to François Villon. 

In recent years it has become public knowledge that the 

dissertations of many politicians are plagiarized/forged. 

In New York, Chinese Pei-Shen Qian paintings sold at a 

famous gallery for tens of millions as Rothko, Pollock and 

de Kooning. 

Meegeren were really forged/counterfeit for over two years. 

Finally, the “white lead” containing white polymers of the 

20th century proved the counterfeiting. 

In addition, “white lead” did not exist in Vermeer’s time 

period. Since 1967, these analyses have finally been 

confirmed and accepted. However, there were already 

experts in van Meegeren's lifetime who called his Vermeer 

paintings as forgeries. Han van Meegeren was not convicted 

as a forger or counterfeiter, but for fraud and tax evasion. 

The government also claims taxes on forged/counterfeit 

assets. 

And: the ingenuity will not create a counterfeiter fate if he 

remains unrecognized. 

How many unrecognized genius forgers/counterfeiters are 

still out there? 

Maximilian Krenn 

HAN VAN MEEGEREN 

A successful forger/counterfeiter was the Dutchman Han 

van Meegeren (1889-1947). His Vermeer paintings were 

bought at enormous prices by museums, dealers and 

collectors. 

Even Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring bought a van 

Meegeren -Vermeer for 1,650,000 Gulden. This led to an 

indictment of van Meegeren in 1945 for collaboration with 

the enemy. To keep his honor and deny the collaboration, he 

declared that he had painted the Goering-Vermeer himself, 

which no one believed. 

In prison, he proved his allegations and painted an 

additional Vermeer, and listed the other paintings made by 

him. Van Meegeren had thoroughly prepared himself for his 

counterfeits. He studied the technique and materials used 

by the old masters; he painted on canvases of old paintings; 

he used color pigments that were common in artists time 

period. Even he himself made errors that were recognized: 

much later and only by chemical analysis. 

An international commission of experts appointed by the 

court examined whether the paintings mentioned by van 

Maximilian Krenn, Art Curator & Collector 

143

ESTHER DE VALLIERE 


ULTINETS IS 

MAKING NETWORKS BETTER 

In today’s increasingly competitive business 

environment, efficient network communications 

are the key to success in many organizations. 

UltiNetS (Ultimate Internetworking Solutions) is 

headquartered in Malawi and registered office 

in the USA. 

UltiNetS is a technology-driven social enterprise and licensed 

Internet Service Provider (ISP) with extensive expertise in 

providing innovative, advanced internetworking and cloudbased 

technology consultancy services and solutions to 

businesses and individuals. 

“These real world solutions allow businesses to successfully 

respond to the constantly increasing demands of the local 

and global marketplace and capitalize on technological 

changes that are forever becoming part of our society. 

UltiNetS design, manage and operate the ultimate transport 

infrastructure and enabling services for our clients to 

communicate and transfer technology. In other words, 

InterNetworking platform for current and emerging services; 

- Network Transport Design 

- Network Management and Operations 

- Network and Transaction Security Management 

- Cloud and Internet Access Provisioning.” 

- More than 20 Years of Highly trained and experienced 

industry engineers and technicians 

- Our proven, Comprehensive UltiNetS Integrated Solutions.” 

“To ensure efficient communication and secure information 

access for our target users is extremely challenging 

considering that our target user deployments are essentially 

low resource environments with no / unreliable / expensive 

power grid, major ongoing operations cost constraint, limited 

skill set of users and administrators and no environmental 

control systems (air conditioning, dust, humidity). In our 

response we ensure our solutions are designed with certain 

goals and attributes which include usefulness, affordability 

(low up-front and on-going costs), sustainability, reliability 

and flexibility in supporting range of uses such as relief, 

economic development, education, agriculture in rural and 

developing communities while providing ease of maintenance 

through local support skill development.” 

144 

“UltiNetS services are marked out by creative conception 

and clever technical solutions. We can guarantee a very 

cost–effective high level of performance, functionality, 

security, ease of use and administration possibilities with 

our adaptable solutions portfolio that we work to fit our 

clients’ needs perfectly. We provide our clients with marketleading 

edge solutions specially targeted to achieve their 

business objective. These solutions are built using our unique 

combination of: 

- Our process discipline, client-driven, customer- and resultoriented 

Integration Methodologies 

Malawi is one of the world’s least developed and poorest 

countries, beset in recent years by declining GDP growth, 

high inflation, and a rapidly depreciating currency. 

Telecommunications operators have been affected by 

currency devaluation, which has delayed their ability to fund 

network upgrades. In addition, the government in mid-2013 

instituted a tax on internet services, the additional cost of 

services being passed on to consumers. Mobile penetration 

remains very low in comparison to other African countries 

average, this allows for considerable opportunities for 

further growth. Internet market in Malawi is characterised

Esther De Valliere 

by mobile network operators and internet services providers, 

a national fibre backbone, and the country recently gained 

access to international submarine fibre optic cables for the 

first time when a transit link via neighbouring countries was 

completed. SimbaNET (part of Wananchi Group) has been 

contracted through funding from World Bank, to build and 

operate a fibre-optic cable linking Lilongwe the capital, where 

there is a virtual landing point to Tanzania for access to the 

sub-marine cables. These developments provide tremendous 

opportunities for UltiNetS in terms of accessibility of 

wholesale price and reliable international bandwidth 

resulting in low consumer cost. 

As a landlocked and densely populated country that suffers 

from widespread poverty, Malawi has one of the lowest rates 

of internet access in the world. Currently internet penetration 

in Malawi is at 6.8% against a mobile SIM penetration of 40% 

of the population with mostly the rural communities heavily 

underserved. However, the regulator has recently established 

a Universal Service Fund (USF) in an effort to accelerate 

internet and mobile services penetration in the rural areas. 

Malawi has a high demand for high speed internet in terms of 

multimedia applications especially in rural areas where fixed 

broadband connectivity is very limited or non-existent. While 

currently internet penetration is still very low there is still 

potential for growth beyond the current 6.8% based on linearly 

projected growth. The broadband internet market is very 

competitive in the urban areas compared to rural areas with 

almost five major broadband wireless access service providers. 

Quality of service (QoS) is very poor which results in 

extremely substandard quality of user experience (QoE) with 

lack of enforceable service level agreements (SLA). UltiNetS 

passionately believes with advanced development of wireless 

access technologies, harmonisation of legislative pieces and 

consolidation of global efforts to connect the unconnected at 

lower tariffs is achievable and should be a human right. 

TV WHITE SPACE NETWORK 

One reason that discourages broadband service deployment 

in rural areas is the cost of recovery on investment. 

Basically, many operators do not see any business sense in 

the rural areas. Such an initial investment cost is largely 

the cost on base transceiver station (BTS) equipment and 

the associated client premise equipment (CPE) in the case 

of fixed broadband wireless service. However, following 

a global coordinated move for Digital Switchover (DSO) 

by discontinuing analogue TV transmission, the world was 

presented with a Digital Dividend offering real opportunities 

for wireless innovation. One such innovation opportunity 

145

146 

is the concept of dynamic spectrum sharing and white 

spaces created by Digital Dividend (470 - 690 MHz TV 

band).Television White Spaces (TVWS) technology has the 

potential to cover extended ranges or distances compared 

to traditional fixed broadband solutions due to its robust 

propagation characteristics. This implies fewer BTS and 

CPE infrastructure and hence reduced cost. Other reasons 

for the reduced cost on TVWS infrastructure deployment 

is the reduced power consumption on the TVWS BTS 

compared to traditional telecommunication equipment. These 

characteristics attract new approaches to fixed broadband 

connectivity in rural areas with high possibility to achieve 

universal access to ICT services. 

The term TV White Space spectrum refers to frequencies in 

the ultra-high frequency (UHF) television broadcast bands that 

are either unassigned or unused by existing broadcast or other 

licensees. Television broadcasts occupy designated channels in 

the UHF bands, with the assignment of channels to broadcasts 

varying by location. Not all the designated channels are in 

use for broadcast in any given market, giving rise to “White 

Spaces” in which a channel that is not used for broadcast 

may be available for other purposes. Unused TV channels 

are available in the UHF band, allowing for throughput of 

up to 30 Mbps. The reach is over 20 km even under nonline 

of sight (NLOS) conditions. TVWS radios in the UHF 

band can easily overcome hills and other obstacles while still 

providing broadband connectivity of over 3 Mbps bandwidth. 

NLOS technology is ideal for hilly areas and also allows the 

penetration of obstacles such as buildings and forest foliage 

as illustrated below, this sets TVWS technology apart from 

competing technologies using higher radio frequency bands. 

The cost and complexity associated with traditional 

wired broadband infrastructure makes TVWS the optimal 

solution for the significant broadband coverage gaps in 

the underserved areas. Even though market opportunities 

for fixed access in developed markets seem limited, TVWS 

technology can use the low deployment cost of wireless to 

provide wide range of next generation ICT solutions and 

quality broadband internet services in developing markets. 

UltiNetS is currently deploying a countrywide broadband 

infrastructure in for commercial use. On completion, the 

network will comprise more than 80 core nodes connected 

to speeds of up to 1.24 Gbps, more than 100 TVWS base 

stations sectors connecting in excess of 3.000 TVWS client 

nodes connected to almost 15.000 Wi-Fi access points and 

serving a user subscription of more than 1.2 million. 

UltiNetS took a decision to build its own wireless national 

backbone and tower locations across the country. “We’ve 

bought all that equipment, and we will be the only ISP with 

a countrywide footprint. Most operators have cherry picked 

the premium users. We’ve taken a different model, we want 

to blanket the country and offer services to the underserved 

consumers in much simplified and affordable fashion. We 

took a conscious decision to build our own towers because 

the current co-sitting fees (on other operator’s towers) are 

very high.” UltiNetS considers TVWS technology to possess 

the ability to change the current communications paradigm 

and give users the power to shape and control the processes 

of accessing and utilising the communication networks. The 

time has come for an integrating technology that simplifies 

broadband internet connection for all humanity. TVWS 

technology can provide a cost-effective broadband access 

solution in areas beyond the reach of traditional DSL and 

cable. Currently we have an operational link to a refugee 

camp 40 miles north of the capital Lilongwe in Dowa 

district. User connectivity is provided through TVWS and 

local Wi-Fi access points. According to UNHCR, the camp 

has almost 30,000 inhabitants so it is really a town in its 

own right. UltiNetS built, manages and operates the wireless 

access points covering part of the camp and are looking 

to increase in order to provide coverage to the wider local 

host community through the purchase of vouchers to enable 

access to the Internet. 

TVWS IN MALAWI 

Malawi is an agro-based economy, meaning with increased 

connectivity and real-time access to localized data, TVWS 

can bring new efficiencies to this country’s agriculture 

industry. Farming drives the rural Malawian economy, 

contributing significantly to gross domestic product; it 

should be a priority to provide farmers across the country 

with all available resources and innovations to help them 

succeed domestically and internationally. Esther De Valliere 

an entrepreneur and founder of GreenXtraPower Ltd., 

a company based in Malawi producing Moringa leaves 

and oil since 2011, is working with UltiNetS to deploy 

innovative TVWS-driven agriculture technology solutions. 

