WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will travel to Chicago June 2-3, 2015, to celebrate the strong economic ties between the Netherlands and Illinois while supporting the exchange of ideas in the areas of science, health and agriculture. The trip to Chicago is part of a three-day visit to the United States.
It marks the first time the Royal Couple will travel to the United States since His Majesty King Willem-Alexander succeeded his mother, Queen Beatrix (now known as Princess Beatrix), to become King in 2013.
While the King and Queen are visiting the United States, an economic delegation to the US will also occur.
The Royal Couple will start their visit to the “capital” of the Midwest with a business dinner for Dutch and American companies in the life sciences, health, high-tech systems, chemical, materials, and agricultural sectors. The Royal Couple will connect with local entrepreneurs and the King will deliver a speech. Mayor Rahm Emanuel will also attend the dinner, hosted by Edith Schippers, the Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport in collaboration with the Chicago Global Council.
On June 3, 2015, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will witness the latest innovations and research in rehabilitation at the renowned Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC). They will see firsthand how advanced technologies and prostheses improve quality of life and impact personal lives. The Royal Couple will also see the latest advancements in oncology at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.
The Royal Couple will then visit Gotham Greens' newest rooftop greenhouse, located in South Chicago’s Pullman District, which is the largest rooftop greenhouse facility in the world. Gotham Greens, a New York-based company, is a worldwide pioneer in the field of urban agriculture for the cultivation of fresh vegetables.
The Gotham Greens facility showcases Dutch innovative solutions of greenhouse technology. Dutch products are used in almost every aspect of the growing process in this urban greenhouse, from the seeds (Rijk Zwaan) and growing mediums to climate control (Hortimax) and biological control (Koppert).
While the Royal Couple is in Chicago, a group of Dutch and American agrifood experts will be there as well, on June 3 for the conference, “Sowing Seeds of Innovation to Feed Cities Healthier Food,” at Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy. At the conference, experts will exchange ideas and share expertise on innovations in urban and local food production, marketing, and supply chains to keep people healthy and feed the world as the population grows.
Dutch agrifood experts will visit Chicago as part of a Dutch economic trade mission that will take place during the official visit to the United States of Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. Their Majesties will attend the closing session and ceremony of this conference.
While visiting Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy (Pullman District, South Chicago), the Royal Couple will also meet students, community organizations, and leaders there to learn about Chicago’s strategies for revitalizing challenged neighborhoods.
The Netherlands and the United States are bound by a more than 400-year relationship grounded in a commitment to freedom, justice, and entrepreneurship. While in the United States, the King and Queen will celebrate the strong economic, cultural and political ties between our two nations.
The Netherlands is one of America’s oldest military allies. Dutch and American men and women have fought side-by-side in many conflicts around the world, contributing to stability and promoting peace by joining NATO and UN missions. The Netherlands will be forever grateful for the sacrifices Americans made during World War II to guarantee our freedom.
In terms of the Dutch-American trade relationship, the Netherlands is a fixture of the top five foreign investors in the United States and the US is the leading single-country investor overall for the Netherlands. The Dutch and US economic relationship supports 685,000 American jobs.
“The visit of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima will underline the deep bond that exists between the Netherlands and the United States. It will be my pleasure to show them all aspects of this special relationship, from our economic ties to our joint heritage,” said Dutch Ambassador to the US Rudolf Bekink.
Follow the Royal visit on Twitter using: #NLroyalvisit.
For more than 400 years, the Netherlands and the United States have been joined by the values of freedom, justice and an entrepreneurial spirit. A vibrant economic force, the Netherlands is a fixture in the top 5 of largest investors in the US and maintains the number one destination for American foreign investments. The Royal Netherlands Embassy, Dutch Consulates General and Honorary Consuls in the US promote strong bilateral relations between the United States and the Netherlands in the areas of peace and stability; international law; energy and climate; water management; international human rights; and creative industries. The Netherlands and the United States: a partnership that works.
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