Van der Knaap Group:

Dutch winner of Ambassador Prize 2014 puts a spotlight on Sri Lankan business partner

Ron van der Knaap, owner of Van der Knaap Group from Kwintsheul The Netherlands, has put a spotlight on its Sri Lankan sister company Growrite Substrates during a big business dinner in the Sri Lankan Kingsbury Hotel.

Top official Simon Smits of Foreign Affairs, Minister A.P. Jagath Pushpakumara, Ambassador Louis Piët and behind him Ron van der Knaap surrounded by the managers of the Dutch/ Sri Lankan enterprise Growrite.

The coco producer Growrite Substrates in Sri Lanka, won the Ambassador Prize 2014, in January. This award is intended to promote international enterpreneurship and to show in which way the Dutch Embassies and consulates can grow with this. The award is also designed to inspire other SMEs to become active in foreign markets.

Ron van der Knaap and Dinesh Fernando, the managing director of Growrite

According to the jury of the Ambassadors Prize 2014, Van der Knaap is an innovative enterprise, which, due to great perseverance, developed a new market for coco products. The farmers of Van der Knaap in Sri Lanka supply final products instead of raw materials. In this way their income has increased significantly. The wages and courses that Van der Knaap offers to its employees are above average. Furthermore Van der Knaap is committed to the Sri Lankan community by building schools, wells and residences for the underprivileged.

Ron van der Knaap (in the middle) with in the back ground director Substrate Production Gerard van Dieën together with the managers of Growrite.

As the Ambassadors Prize 2014 of Van der Knaap is also the merit of its Sri Lankan partner, the Dutch Embassy, sponsored by Rabobank, organized a large network dinner for Growrite in Colombo. Van der Knaap and Growrite were able to invite their business partners, government representatives and a delegation of their employees. Hot topics during the dinner was sustainable and corporate responsibility, something that's of high priority for Van der Knaap.

For more information about the Ambassadors Price, please visit www.vanderknaap.eu/nl/news/1389881081/Van-der-Knaap-Groep-wint-Ambassadeursprijs (in Dutch)

For more information:
Van der Knaap
Bovendijk 50
2295 RZ Kwintsheul
Postbus 136
2290 AC Wateringen
T: +31 174 296606
F: +31 174 298767
vdk@vanderknaap.info
www.vanderknaap.info

Growrite
www.vanderknaap.eu/en/production

Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Lianne H.W.S. Houben, Deputy Head of Mission
lianne.houben@minbuza.nl
srilanka.nlembassy.org

Publication date: Fri 25 Jul 2014