GreenXtraPower is an ecologically organic farm in district 

Nkhotakota with more than 35 workers on a 45 hectare land. 

The Moringa leaves and oil are purely organic, pesticide-free 

and handmade with care by local farmers and exported to 

many countries and is known for its anti-bacterial and antiinflammatory 

benefits. Integrating data-driven techniques 

in the Moringa farming will help boost productivity by 

increasing yields, reducing losses and cutting down input

costs. These techniques have seen sparse adoption owing to 

high costs of manual data collection and limited connectivity 

solutions. This project will build an end-to-end Internet of 

Things (IoT) platform for the farm enabling seamless data 

collection from various sensors, cameras and drones with 

very different bandwidth constraints. The solution will be 

designed to ensure system availability even in the face of 

power and Internet outages due to bad weather; scenarios 

that are fairly common for a farm. Cloud connectivity for the 

sensor data will enable persistent storage as well as long-term 

or cross-farm analytics. 

In deploying the GreenXtraPower farm with an IoT 

solution, we solve three key challenges. First, to enable 

connectivity within the farm, the solution leverages recent 

work in unlicensed TVWS to setup a high bandwidth link 

from the farmer’s home Internet connection to a novel 

weather aware solar powered IoT base station on the farm. 

A sensor, cameras, drones and smartphones will connect 

to this base station over Wi-Fi; this ensures high bandwidth 

connectivity within the farm. Second, Internet connection to 

the farm is typically weak, expensive or non-existent, making 

it challenging to transfer high bandwidth drone videos 

(multiple GBs) to the cloud and enable farm management to 

access accurate and timely market information. Furthermore, 

farms are prone to weather-related network outages that last 

weeks. Such system unavailability impedes a farmer’s ability 

to take adequate preventive actions, do inspections and leads 

to loss of valuable sensor data. The solution uses a PC at the 

farmer’s home as a gateway for the farm data while serving 

two purposes: a) it performs significant computation locally 

on the farm data to consolidate it into summaries that can be 

shipped to the cloud for long-term and cross-farm analytics, 

and b) the gateway is capable of independent operation to 

handle periods of network outage, thus leading to continuous 

availability for the farmer. 

Finally, while drones are one of the most exciting farm 

sensors today, they suffer from poor battery life. Getting 

aerial imagery for a farm requires multiple drone flights and 

a long wait time in between when the batteries are being 

charged. We use the fact that farms are typically very windy, 

since they are open spaces. Thus, we incorporate a novel 

path planning algorithm in the farm gateway that leverages 

wind to help the drone accelerate and decelerate, thereby 

conserving battery. This algorithm is motivated by how 

sailors use winds to navigate sailboats; the system will enable 

precision agriculture applications where farm inputs over 

different parts of the farm depending on the requirement 

are adapted. This technique requires a precision map with 

information about each location in the farm, for example, 

the soil temperature, soil moisture, nutrient levels, etc. To 

construct this precision map, existing solutions for precision 

agriculture require a dense deployment of in-ground sensors 

which is expensive (as well as cumbersome to manage) as 

the size of the farm monitoring grows. Unless these sensors 

are deployed densely within a farm, the estimated precision 

map can be very inaccurate. Since the gateway has access 

to both the drone videos and sensor data, it enables a novel 

low-cost mechanism that uses drone videos in combination 

with sparse ground sensors to generate precision maps for 

the farm. Beyond application in precision agriculture, the 

system can be used for other applications like monitoring 

temperature and humidity in storage spaces to ensure that 

the produce does not go bad, using cameras plugged at 

different locations, to monitor cow sheds, selling stations and 

integrating surrounding smallholder farmers etc. To the best 

of our knowledge, this will be the first integrated system of 

its kind in a sub-Saharan Africa region automating the entire 

value chain. The direct connection between smallholder 

farmers and clients will boost income of the farmers in 

Malawi while cutting transaction costs, intermediate 

administration and save time. 


Executive Chairman - Richard Chisala is a social 

technopreneur and highly qualified internetworking 

specialist with enormous experience working in senior 

technical positions at Accenture, Siemens, BBC, Intel 

Corporation and Middlesex University, UK, Designing 

Internetworking Infrastructures and Integrating 

Telematic Products and Services including the first UK 

privately owned fixed broadband wireless network in 

Cambridgeshire. Richard holds a BSc. in Electronics 

and Communications Engineering from Newport 

University, USA and MSc in Telematics from Middlesex 

University, UK. He is currently studying for an MBA in 

International Business at University of Cumbria in UK. 

Richard holds a number of Industry accreditation in 

Networking, Security and Storage technologies. 

147

PROFESSOR AARON LAWSON 

FORMER DEAN, UNIVERSITY 

OF GHANA MEDICAL SCHOOL 

“These are excellent pieces of work achieved by 

our nurses under the supervision of Sheba. It is 

gratifying to note that our nurses have distinguished 

themselves. I believe they are now ready to work at 

the University of Ghana Medical Centre. There's 

no doubt that the training has been excellent and 

I firmly believe that the knowledge and experience 

they have gained will be translated into action at 

UGMC when it starts. We want to be unique in 

Africa and we want to start right. Our nurses have 

got it. Congratulations to all who have contributed 

to this success story.” 

The opening of a new hospital is always an important 

occasion and a source of pride to any community and the 

establishment of an advanced Academic Medical Center in 

Africa is a cause for great celebration. 

