Aid and Trade
Ploumen was the first Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. This combination meant that the responsibility for Dutch exports shifted from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This marked the end of the historical tension between the two ministries regarding aid and trade. The combination of aid and trade had been established in the 1960s, resulting in some unsuccessful development projects. Tied aid could lead to prices of delivered goods and services exceeding world market prices. Although Minister De Koning had managed to restrict this in the late 1970s, the danger resurfaced.
To create more coherence, the 'Dutch Good Growth Fund' was established—a fund of 750 million euros that could subsidize investments by small and medium-sized businesses from both the Netherlands and developing countries. However, this fund also made it possible to finance development-relevant export transactions, posing the risk that the entire fund could be used for Dutch exports.
Rana Plaza
Rana Plaza, a complex with textile factories in Bangladesh, collapsed in 2013, claiming the lives of 1134 people. The factories produced clothing for brands such as Mango and Primark. After this incident, Ploumen called on clothing companies to take responsibility and signed an agreement with all Dutch clothing companies.
Two years after the incident, Ploumen visited Bangladesh. Just before her departure, she criticized the country's government for not fulfilling its commitments. The new labor legislation had not been fully implemented, and it was difficult for unions to operate.
Abortion Aid
In 2017, shortly after the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States, Trump cut the funding of $600 million for international NGOs involved in abortion aid. This aid included providing information about abortions or performing abortions abroad. In response to this decision, Minister Ploumen established an international fund for safe abortions and contraceptives. Ploumen aimed to prevent investments in improved healthcare from being nullified. This initiative became known as the SheDecides movement, evolving into a global movement with a budget of 400 million euros within six weeks. In 2018, Ploumen received both the Aletta Jacobs Prize (for emancipation) and the Machiavelli Prize (for remarkable achievements in public communication between politics, government, and citizens).
Notes:
Sources:
- Ouderwets of gloednieuw? het beleid van minister Ploumen, Paul Hoebink (2013), NICC collection, E00052
- Biografie Lilianne Ploumen
Extra:
- Website: SheDecides
- NOS (2016): Ploumen: klanten kunnen straks zonder zorgen kleding kopen
- NOS (2017): OESO prijst Nederlandse ontwikkelingsbeleid, maar heeft ook zorgen
- Coherentie monitor, Let's walk the talk together: de stand van zaken van beleidscoherentie voor ontwikkeling (Partos, FMS en Woord en Daad)
- NOS (2017): Minister Ploumen start fonds vanwege abortusmaatregel Trump
- NOS (2016): Ploumen: heilige huisjes noodhulp weg
- Partos- Dit zeggen partijen over ontwikkelingssamenwerking
- Beleidsreactie op IOB-evaluatie Ïnvesteren in stabiliteit: het Nederlandse fragiele statenbeleid doorgelicht, Lilianne Ploumen (2013), NICC collection, A00028
- De Volkskrant : Ten Eerste Ethiopië en Nederland. Ploumen: 'Hier Wordt Iedereen Beter Van!', * (2013), NICC collection, A03498
- Dutch Land Expertise, Lilianne Ploumen (2013), NICC collection, A04029
- Dutch Land Governance Expertise, Lilianne Ploumen (2013), NICC collection, A05323
- The International Celebration of World Water Day 2013 On Water Cooperation and The High Level Meeting on the Thematic Consultation on Water, Lilianne Ploumen, Irina Bokova, Michel Jarraud (2013), NICC collection, A10133
- Vernieuwde partnerschappen. De Bilderberg conferentie 2013, Bernard Wientjes, Niek Jan van Kesteren a.o. (2013), NICC collection, A06312
