The Hague - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
  In the presence of His Majesty the Dutch King Willem-Alexander, the official inauguration of the new Center for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech) of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) took place in Benaker of the Noordorp region, the Netherlands. According to a statement we received a copy of and issued by the organization based in The Hague, "The ChemTech Center is a success of multilateral diplomacy and a tangible symbol of what the international community can achieve together in the interest of global peace and security. It is an honor and a privilege to open the Center" in his opening remarks. Friday” in the presence of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. “I thank 57 donor countries and other donors, including the European Union and members of the Global Partnership Against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction for their strong political and financial support to make this center a reality. We will leave a special legacy for future generations for the common interest of peace and security.”
Speaking on behalf of the OPCW host country, Mr. Paul Hoegts, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands stated: “It is a great honor to take part in the opening ceremony of the ChemTech Centre. As the host country and member state of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Netherlands is strongly committed to upholding the global norm against the use of chemical weapons. We firmly believe that all member states will benefit from the new and exciting opportunities offered by the ChemTech Center and that it will contribute significantly to strengthening its international role, particularly in the field of disarmament, verification and cooperation.”
The ChemTech Center is a significant upgrade of the OPCW's capabilities to adapt to the evolving global security landscape and assist Member States in upholding global standards against chemical weapons. It will ensure that the Organization remains able to meet the threats and opportunities arising from the rapid advances in science and technology.
The Center also provides a platform for better coordination of efforts between scientists, academia, civil society, industry, and relevant international organizations. Activities at the Center support the Organization's role as the world's leading repository of chemical weapons expertise and knowledge, addressing chemical threats worldwide.
The ChemTech Center is located in Pijnacker-Nootdorp, 12 km from the headquarters of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague. The facility's floor area is 5,700 square metres. It houses an OPCW laboratory, technology and training centre, teaching space, advanced training facilities for OPCW staff and capacity building activities for experts from Member States
“As Mayor, I am very proud that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons - a prestigious organization of international importance - has chosen the municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp as the location for its ChemTech Centre," said H.E. Mr. Björn Lugthart, Mayor of Pijnacker-Nootdorp.
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, including His Excellency Dr. Ms. Bonnie Jenkins, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security of the United States of America; he. Dame Baroness Goldie, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and he. Ms. Yomi Yoshikawa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan in Parliament. Ambassadors and other high-ranking officials also attended the event. The Center is a major investment funded entirely by voluntary contributions from 57 countries, the European Union and other donors totaling over €34 million. Construction of the center began in June 2021 and the facility was officially approved by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on January 27, 2023.
ChemTech will enhance OPCW's capacity to conduct chemical research and analysis. This will greatly enhance the verification system and inspection capabilities of chemical industries around the world. In addition, an increasing number of capacity development activities will be offered through the Centre, including trainings on chemical emergency response and analytical skills development courses for experts from member states. As the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, with its 193 member states, oversees the global endeavor to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the agreement entered into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
More than 99% of declared chemical weapons stocks have been destroyed. And for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize