On Thursday, 10 September 2009, Ambassador Van Dam and the Governor of Maluku, Karel Ralahalu, signed a Letter of Intent on development co-operation. The purpose of the LoI-signing is to strengthen the close ties between the Netherlands and the Indonesian province. The Letter of Intent contains the co-operation in the field of capacity building of local government and peace building, fishery and maritime research, education, culture and tourism, trade and the improvement of investment climate, and water and sanitation.

The ceremony was closed by a performance of the Dutch jazz artist of Maluku origin, Monica Akihary, and guitar virtuoso Niels Brouwer.