Chinese, Dutch eco-restoration companies join hand

THE HAGUE — Elion Resources Group, a UN-awarded Chinese leading actor in ecological restoration, and Verhoeve Environment & Water, a Dutch leading company in soil and water quality care, signed an acquisition agreement on Thursday to join hands in building a healthier environment.

Elion will become the largest shareholder of Verhoeve and the deal will be materialized in coming months. Both companies refused to disclose details of the acquisition agreement.

"Verhoeve has world-leading technologies in soil and water restoration, which are highly needed in the Chinese market. I'm confident that our joining hands will help meet environmental challenges facing China, and also contribute to global efforts on building a more sustainable earth," said Wang Wenbiao, president of Elion.

Elion has won global reputation for its three-decade long efforts at tackling environmental degradation and boosting livelihoods in Inner Mongolia's Kubuqi Desert, around 18,600 square kilometers of sand dunes that plunge south in an arc from China's Yellow River.

In 2013 Elion won the Global Dryland Champion Award, a prize given out by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Earlier this week, Wang was honoured the Champion of the Earth award during the UN Environment Assembly.

Verhoeve is an Dutch innovative contractor founded in 1987. "Based on our experience on soil remediation and water treatment we would like to explore the Chinese market better, with help from Elion," Art Lobs, its general director told Xinhua.

"This cooperation is a first stage to explore each other and to explore markets, maybe it can grow to something more," he added.

With some 60 employees, Verhoeve accomplishes 50 to 60 projects every year. In one of its latest ambitious projects, the company teams with Royal Dutch Gunpowder Factory to restore an abandoned woodland containing many inheritances in the soil of the industrial past since the late 19th century where powders and explosives were produced.

On the same day, Elion announced the setup of its European platform in the Netherlands. This "ecological innovative center" will focus on learning from European advanced technology and innovation in ecological sector and seeking opportunities of investment and cooperation, according to Elion.

Jaap Smit, Governor of the Province of Zuid-Holland, and Wu Ken, China's ambassador to the Netherlands, attended the signing ceremony.

"Half a year ago I had the opportunity to visit Elion in China, and I have to say I am still impressed. Elion Resources Group is a strong and innovative company working on sustainability and making this world a better place to live in. I am glad that you have decided to open Elion European Centre in South-Holland. This will broaden and deepen the cooperation between Elion and Dutch companies," said Smit.

The Chinese ambassador also hailed the Elion-Verhoeve deal as a "new case of win-win cooperation between Chinese and Dutch enterprises."

"China will not close its door to the world; we will only become more and more open," Wu stressed. "I wish that more Dutch entrepreneurs will seize the opportunities, keep pace with China's all-around opening and the international cooperation along the 'Belt and Road', and grow together the promising future of China and the Netherlands."