Dutch Crown Princely Couple Visit New York City

The future King and Queen of Holland are currently in the Big Apple this week, to discuss ways to improve the world at various meetings at the United Nations.

A cabinet delegation, which includes the secretary to the Dutch Prime Minister, the Foreign Affairs minister, and the minister of Development Cooperation will be with the royal couple.

On Monday, Crown Princess Maxima attended a meeting at the UN, to highlight innovative solutions to bring inclusive financial services to the poorest populations in Africa and around the globe.

“The solutions discussed today are powerful examples of the importance of the public and private sector working together to open financial systems to those who were previously denied access,” said Crown Princess Maxima, Chairperson of the Advisor’s Working Group on Advocacy. “There is tremendous demand worldwide for financial services among the poor and I am hopeful that by showcasing successes–like these in Africa–we will encourage the elevation of inclusive finance as a global development priority and an important tool for poverty alleviation.”

Maxima, a former banker, is also a member of the United Nations Advisors Group (UNAG), a group created by the United Nations to identify key issues that limit access to financial services for the world’s poor and developing practical strategies to remove the barriers.

The Crown Princess’ husband, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, who is the Chairman of the United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB), will be attending meetings all week regarding the issue. He will also attend meetings for the Roundtable for Education and Health.

Willem-Alexander will also meet with New York Governor Patterson and New York City Michael Bloomberg later this week. In addition, the Crown Prince will meet with city officials and sponsors to discuss preparations for 2009′s celebrations for the 400 years of relations between New York and the Netherlands.

Crown Princess Maxima will be leaving New York City before her husband this week for engagements back in Holland.