Sigrid Kaag, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, is to speak at the Centre for British Politics and Government in Bush House Lecture Theatre 1, King's College London.

The lecture will focus on Sigrid's policies (abstract below). It is on the record and open to journalists. The lecture will then be followed by drinks.

Biography of Sigrid Kaag

Sigrid Kaag is Dutch minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (Trade & Aid) since October last year. She became minister after an almost 25 year long career at the UN. Mrs Kaag went to university in Utrecht, Cairo, Exeter and Oxford. After finishing her studies -which resulted in a M.Phil. in International Relations and a M.A. in Middle East Studies- she worked for Shell International in London and at the UN section of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her next step in 1994 took her to UNWRA, as programme manager based in Jerusalem. She continued her professional life in various UN positions on different locations. Such as senior advisor in Khartoum and Nairobi, chief of staff with UNICEF, Assistant Secretary-General for UNDP in New York. From October 2013 to September 2014 Ms Kaag, as UN Under-Secretary-General, led the mission to eliminate chemical weapons in Syria. After this mission was completed, in 2015, she became Under-Secretary-General in Lebanon with responsibility for all UN activities in this country.

Abstract of Lecture

Investing in Global Prospects

Prosperity and security in the world are closely connected to the Netherlands. This presents opportunities and challenges. In many ways the world keeps getting better. For example, the number of people living in extreme poverty has declined sharply, while access to basic services such as clean water, healthcare and education has improved dramatically. In many developing countries, these improvements have been supported by economic growth. The Netherlands, too, is thriving economically. It is an important trading nation and one of the world’s most innovative and competitive economies.

At the same time, major changes and serious challenges can be observed to which the Netherlands’ policy on Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation aims to respond: growing conflict and instability, large flows of refugees, irregular migration, the continued existence of extreme poverty in developing countries, high levels of population growth in certain regions, climate change, social, economic and political inequality, rapid technological developments and digitalisation, rising protectionism, steep international competition and a looming trade war.

During her lecture Minister Sigrid Kaag will elaborate on her new policy agenda Investing in Global Prospects which outlines the Dutch response to these international challenges and opportunities.