Suffolk Chamber and Port of Felixstowe host Dutch ambassador visit

Suffolk Chamber and Port of Felixstowe host Dutch ambassador visit

A visit by His Excellency Ambassador Paul Huijts from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the United Kingdom has been hailed as a success by organisers.

At the invitation of Suffolk Chamber, Ambassador Huijts took an extended tour of the Port of Felixstowe as the guest of Paul Davey, the company’s public affairs director.

The Ambassador was accompanied by key officials including Daphne Blohuis, environment and transport counsellor from the Dutch Embassy, Andrew Wood, Honorary Dutch Consul for East Anglia and Koyas Miah, Suffolk Chamber’s international trade manager.

The visit kicked off with a working lunch where Ambassador Huijts and the team discussed the trading links between The Netherlands and the United Kingdom, highlighting the vital role of Felixstowe Port as a key trade gateway, particularly for goods moving between the UK and the Netherlands. During the tour of the Port, the delegation explored several key operations, including the rail terminals, berths, and state-of-the-art facilities. Of particular interest was a demonstration of cutting-edge technologies like Autonomous Trucks, which help ensure the port’s continued efficiency and competitiveness on the global stage.

Koyas Miah said: “With the Netherlands being one of the UK’s largest trading partners, continuing to foster a strong economic relationship is essential for both nations. Felixstowe Port plays a vital role as a key gateway for trade between the UK and the Netherlands, and it’s inspiring to witness the collaboration that fuels innovation, growth, and prosperity for both countries.”

The annual trade value between East Anglia and the Netherlands is estimated to be around £2.6 billion, with key sectors including telecommunications, ICT, business services, agriculture, and machinery being the most notable.

Andrew Wood said: “As Hon Dutch Consul for East Anglia my role is to promote the Dutch links with the region. Nowadays the role   is all about economic diplomacy which is why having local trade organisations ,such as the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, help arrange the visit of the Ambassador is very useful. The Dutch connections with Felixstowe and Harwich are so important to trade and tourism, showing the significance of the North Sea in linking the UK to continental Europe. Given the long historical and geographical links of Suffolk with the Netherlands , H E Paul Huijts, as the new Ambassador ,was keen early in his post in London to visit the region and to learn about the vital transport links with the Netherlands and what the Dutch Embassy in London can do to help foster and improve the links.

The Ambassador over the next four years of his term in office hopes to return to visit other areas of mutual interest in Suffolk such as IT, farming and education as well as discuss trade issues with local businesses.”