Publication: Better Future on Groot Mariënbosch
Sunday 18 January 2009 - Executive Meeting by Better Future
Marije van Zomeren, my associate and co-owner of our mulitfunctional country estate Landgoed Groot Mariënbosch, and I were pleased to host a special group of 16 executives from different Dutch entities on Landgoed Groot Mariënbosch, a couple of hours after their and our arrival from The Netherlands.
This extraordinary event has been organised by Better Future in Culemborg on behalf of one of her major clients: Fortis.
Go to Better Future to read more about their challenging social entrepreneur activities for an ever growing group of really caring companies...
And sail to "Photography" to see some of today`s pictures.
Early this morning our boatsman Humphrey picked up the group of 22 persons at Torarica Hotel Pier at the Surinam river. A very sunny Sunday.
During the inspiring boat trip of about 75 minutes Managing Partner of Better Future, Marije Adriaansens informed the group about all last week`s Better Future actvities in Surinam, including the results in terms of free publicity in a large range of Surinam media, such as Jeugdjournaal and Sky Television.
Marije`s collegue Michel Barth emphasised the importance to create a personal relationship with the `future Mandelas & Obamas` from Surinam origin... For the sake of a better mutual future.
In front of the Atlantic Ocean, close to the old Dutch fortress "Nieuw Amsterdam", Albert Soedamah -a successfull Surinam lawyer and businssman and our cornerstone in Paramaribo - explained the old history of this hot spot and the still growing relationship with the `Buitenmuseum in Enkhuizen` in The Netherlands. Based on reciproxity...
Meanwhile, we turned our boat to the right, leaving the Surinam River, going to the imposing Commewijne River. From a distance we could see the old Dutch -sometimes derelict- plantations from the 17th century. Soon after we surprised our guests by entering Landgoed Groot Mariënbosch through the so called `sluiskreek`. On the left and right we saw a lot of birds and butterflies. In the water we could see many fishes, their big eyes above the water, swimming in front and aside our boat.
Then we discovered the restored 18th century `sluis` of Landgoed Groot Mariënbosch. After leaving our boat we had a three minutes` walk to the restored and still impressive `Directeurswoning anno 1774`.
Our companion and strategic partner, Saoed Abdoelrahman, exponent of the former owners of `Voormalige Plantage Mariënbosch`, had organised a special welcome drink, in particular with cool and fresh `kokoswater`, in combination with typically Surinam tasteful snacks, carefully prepared by our kitchen maid Muril, the daughter in law of our daily caretaker Noer.
With a short & snappy introduction all members of the group took the opportunity to inform the others about their individual:
- personal backgrounds
- professional backgrounds
- concerns regarding social entrepreneurship
- passions
Step by step Marije and I explained our `Papatya-concept` with 3 main groups of activities: sustainable
- hospitality, wellness and spa (including villages and a river rside restaurant),
- forestry,
- aqua culture.
- agri culture,
- cattle breeding,
- education,
- energy.
€ 10.000.000, with a little help of our friends, both in Surinam and in The Netherlands.
Last but not least we showed the televison interview of Marije and me on Sky Television. We were assisted professionally by the operational manager of our `Special Surinam Taskforce`, Marcel Persad, exponent of the former owners of `Voormalige Plantage Guadeloupe`.
At the end we had a short but intensive dialogue which was continued during the 10 minutes boat trip back to the other, less calm, side of Commewijne River.
Tthe present Managing Partners of Better Future, Marije Adriaansens and Michel Barth, told me that the group was very satisfied about the Executive Meeting and all participants are looking forward to our (Future) Business Leaders Dinner tonight in Cosa Nostra -in Paramaribo- in the presence of a lot of (other) passionate entrepreneurs of Surinam origin.
One of the 5 members of the Board of Directors of our Landgoed Groot Mariënbosch NV, Femke Loning (co-owner of Restaurant Dok 204 and owner of `Broodjeszaak Lekker`, both located in cosy Paramaribo) will also be present tonight !