The University of Ghana Medical Centre would, in the words 

of Former President (2012-2017) John Dramani Mahama, be 

“among the best centers for medical training in Africa”, and 

the impact on medical training would be enormous across the 

country. “The 650-bed facility is the first of its kind in West 

Africa and second to only a few in South Africa.” 

The construction of the $217 million medical center, 

initiated by the Government of Ghana and the University 

of Ghana, was undertaken by the Israeli company EDC. 

The International Division of the Sheba Medical Center, 

Tel Hashomer, Israel, was commissioned to develop and 

undertake training programs for the future senior staff of 

the hospital. 

this unique health project had the highest level of clinical 

and academic experience as well as a pioneering vision. 

The training programs were thus specifically designed 

to enhance their leadership and management skills 

in preparation for their future role as the foundation 

upon which the new hospital could integrate the latest 

technologies and medical equipment as an advanced 

functioning living medical center. 

The Sheba Medical Center (SMC) participated in the staff 

recruitment and selection phase and shortly afterwards, 

started receiving the newly recruited senior staff at SMC for 

hands-on training sessions in groups of 30 at a time. 

148 

From the very beginning it became abundantly clear that the 

senior staff of the hospital (managers, physicians, nurses, 

administrators) shared the dream of establishing the new 

hospital and making it the crème de la crème of Ghana’s 

hospitals. All those who were selected to participate in 

Professor Aaron Lawson

These phenomenal women and men left their families, 

country and patients for periods of 3 to 18 months, believing 

in their ability to make a significant difference to health 

care in Ghana. The training program undertaken by Sheba’s 

senior staff included presentations, lectures, workshops, 

clinical work, tours, medical literature reviews, conferences 

and more. The many subjects covered included: the principles 

of hospital management; management of care models: 

protocols, medical records and clinical standards; personnel 

management: employee recruitment and retention; conflict 

management skills; Implementation of new technologies 

and equipment; patient safety and risk management; IT in 

the medical field; principles of bioethics: health promotion 

messages and preparing for the new hospital. 

The Sheba Medical center is proud to act as a facilitator 

for this project, combining the many different elements of a 

hospital together and making them into a single viable entity. 

Most of the Ghanaian medical staff did not know each other 

before arriving at SMC; clinical, administrative and service 

standards were non-existent and each of the selected leaders 

had their own individual agenda, experience and habits. 

Over the training session period, very close and warm 

relationships developed between the Ghanaian and Sheba 

teams and importantly among the newly recruited Ghanaian 

staff. The feelings of the many nurses are best shown in the 

wonderful letter we received: 

“I deem it a great privilege to represent this group in thanking 

all who have made this training program a success. Our utmost 

gratitude goes to God almighty whose grace has been with us 

from the onset till today. We say a big thank you for accepting 

us and accommodating us during our clinical experience at 

the various departments. Our appreciation also goes to Dr. 

Ella Koren, Principal of the Ziva Tal Academic School of 

Nursing and your vibrant team, who took us in and made your 

premises available for some of our lectures, simulations and 

demonstrations, and above all giving us a pool of knowledge to 

tap from. Organising such an experience requires meticulous 

planning and execution with an eye for detail. We cannot 

thank you enough for all the care, love and support shown 

towards us in these past three months: the food, shelter, our 

numerous and diverse needs and demands and the tours. 

In the words of Oscar Wilde, “the smallest act of kindness is 

worth more than the grandest intention.” 

God bless you all. We will miss you. 

We look forward to seeing you in our new hospital in Ghana.” 

It was SMC's greatest privilege and honor to be part of the 

establishment of Ghana's new advanced academic medical 

center. Our interaction with the wonderful and talented 

personnel from Ghana was a truly enriching experience for 

the staff of the Sheba Medical Center and we look forward 

to a long lasting friendship and collaboration. 

149

DAZZLING NEW SYNAGOGUE DEDICATED 

AT SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER 

“This synagogue will inspire our patients and 

provide them with the spiritual strength to heal.” 

Featuring an eye-catching combination of modern design 

and traditional motif, Sheba Medical Center unveiled its 

spectacular new “Beit Yehuda and Tamar” synagogue mid- 

May at a ceremony that attracted rabbinical luminaries, 

community leaders, noted philanthropists and the hospital’s 

executive staff. 

Prominent businessman and philanthropist, Lev Leviev, 

along with his wife Olga, who have contributed to several 

major projects at Sheba in the past, highlighted by the Olga 

and Lev Leviev Heart Center, spearheaded the renovation 

and expansion of the synagogue along with several other 

families, who donated funds to create the one-of-a-kind 

architectural marvel. Artistic high glass-stained windows, a 

ceiling diamond and a hanging Torah Ark in the shape of a 

Star of David accentuate the synagogue’s unique design by 

German painter and glass artist, Yvelle Gabriel, a Christian 

born in Mainz, who was deeply inspired by the work of 

Marc Chagall. Gabriel created the artistic design of the 

synagogue and was motivated by building spiritual bridges 

between Germany and Israel, between Christians and Jews. 

Chagall’s last work ever before his death were the amazing 

windows in the St. Stephan Cathedral in Mainz. 

Brimming with pride and excitement, Professor Yitshak 

Kreiss, director General of Sheba Medical Center said, “It 

is important that we treat our patients in a humane manner. 

This synagogue will inspire our patients and provide them 

with the spiritual strength to heal.” 

150 

Synagogue Opening - Ceremony 

© Sheba Medical Center

© Sheba Medical Center 

Mr. Leviev revealed, “This hospital is such a special place. 

