Foreign investors good for employment in the Netherlands in 2009

15-03-2010 | press releas

Despite the economic crisis, foreign investments in the Netherlands increased in 2009 with a total investment amount € 3.1 billion. These investments will eventually produce 2,870 new direct jobs, while ten projects have also contributed to the retention of 1,017 existing jobs. Therefore, the total result for 2009 in number of jobs is 3,887

These annual NFIA results were made public by Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Mrs. Van der Hoeven on 15 March 2010. Through the NFIA, the Ministry of Economic Affairs helps and advises foreign companies on the establishment, rolling out and/or expansion of their international activities in the Netherlands. From its offices in the UK, Turkey, North America, Asia and the Gulf Region, the NFIA provides foreign companies with information, strategic perspective and practical assistance when entering the European market via the Netherlands. Besides new investors the NFIA also supports foreign investors already established in the Netherlands, in the course of which retention of employment is an important objective

In 2009 the NFIA supported 155 foreign investment projects. More than half of the 155 projects originates from Asia. North America follows with well over 30%. The investment projects from the US made a large impression on the results in 2009: over 30% of the total number of projects comes from this country, accompanied by nearly 25% of the total number of jobs

According to Van der Hoeven the NFIA annual results confirm the importance of foreign trade and investment for the Dutch economy. “Once more trade and foreign direct investment do not emerge as the motor of our economy but even prove to be the way out of the crisis. Foreign companies and international trade take care of an important part of our economic growth: 30 percent of gross national product in the Netherlands. Companies from outside the Netherlands are good for 22 percent of private sector investments. Additionally, they are responsible for 22 percent of R&D investment in particular. Furthermore, they provide 15 percent of all employment,” according to Van der Hoeven. “The idea that foreign companies are good for the economic dynamics and competitiveness of the Netherlands is the guiding principle for the work of the NFIA. And in the 21st century, innovation and sustainability predominate.

Sales and marketing offices and European distribution centers represent more than half of the projects. The information technology sector delivered most jobs (619) and the highest number of projects (24). The energy sector invested most in the Netherlands (nearly € 2.7 billion). The exceptionally high investment amount for 2009 can be accounted for by the realization of two very capital intensive investment projects: an investment of € 2 billion by the German energy company RWE in a coal-fired power station in the Eemshaven and an investment of € 670 million by Neste Oil from Finland in a production facility for biodiesel in Rotterdam

Van der Hoeven also points out the importance of a good investment climate. “If we want to continue attracting and retaining foreign companies, our investment conditions have to be in order. Therefore, we have to sharpen the positioning of the Netherlands as a location for foreign companies and to maintain high ambition levels. For that reason, within the NFIA a new strategic acquisition unit will focus more intensely on key areas and activities where the Netherlands has a strong proposition and that create high added values. The strategic approach will be applicable to both the acquisition of new investment projects as well as to foreign companies already present in the Netherlands. The most important goal will be to interest them in R&D activities in the Netherlands. This new unit will work closely with the private sector, the Dutch acquisition network, partners in the field of innovation programs and knowledge infrastructure, trade organizations, sector clusters and other relevant parties in the areas of food & nutrition and chemicals.

The Minister also indicated that the portfolio of the NFIA is still filled well in the first quarter of 2010 with nearly 600 active projects. The majority of these originates from the US, followed at a distance by projects from China, Korea, India, Singapore and Japan. With regard to sectors, information technology is again at the top, followed by food & nutrition, medical technology and chemicals. Capital intensity can again be found in energy related projects

Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Netherland

More information for the press:

Ruud Stevens, spokesman Ministry of Economic Affairs

T: +31 6 461 52 406

E: r.p.stevens@minez.nl