Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter
The Netherlands has several technologies that can be helpful and suitable for Qatar in the field of horticulture, ambassador Yvette Burghgraef Van Eechoud, has said.
"The Netherlands has the highest share of flower market in Qatar," the Dutch envoy told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the opening of the first edition of the Doha International Flowers and Garden Exhibition.
"For example, Al Maktab Al Qatari Al Hollandi, an integrated distributor of imported floral products, is the biggest seller of flowers in Qatar with about 18 shops. They have more than 25 years of experience in Qatar."
The ambassador pointed out that flowers are a part of diplomacy and international relations. "The tulip is closely related to the Dutch. A fascinating history of international relations, diplomacy and science explains how tulip became a symbol of the Netherlands even though it is not a Dutch flower by origin."
The Dutch envoy said that the Netherlands has co-operation with Qatar in different research activities. " We have some partnership in technology and research. These are mainly in energy and water efficiency. We are hopeful of more partnership in other areas."
"A Dutch university is working out the details of a joint venture in agricultural production in a sustainable way. We have a lot of technologies to produce food in a more sustainable way. In the next 10 years, there will be a lot more co-operation between both the countries in this field."
Suleman Mohamed, executive manager, sales and purchase, Al Maktab Al Qatari Al Hollandi said that the company sells different types of flowers and most of them are from Holland. "We sell more than 200,000 roses a week through our 18 outlets across Qatar," he added.
The Netherlands ambassador Yvette Burghgraef Van Eechoud