I have seen people coming to the old, original synagogue, 

which did not have enough room to accommodate every 

patient, many of whom were attached to their infusion 

lines, crying during the prayers. It is my wish and hope 

that this new, larger synagogue with its amazing glass art 

will provide them the comfort they need to pray for mercy 

from the Almighty and recover quickly from their illnesses.” 

Synagogue, church or mosque – all houses of worship! 

At Sheba, the synagogue is open to all patients in need of 

spiritual support and comfort, regardless of origin, color 

and creed. 

151

Synagogue Opening - Chief Rabbi of Russia 


Synagogue Opening - Yvelle Gabriel and Prof. Yitshak Kreiss with Certificate 

 


152 

Synagogue Opening - Lev Leviev, Rabbi Yitzhak Youssef, Prof. Yitshak Kreiss 

© Sheba Medical Center



THE DIPLOMATIC WORLD 

HUMANITARIAN AWARD 

Prof. Yitshak Kreiss 

Director General of the Sheba Medical Center 

Israel’s National Hospital and City of Health since 1948 

For his direct involvement and devotion to 

aiding any human being in need of assistance, from all walks of life. 

For treating victims of conflicts and 

disasters all over the world. 

For his ground-breaking research which has helped 

to develop state-of-the-art natural disaster medical relief concepts, 

making him a global expert and leader in this category. 

For his steadfast contributions to current global medical challenges. 

June 14, 2018 


Diplomatic World 

Owner and CEO 

153

‘AS-SALAM ALAYKOM’ … 

‘WA ALYKOM AS-SLAM’ 

Jacqueline Couder (Director International Relations 

at VUB), Ami Azar (Project Coordinator Arabic 

language courses), Jan Cornelis (Academic Attaché 

CIDIC) 

ARABIC LANGUAGE COURSES AS A SECOND 

LANGUAGE. A TOOL FOR BETTER INTEGRATION 

IN THE BRUSSELS COMMUNITY 

In October 2016, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) 

launched a project on Arabic language learning for children 

aged 6-15 in Brussels. The children follow extra-curricular 

courses, four hours a week. The project was designed in 

response to the large migration influx, the need for new 

innovative answers to integration problems in the host 

countries and concern about the quality of teaching and 

teachers for Arabic language learning as a second language. 

We are convinced that teaching about important social 

themes and intercultural values in the children’s mother 

tongue or language of their country of origin, will help them 

in developing a strong positive image of their own identity. 

Language is indeed pivotal in this development. More 

languages mean better mutual understanding, tolerance and 

awareness. 

Children take their graduation certificate and gift from VUB. 

of our courses is the modern curriculum, independent of 

religion and illustrated with cartoon figures from Arabic 

and European origin. We just finished the first course 

book, tailormade for this type of classes. It is now ready for 

printing – the first of eight! The project received a financial 

contribution from the King Baudouin Foundation. 

154 

You can read more about the societal and individual 

offspring of the Arabic Language Classes in Diplomatic 

World 54. Since 2016, the success has been impressive: the 

first year we had 164 children, now 300 with a waiting list 

of another 300 candidates. A unique selling proposition 

The main characters of the curriculum. (two from Arabic origin 

and two from European origin) 

On 5 May, VUB organised the graduation ceremony for 

graduates of the 2nd year of the Arabic Language Classes. 

Despite the competition with the Iris festivities in Brussels 

and open-door events in several schools, a total of 8 

buses packed with cheerful children and parents arrived 

on campus from the 4 locations of the Go School Group 

in Brussels where classes are organised. After a word of 

welcome by prof. Sonja Snacken, VUB Vice Rector for 

International Relations, the children danced and sang 

their hearts out, accompanied by the Wassel music band. 

H.E. Dr. Yousef Bataineh, Ambassador of the Hashemite 

Kingdom of Jordan in Belgium, H.E. Jasem Mohamed 

Albudaiwi, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait in Belgium, 

H.E. Mohammed Ameur, Ambassador of the Kingdom of 

Morocco in Belgium and H.E. Fadi Hajali, Ambassador of 

Lebanon in Belgium, addressed the lively audience with 

great enthusiasm.

The Kuwaiti ambassador Mr. Jassim M. Al-Bdaiwi, the Jordanian ambassador Mr. Yousef Bataineh, the Moroccan ambassador Mr. Mohammed Ameur, 

vice rector VUB for international relations Prof. Sonja Snacken, the wife of the Lebanese ambassador Mrs. Ksenia Hajali, the Lebanese ambassador 

Mr. Fadi Hajali, pro vice rector VUB Prof. Jan Cornelis, director international relations office Dr. Jacqueline Couder, Directeur Foundation 

& Fellowship Mrs. Isabelle Marneffe. 

The ambassadors awarded the certificates to the children, as 

well as some goodies from VUB and a t-shirt offered by H.E. 

Albudaiwi. The audience and the project team went ecstatic 

when H.E. Albudaiwi announced financial support for the 

project. The children were the center of attention, but the 

VUB students were not forgotten by H.E. Bataineh, who 

announced 5 internship places at the Embassy of Jordan. 

The members of the VUB International Relations office, 

the VUB experts in linguistics and the team of teachers 

are already preparing for the next schoolyear and the 

summertime will be devoted to further development of 

course materials. As of September 2018, Arabic language 

classes will also be broadcast by Radio AraBel for a broader 

societal outreach. 

