On 22-23 January, Stef Blok, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Netherlands will pay an official visit to Armenia. This is the first bilateral visit of the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands to Armenia since the establishment of diplomatic relations, which is a good opportunity to assess the bilateral agenda and to give a new impetus to the friendly relations between the two countries.

It is noteworthy that the visit of the Minister was preceded by the decision of the Dutch House of Representatives to establish an embassy in the Republic of Armenia.  The above-mentioned decision is a clear sign of the Netherlands' support for democratic changes in Armenia.

Since the declaration of independence, the Dutch government has supported development programs implemented in Armenia.

Armenia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands cooperate in many spheres: political, trade, economy, science, education, IT and culture, justice, territorial administration and Infrastructure, decentralized cooperation, etc. The business ties are particularly active in the spheres of agriculture, dairy industry, high-tech, and others.

In the context of the relations with the EU and its member-states, the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement - the new legal framework of the Armenia EU relations is of high importance as an important tool for promoting reforms in Armenia. 

On December 12, 2019, the House of Representatives, as well as the Senate of the Netherlands ratified the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. Now it is submitted to the King for approval.

In October 2019, the Armenian-Dutch friendship circle was established which includes politicians, businessmen, artists and scientists. The  Armenian side was led by Alen Simonyan, the Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia and from the Netherland side Joël Voordewind, the Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament, Spokesman for the Christian Union Party.

The Netherlands supports the common position of the EU on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs aimed at the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Cooperation on the international platforms

Armenia and the Netherlands have close cooperation in the framework of international organizations. This is another direction to establish even more effective and inclusive cooperation between the two countries. Armenia and the Netherlands cooperate in the international fora for promoting the genocide prevention agenda, particularly by co-sponsoring relevant UN resolutions. 

On February 22, 2018, the Dutch House of Representatives adopted a decision recognizing the Armenian Genocide. During the same session, another decision was adopted regulating the participation of the government of the Netherlands in the commemoration events dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Bilateral visits and meetings in 2019

On January 28, 2019, on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of The Netherlands. 

On February 15, 2019, on the margins of the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with Stef Blok, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands.

On March 8, 2019, the Foreign Ministries of Armenia and the Netherlands held political consultations at the Foreign Ministry of Armenia.

On October 9-11, 2019, Ararat Mirzoyan, the Speaker of the Parliament of Armenia paid an official visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

On November 12, 2019, Maria Christina van Koldam, the newly appointed ambassador of the Netherlands to Armenia presented her credentials to Armen Sargsyan, the President of the Republic of Armenia.

Economy

Bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Armenia and the Netherlands have developed. The foreign trade turnover January-October according to the country of origin is 162 617.1 USD, which increased by 9.2% compared to the same period in 2018, and 246 491.9 USD, which increased by 38.9% compared to January to October 2018.

From January to September 2019, the Dutch investments were mainly in the areas of metal ore extraction, software development, consulting and related activities in computer technology. 

In the first half of 2019, the main products exported from Armenia to the Netherlands that ensured growth, were iron alloy, aluminum foil, clothing, alcoholic beverages, computers, and their blocks.

In the first half of 2019, the main products imported from the Netherlands to Armenia that ensued the growth, were medicines, herbs, other plants, agricultural products, motor vehicles, etc.

In the tourism sector, there is a positive trend; the total number of visits from the Netherlands to Armenia on January-September 2019 was 12155, which is 23% higher compared to January-September 2018.