During the Dutch trade mission to Japan, Minister Kamp officially opened the Japanese branch of Koppert Cress. The new production facilities have been the result of collaboration between Koppert Cress and its Japanese partner, Murakami Farm.
The Dutch trade mission to Japan kicked off yesterday. Prime Minister Rutte's visit will take place on 9 and 10 November and the Minister of Economic Affairs will remain in Japan until 11 November. They have taken 120 Dutch companies to the mission, and this group includes the largest horticultural mission to Japan ever made.
Visiting Japanese nursery Grandpa Dome. In the round greenhouses, lettuce is grown with hydroponic systems.
Japan is the third largest economy in the world and the largest Asian investor in the Netherlands. Mutual trade between the Netherlands and Japan in 2014 totalled more than 11.5 billion euros. The Dutch and the Japanese horticultural sectors have a special bond. Since the tsunami in 2011, several Dutch horticultural companies have been involved in the reconstruction of horticultural facilities in the region. Arising from these contacts, Japanese representatives pay frequent visits to the Netherlands. Last year, the prime minister even visited a Dutch pepper nursery and in October 2014 a large trade mission also went to Japan.
Koppert Cress opened
Accompanied by a delegation of almost 30 horticultural businesses, Minister Kamp visited a vegetable greenhouse run by Agri Mind in the Yamanashi prefecture. Then he inaugurated the adjacent new production facilities of the Dutch company Koppert Cress and its Japanese partner Murakami Farm.
Inauguration of the Koppert Cress - Murakami Farm joined production facilities by Mr Murukami, minister Kamp and Rob Baan
Programme
On the morning of Tuesday 10 November, Prime Minister Rutte is starting his programme with a breakfast meeting with Dutch entrepreneurs who are active in Japan. Afterwards, he will visit the Japanese company Fuijifilm.
Early in the afternoon, Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Kamp will meet with all participants in the trade mission. Subsequently, several contracts and agreements will be signed between Dutch and Japanese companies. Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Kamp will later take part in a meeting between the Dutch bank Rabobank and the Japanese Norinchukin Bank about financing in the agro-food sector.
Minister Kamp will be meeting on Wednesday with Deputy Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Ken Saito to address topics such as market access and horticulture. In the evening, Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Kamp will be received by Prime Minister Abe of Japan, putting an end to Prime Minister Rutte's visit.
On Wednesday afternoon, Minister Kamp will open a seminar on horticulture and innovation, where speakers from companies, knowledge institutions and the government will give presentations on innovations in horticulture, such as energy conservation. Minister Kamp will conclude his visit to Japan with a trade dinner, where participants will have an opportunity to establish contacts with Japanese companies and strengthen existing relationships.