The Kuwaiti ambassador Mr. Jassim M. Al-Bdaiwi 

QUOTE BY H.E. DR. YOUSEF BATAINEH 

“I was so pleased to take part in your team's endeavors 

who obviously exerted genuine efforts with sincerity and 

passion. I congratulate you all. I am certain this event and 

the program will be a milestone in the life of many graduate 

children. Many of them have been inspired to work for a 

brighter future.” 

Extra efforts are still necessary to reach sustainability 

of the project. The VUB Foundation 

www.vubfoundation.be is looking forward to receiving 

your suggestions: consultation of your network for 

potential donors, direct financial contributions or 

other creative ideas. 

155

CORPORATE DIPLOMACY: 

IS YOUR BUSINESS AWAKENED? 

BY INES PIRES, STRATEGIST, AUTHOR 

AND ISPD+ INNOVATION IN 

DIPLOMACY NETWORK FOUNDER 

Stop and sit for one minute before reading those 

words, and Imagine. Imagine that you are able 

to see the world from the inside out. If you can 

visualize that, picture you have the key for society 

transformation, evolution and revenue opportunities. 

The world is perceived by constant social development 

challenges. We are used to analising society deductively and 

not inductively and both are necessary. Too many children in 

Africa, too few children in Europe, overpopulated civilisations 

and scarce business mindset owners. The list continues. 

We can express opinions aloud and try to convince 

ourselves that the power remains only externally but 

the solid rock is formed internally, after which we move 

externally. Multilateral perspectives are a question of global 

survival. Propaganda marketing techniques are breakable at 

a little breeze of challenge. True professional relationships 

mean true results in the right timing and the positive 

momentum of corporate values. 

Like Mark Twain said, “Whenever you find yourself on the 

side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” After 

serving more than a hundred countries, there are two global 

laws of Business Prosperity that usually not all companies 

recognise immediately: it’s the financial value of Cultural 

Relationships Intelligence and Corporate Diplomacy. The 

foundations of the ability to build and maintain reputation 

with real business development while its protocol must be 

integrated into the daily lives of our organisations. 

To communicate well at the global professional ground is 

key to success, and will impact any future venture. Different 

stakeholders have different histories, values, backgrounds 

and even economic philosophies and those facts makes us 

question if there are social and professional boundaries of 

loss and gain in the balance sheet. 

NO ESCAPE 

The current businesses and social environments are 

multicultural, multi-generational and multilingual. This 

context will push any business and public institution to 

examine new models of communication around the world 

constantly. Businesses don’t want to wait, governments 

don’t want to speed up. This is what I call, a moment of 

impact, the way the choice is made. To wait when timing 

demands speed when the green light is there. 

156 

Conscious of diversity, we need to re-balance social, 

international and business relations, thus creating 

improvement and confidence at any position. Understanding 

corporate diplomacy importance starts with awareness, but 

moves to a question of consciousness.

Not as easy as it sounds because future failed 

organisations simply don’t invest in long-term 

relationships and are confused on the concepts of 

flexibility and opportunity. 

An Innovation in Diplomacy methodology within a solid 

corporate diplomacy strategy awards us a self-awareness of 

who we are and what we stand for in our corporate culture. 

“The empires of the future are empires of the mind,” said 

Winston Churchill, and it is valid today. 

Corporate Diplomacy and Cultural Intelligence are 

blistering topics inside of an organisation today. The job 

market demands men and women who are cross-culturally 

astute in dealing with the stakeholders to build a productive 

relationship — a relationship in which a stakeholder is 

helped to obtain his objectives while delivering on added 

value. In any given situation, knowledge of those skills is a 

talent that can be learned. 

Business success in international markets is more than just 

being the greatest in the known bubble. It requires building 

bonds of understanding within and across distinct strategic 

communication philosophies. Therefore, it is a central 

instrument for today’s official, manager or professional 

ready for worldwide opportunities. 

If we are thinking about a big investment decisions of 

100 million euros or small investments of 10 million, 

firms follow business models, indicators and analyses 

that were previous defined. When we define corporate 

diplomacy methodologies as add-on indicators, we are not 

talking about vague introductions or non-valued business 

development actions but quantifiable results through 

partnerships and reputation measurement tools that clearly 

show the financial and social impact in the workplace. 

Ines Pires 

to create the ecosystem that helps to channel and quantify 

the market opportunities and avoid mistakes that cost 

organisations millions of euros by failing to develop 

intelligence-care with external stakeholders. 

Now stand up, imagine you can see the world from outside 

in. If you can visualize both pictures now “inside out” and 

“outside in” you have the key for society transformation, 

evolution, revenues opportunities but above all to impact 

others. 

In her new book, Corporate Diplomacy, The ISPD+ 

Innovation in Diplomacy Group founder, Ines Pires 

advises public and private organisations to build the 

capability to communicate strategically to develop 

long lasting alliances. 

We update the momentum and monitoring progress 

of initiatives such as business innovation and state 

sustainability with whatever indicators they are tracking. 

Corporate diplomacy strategies linked with cultural 

intelligence figure out how external stakeholders link into 

the existing indicators and how we can monitor those addons 

and improve upon those existing indicators. 

To strengthen innovative strategic communication in 

organisations we must make the structural changes to adapt 

to new markets in new realities. Relationships are built and 

maintained based on reputation and trust. Partnerships 

among sectors, industries and philosophies will continue 

ABOUT 

Ines Pires is an economist, human interactions 

scholar and entrepreneur. Due to her vision to fill 

the gap between cultural intelligence learning across 

industries and business development results, she is 

an interactions innovator. She has different awards 

and advised Forbes 500 corporations, governments 

of more than 100 countries and she is a published 

author. She is the founder of the ISPD Group and the 

global network Innovation in Diplomacy. 

https://youtu.be/z5UUyHyrbDU 

157

HISTORY OF THE 

MONTE CARLO RALLY 

TRIBUTE TO THE FIRST 

ST. PETERSBURG-MONACO RACE IN 1911 

The Automobile Club de Monaco is a motoring club 

that organizes the Monte Carlo Rally, a car race 

that starts at points all over Europe and converges 

in Monte Carlo. Its first edition took place in 1911, 

starting from 11 cities in Europe including 

St. Petersburg. 

The Monte Carlo Rally was ordered by Prince Albert I 

of Monaco, as an important means of demonstrating 

improvements and innovations to automobiles. On January 

21st, 1911, 23 cars set out for the first Monte Carlo Rally 

from 11 different locations. The rally was judged on driving, 

the elegance of the car, passenger comfort and the condition 

in which it arrived in the principality. Andrei Nagel was the 

fastest driver of the race that started in St. Petersburg. 

The early days of the motoring sport in Russia began 

in 1898 when the first races took place just outside of 

St. Petersburg. In 1902, the country’s first and most 

influential automobile association, the St. Petersburg 

Automobile Club (or “SPAK”), was founded. It promoted 

the automobile culture by holding races, exhibitions and 

cooperating with newspapers and magazines devoted to the 

auto industry. 

158 

Tsar Nicholas II 

One of SPAK’s founders was Andrei Nagel, the most 

famous automobile journalist and car racer in Imperial 

Russia. He was somewhat of a celebrity, with fans referring 

to him as “a man who eats distances and snacks on tires.” 

Nagel not only organized and took part in car races 

and exhibitions, but also participated in international 

competitions in Europe. For example, in 1911 he beat 87

competitors and finished first in his Russo-Balt car in 

the St. Petersburg to Monaco rally that crossed 3.257 

kilometres in 195 hours 23 minutes. For his victory Nagel 

received a state prize from Tsar Nicholas II. In 1902, Nagel 

also founded the first magazine devoted to the automobile 

industry in Russia named Automobile. 

During the first Rally, the weather conditions were extreme 

during the journey in Central Europe to the Principality 

of Monaco. The racers went via Riga (where they were 

chased by a pack of wolves and were nearly devoured), 

Königsberg, Berlin, Heidelberg and Belfort. The weather 

only softened from Lyon to reach Avignon. Nagel and his 

companion Mikhailov arrive as first competitors in the 

Principality by following the road from Berlin. The total 

distance was 3.257 kilometres, with a peak speed of 167 

km/h. 

Nagel and Mikhailov were ranked ninth in the Rally 

overall. Their car was decorated with flags for their victory 

tour and at the princely palace they received the Longest 

Course Award, and that of the resistance. The Imperial 

Automobile Club gave a gala evening where they were 

offered a bonus of 600 francs at the time. Upon Nagel’s 

return, the Tsar awarded him membership of the Order of 

St. Anne. 

Prince Albert I 

159

DENNY GREVE GEMA 

SPIEF'18 - ST. PETERSBURG 

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM 

160 

What associations come to your mind when you 

hear the "International Economic Forum"? 

Probably, like most of us, you imagine presidents, bankers, 

owners of the largest corporations, in a word – the 

authorities and the powerful ones who gather to solve 

global problems and tasks at the highest level. And of 

course, the media and journalists who are rushing to tell 

everything most important and significant on air, not 

missing a single detail. Unwittingly or not, we are watching 

this major event in the global economy on TV screens, in 

newspapers and magazines, on the Internet. Not always 

understanding the meaning of what is happening, but all 

hoping for a change for the better, we follow the Forum 

with interest, where so many influential people from all 

over the world are gathered and huge sums of money are 

spent. However, this is what we see from the outside. How 

does the Forum look from within, and who are those 

members of the Forum? 

I was lucky to participate in such a project called “The 

Peace Rally’, which is a part of the program of the 

St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2018. After 

receiving an invitation from the organizer of the rally and 

the President of the Future of the Motherland Foundation, 

I started this exciting journey. Without any exaggeration, 

I would like to express my gratitude to the organizer of 

the Peace Rally and the president of the Future of the 

Kiury Usmanov, David Datuna, Denny Greve and Jüri Tamm 

Denny Greve and David Datuna 


Motherland Foundation Kiury Usmanov, not so much for 

the invitation, but for his active participation and charitable 

projects contributing to the unification of Europe and 

Russia. 

At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, I 

found myself surrounded by famous people with whom 

I could communicate without cameras and restrictions. 

However, before I talk about those with whom I had the 

rare opportunity to talk, I want to note the very atmosphere 

of the event. We must not forget that the Peace Rally was 

first held in May 2017, and was attended by representatives 

of the European aristocracy and business elite of the Old 

World on personal rarity cars. The rally was held under the 

slogans: "Europe loves Russia", "Europe supports Russia" 

and "We are together". Participants of the rally passed 

through the territory of 11 states of Europe, appealing 

for peace and cooperation with Russia. We may say that 

the peacekeeping mission that began in 2017 found its 

continuation in 2018. Now the retro cars were joined by 

sports cars, and in addition to representatives of aristocratic 

circles and business elite, famous figures of show business 

took part in the rally. The motto of the Peace Rally 2018 

was "The countries of the West and Russia have a common

peacekeeping road". All of this had reflection in the spirit of 

the event, which was held in a warm, friendly atmosphere. 

Despite the fact that participants of the Peace Rally were 

from many countries, there was absolutely no stiffness in 

communication. 

