Oliver von Borstel was a participant of the meeting with 100+ Embassies at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague on 30 January 2019 regarding the Global Entrepreneurs Summit (GES) 2019. The Ministry invited key persons from governmental organisations and the business community. The meeting at the Ministry aimed at informing the diplomatic corps about the GES 2019, which will be held in The Hague, June 4-5. The Summit is co-hosted by the US and The Netherlands.
US Ambassador to the Netherlands Pete Hoekstra
“It is great to speak to over a hundred Embassies in The Hague to promote the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2019. We look forward to a truly global celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship on June 4 and 5 in The Netherlands.” This is how US Ambassador to The Netherlands Pete Hoekstra started his speech at a GES meeting for the diplomatic corps in The Netherlands.
Global challenges
Joop Nijssen, project director for GES, gave some background information. “During GES, more than 2,000 entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, thought leaders and government officials will visit the World Forum in The Hague. The aim of GES is to promote entrepreneurship worldwide and to tackle concrete global challenges in five sectors: Agriculture/Food, Connectivity, Energy, Health, and Water. Entrepreneurs from all over the world can apply for the summit until March 1.”
Informing and promoting
Ambassador Hoekstra explained that there is no exact blueprint on how embassies in The Hague can get involved in GES. “GES is a chance of a lifetime for entrepreneurs all over the world to scale up their businesses. You can help us by informing them and promoting GES. Of course you have to decide what your other goals are and how GES can help to achieve them. My door is always open to talk about the possibilities of working together to make GES a success for everybody.”
GES will be a one-of-a-kind experience, energised by a festive atmosphere, with a high-level conference and market place where ideas are transformed into actions. Over the course of two days, participants will follow a unique programme consisting of top keynote speakers, expert panels and matchmaking activities. Investors and innovators will be brought together through different creative environments, spaces and events. They will go beyond just productive discussions and take concrete action towards tackling challenges within five main sectors: food and agriculture, water, energy, health and connectivity. The future of work and access to finance will serve as the two main overarching themes of the summit.
The Summit will bring investment-ready entrepreneurs together with thousands of investors, innovators, policy makers, global brands, and thought leaders from around the world. This year’s edition will focus on five innovation sectors: Agriculture, Connectivity, Energy, Health, and Water.
This is the first time that the event will take place in a European Union country. Previous editions have been held in Washington D.C., Nairobi (Kenya), Istanbul (Turkey), Marrakech (Morocco), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Dubai (UAE), Hyderabad (India), and Silicon Valley.