The Netherlands' Crown Princess Máxima has been appointed special advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. Her field of expertise: finance and development. The Argentinian born princess - wife of Prince Willem-Alexander, first in line to the Dutch throne - will strive to make financial services globally available to everyone, including the very poor.
Máxima isn't new to this field; she has in the past held several positions promoting microcredit: small loans for would-be entrepreneurs who have a hard time getting a loan from a bank. She also has work experience in the financial sector. Before she met the Dutch Crown Prince she worked for several banks in New York's financial district, Wall Street.
In the Netherlands the princess occupies a seat in the 'Council for Micro Finance'. Fellow member Klaas Molenaar, director of 'Triodos facet' which deals specifically with microcredit, is 'happy and honoured' on behalf of the council.
Mr Molenaar thinks Máxima could be very effective in her new function at the UN. He believes she can - as a princess and a very public figure - attract institutions which - until now - haven't cooperated when it comes to helping the poor financially.


















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