UTAlumni NetworkNewsEVERYTHING IS AIMED AT GROWTH IN VIETNAM

EVERYTHING IS AIMED AT GROWTH IN VIETNAM

A message. The Dutch ambassador will be at her desk a little later, she is stuck in traffic. “It’s chaos here. The mopeds and scooters are whizzing past left and right.” Since August, Vietnam is the workplace of Elsbeth Akkerman, UT alumna of Public Administration.

BY Ditta op den Dries PHOTOGRAPHY Own photos

She feels privileged with her recent appointment. She feels lots of lines meet in Vietnam. “Vietnam is a very special country, in the heart of Asia. It is strategically situated in a large economic bloc and is very focused on internationalisation and closing trade agreements, also with the EU. Signs of a decade of robust economic growth can be found in the capital Hanoi, home of the Dutch embassy. “Literally everything is aimed at growth here. Entrepreneurial spirit is emanating from everything.”

As a student of International Public Administration, Elsbeth Akkerman already knew what motives drove her. She values being valuable and making a difference. “That is why I very consciously chose for the government after I graduated in 1997. I am given every opportunity to realise these motives in practice. It is something the UT can take credit for, because this inspiration was formed in Enschede.” Akkerman started at the ministry of Economic Affairs, worked at the ministry of Agriculture and later made the move to the ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Polder model

In her current role as the ambassador in Vietnam, she is responsible - on behalf of the Netherlands - for propagating the importance of good cooperation between government, business community, scientific institutes and societal organisations to achieve truly sustainable solutions: the Dutch polder model. Earning money abroad is fine, but not to the detriment of humans and the environment.

Vietnam is experiencing large economic growth, but also deals with many challenges; for example, in agriculture and water management. Vietnam is a delta country too and the Mekong Delta in the south is situated below sea level, just like large parts of the Netherlands. Floods occur sometimes, other times it’s dry. Dutch companies and universities have a wealth of experience and knowledge in these areas and could provide the ultimate contribution to smart and structural solutions that in turn contribute to the global sustainability agenda.

In Vietnam, the concept of ‘working with nature’ as opposed to ‘against nature’ is still rather unknown, says Akkerman. “The Netherlands can help, and we are taking a close interest in what our universities are doing in this area. This is also true for our knowledge related to agriculture. Diversification is important for Vietnamese agriculture; at the moment, rice is most commonly grown.” The Vietnamese need for knowledge and collaboration offers opportunities for the Dutch business community and scientific institutes, and the embassy makes an effort to capitalise on these opportunities.

The Netherlands and Vietnam are celebrating 45 years of bilateral ties this year. “We organised the so-called Dutch days in four large Vietnamese cities. We explored collaboration in topics such as water management, agricultural transition, circular economy and smart cities. It genuinely makes me so proud I can play a part in this.” She knows that the UT also possesses a trove of knowledge in these areas. “Many Dutch universities and universities of applied science are active in Vietnam. In the short time I have been here, I have seen appearances from Wageningen, Delft, Eindhoven, Saxion and Van Hall Larenstein. It is a given that the UT is more than welcome too. I am hoping for contact.” As a matter of fact, the number of Vietnamese alumni is considerable too: in 2017 alone, 750 students came to the Netherlands.

The diary of the Dutch ambassador in Hanoi is well-filled and very diverse. The results of a random week: together with Henk Ovink, the Water Envoy, she spoke at various ministries about the Dutch role in the implementation of the Mekong Delta Plan, she attended the launch of the Formula 1 which is to take place in Vietnam in 2020 and with which the city of Hanoi aims to put itself on the map to foreign investors, and after that there were two Dutch Days in Can Tho where she took to the bicycle. “Because it is fun, but also to underline that it is a healthy and sustainable way to solve traffic problems.” The finale of the week was when she opened Hanoi Pride with the Dutch message that diversity and respect for each other are the core values of an inclusive society. “Just like in Amsterdam, the LGBTI community in Hanoi really knows how to get the party started and this Dutch ambassador can party like the best of them, you know! You should be able to be who you are and love who you want. That’s not possible in every country. It makes you realise how lucky we are to be Dutch.”

This article appeared in the UT Alumni Magazine Winter 2018/2019 Edition.