Of course, one should recognize the great merit of the 

organizers of the project in this. Despite the rich program, 

everything went very smoothly and clearly. We did not have 

to wait or suddenly rush somewhere, almost everything was 

thought through to the smallest detail. Perhaps, that is why 

the participants had plenty of time for informal friendly 

communication, which, in my opinion, is the key to further 

successful business relations. Of course, we were very lucky 

with the weather – warm sunny May in St. Petersburg added 

success to the event. 

Among the world-famous people invited to participate in the 

Peace Rally with whom I had the opportunity to talk I want 

to highlight Jüri Tamm, Olympic athlete, Honorary Consul 

of Monaco in Estonia, Vice President of the National 

Olympic Committee of Estonia, and David Datuna, an 

American artist. Sports and art have long gone hand in 

hand in strengthening peace and friendly relations not only 

between people, but also between countries. Therefore, it 

was quite logical that I met these people on the Peace Rally. 

According to numerous publications David Datuna is one of 

the most sold and expensive artists in the world. He became 

famous for his works made with a unique technique. With 

the help of modern technologies, diligence and brilliant 

ideas, he proved that despite ethnic and cultural separation, 

the whole world is bound by a chain of outstanding 

personalities and actions. The flags of nearly 80 countries, 

created by him for several years, help us to understand how 

far his work is spreading and that it really has no limits. 

Kiury Usmanov 

© Kiury Usmanov 

 

But also because the very concept of his art, emphasizing 

the individuality of any object, makes us think and look at 

something that is familiar to us in a completely new way. 

In my opinion, the Peace Rally, which is a part of the 

St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, is also trying 

to change the stagnant stereotypes and offer a softer type 

of dialogue between countries. As a representative of the 

Kingdom of Norway, it was very important for me to make 

my own small contribution to this project, since diplomacy, 

the establishment of friendly and mutually respectful 

relations in all spheres of activity are the fundamental 

principles of Norwegian society. This event has left an 

indelible mark on my heart, with warmth I remember 

a few days spent on the Peace Rally in communication 

with people who really worry about the future and are 

contributing to the strengthening of peace. 

When I found out that David Datuna was invited to 

the Peace Rally, I certainly had a desire to talk to him 

personally. How surprised I was when after personal 

communication this famous artist turned out to be a very 

sincere, open person, without a drop of arrogance, a man 

who is really passionate for his job. Almost immediately, 

I realized that if one of the modern representatives of the 

creative elite could be invited to the Peace Rally, this person 

should only be him, David Datuna. Not only because his 

work is permeated with modern technologies and meets the 

goals of the event itself. After all, the Peace Rally has farreaching 

goals, and therefore needs the newest technologies. 

 


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DIPLOMATIC BRUNCH 

30 May 2018 

LIVING TOMORROW, Indringingsweg 1, 1800 Vilvoorde 

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EXCEPT A DIPLOMAT. WHEN IT COMES 

TO EXCEPT PERFORMANCE. 

WHEN IT COMES 

TO PERFORMANCE. 


Sheer 


Sheer 




1.9-7.4 L/100 KM • 44-164 G/KM CO2 (NEDC) 


1.9-7.4 L/100 KM • 44-164 G/KM CO2 (NEDC) 

Jean-Michel Martin West 

Boulevard Industriel 125 

1070 Jean-Michel Brussels Martin West 

Tel. Boulevard 02 521 Industriel 17 17 125 


1070 Brussels 

Tel. 02 521 17 17 


Ginion Overijse 

Brusselsesteenweg 403 

3090 Ginion Overijse 

Tel. Brusselsesteenweg 02 687 91 40 403 


3090 Overijse 

Tel. 02 687 91 40 


BMW Brussels 

Branch of BMW Belux 

Chaussée BMW Brussels de Louvain 864 

1140 Branch Brussels of BMW Belux 

Tel. Chaussée 02 730 de 49 Louvain 11 864 


1140 Brussels 

Tel. 02 730 49 11 

Davo 


Tongeren bvba 

Maastrichtersteenweg 529 

Exit Davo 32 Tongeren - E313 bvba 

3700 Maastrichtersteenweg Tongeren 529 

Tel. Exit 012 32 - 23 E313 71 55 


3700 Tongeren 

Tel. 012 23 71 55 


Jean-Michel Martin East 

Rue François Desmedt 96 

1150 Jean-Michel Brussels Martin East 

Tel. Rue 02 François 772 08 Desmedt 20 96 


1150 Brussels 

Tel. 02 772 08 20 


Bilia-Emond Arlon 

Route de Bastogne 394 

6700 Bilia-Emond Arlon Arlon 

Tel. Route 063 de 23 Bastogne 05 60 394 


6700 Arlon 

Tel. 063 23 05 60 


Ginion Waterloo 

Chaussée de Bruxelles 54 

1410 Ginion Waterloo 

Tel. Chaussée 02 352 de 03 Bruxelles 30 54 


1410 Waterloo 

Tel. 02 352 03 30 


Louyet Mons 

Rue des Sandrinettes 48 

Louyet 7033 Mons-Cuesmes 

Tel. Rue 065 des 40 Sandrinettes 02 00 48 


7033 Mons-Cuesmes 

Tel. 065 40 02 00 


BMD1800215 - Diplomatic sales_2017 - Serie 5_270x210_BEUK.indd 1 14/02/18 16:55 

BMD1800215 - Diplomatic sales_2017 - Serie 5_270x210_BEUK.indd 1 14/02/18 16:55

Diplomatic World_nummer 57

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