India, Netherlands bilateral trade to scale new heights

OrissaDiary.com
8 April 2010

http://www.orissadiary.com/ShowBussinessNews.asp?id=17761

“India and Netherlands needs to intensify the bilateral economic cooperation and capitalise on the new trade and investment opportunities”  said  Mr. Marten Van Den Berg, Deputy Director General for Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in his address at the seminar on “Doing Business with the Netherlands” organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Chennai today. 

Mr. Berg said that bilateral trade between the two countries has almost tripled between 2001 and 2009.   The Netherlands is now among the top five largest investors in India, and at the same time it is one of the largest recipients of Indian FDI in the world, said Mr Berg.   He said that the Netherlands business mission currently in India is looking for business opportunities more specifically in sectors such as; agro, automotive and biotechnology.   The other areas which Dutch companies could lend its expertise included; water management, infrastructure, life sciences & health, logistics  and creative industry, he added.

Mr. Bob Hiensch, Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in his address said that Netherlands is the gateway to Europe connecting nearly half a billion consumers in the European hinterland to the world’s producers.  With worldclass port of Rotterdam and internationally praised Amsterdam Airport of Schiphol, Netherlands provides an excellent connectivity for global business community, said Mr Hiensch.   He also said that transparent laws and simple visa procedures would make traveling easy for the business and tourist people.  Netherlands is 2nd largest exporter of agricultural products in the world and also ranks 2nd in the world in logistics service, he further said.

Mr. Peter Staal, Head of Banking, Asia, Americas & UK, ING Bank in his address said that the Dutch financial sector has regulated norms and is transparent – providing investors a profitable business proposition.  Banks are focusing more on customer relations than product. Revival of traditional banking model will help the economy at large, he further added.

Mr. Gopal Ramanathan, Chairman, High Growth Markets Practice, KPMG, Netherlands in his address said that the Dutch Trade Board has an objective to promote and strengthen competitiveness of Dutch businesses abroad. To enhance bilateral trade, the Dutch Trade Board will give intensive information and will promote campaigns. Sectoral focus will be given for maximum benefits. Netherlands is looking at water management in a very big way. It is 4th of the world’s 10 best water consultancies.

Mr. J N Amrolia,  Chairman, Sub Committee on International Business Promotion & Networking, CII Southern Region in his address said that Indo-Dutch relationship dates back to several centuries.  Netherlands is the 5th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative FDI inflow of US$ 3.12 billion in the past 3 years, he said. He further said that India exports mineral fuels, oils, apparel, organic chemicals and fruits to Netherlands and the imports from Netherlands included;  iron and steel, plastic articles and electrical machinery.

Mr Amrolia said that CII has been working closely with institutional and MoU partners in Netherlands towards building a strong economic and trade relationship.   CII also works closely with Netherlands Business Support Office, Chennai, he added.