Singapore, Friday, 23 October 2009 - Singapore and the Netherlands should leverage on key areas of mutual interest and expertise to promote bilateral cooperation and increase trade flow and investment into both countries, declared H.E. Dr. Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He was speaking at "The Netherlands-Singapore: Connecting Innovative Gateways" investment lunch hosted by the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) and the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) at the Goodwood Park Hotel.
PM Balkenende, accompanied by H.E. Dr. Ronald Plasterk, Minister of Eduation, Culture and Sciences and H.E. Mrs. Maria Van der Hoeven, Minister of Economic Affairs is in Singapore on a two-day official visit with a high level delegation comprising members of the Dutch Innovation Platform. They are here to meet with key government agencies and private companies to discuss investment and partnership opportunities.
"There are many opportunities for reciprocal investments, intensification of relations and cooperation aimed at stimulating innovation," he said. This, he explained, is the main focus of the visit of the Dutch Innovation Platform's members to Singapore. The Innovation Platform is a national body made of up key figures from the world of government, business, science and academia, as well as education, healthcare and the water industry, chaired by PM Balkenende.
The platform serves to unite companies, knowledge institutions and government to promote innovation and encourage initiatives to enhance its knowledgebased economy.
With globalisation and increased competition, the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), as the apex business chamber of Singapore, has been proactively assisting Singapore companies to venture overseas to seek opportunities in new as well as established markets.
In his address, Mr. Tony Chew, SBF Chairman, said that "With both countries' focus on traditional and emerging sectors like logistics, water and environmental management, life sciences and research and alternative energies, there will be new possibilities for collaboration and partnership, through the exchanges of innovative ideas and strategies".
"Apart from the Netherlands' strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and its excellent infrastructure that serves as a bridge between East and West, the country's mix of modern industry and commerce continues to attract a diverse set of foreign companies ranging from high technology to energy, research, manufacturing and logistics," emphasised Mrs. Maria Van der Hoeven.
Bearing in mind that the Netherlands is the gateway to Europe for Asian businesses, she said that Singapore companies should use the country as a focal point for them to expand their business opportunities throughout the European, Middle Eastern and African markets.
Twenty-five participants comprising CEO and senior level representatives from mid to large-sized Singapore companies, universities and government agencies attended the event.
FACT SHEET
Dutch Innovation Platform
The Dutch Innovation Platform, initiated in 2003 is a national body designed to unite companies, knowledge institutes and government to promote innovation and encourage initiatives. The platform includes the participation of 17 key figures from the world of government, business, science and academia, and education. It also represented by members from specific sectors, including healthcare and the water industry. They take part in the platform in a personal capacity with support from their own respective sectors. Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende serves as the platform's chairman.
The mission of the Dutch Innovation Platform is to strengthen the Netherlands' capacity for innovation in the international knowledge economy. It has set itself the realistic goal of ensuring that the Netherlands becomes one of the world's top five knowledge economies. Its aim is to make the Netherlands a place where international companies and professionals choose to do business because of its progressive clients, knowledge and connections.
Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), a division of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs is fully committed to expediting foreign direct investment in the Netherlands. For 30 years, the NFIA has been providing assistance to foreign companies wishing to take advantage of the dynamic Dutch business environment as a strategic base to cover Europe, with a view to expand their global reach in the international marketplace. For foreign companies planning to establish, expand or re-organize their pan-European operations in the Netherlands, the NFIA provides a wide range of services in areas such as economics, operational costs, fiscal and legal matters, and business locations, as well as key information on national, local and regional development companies. As a government agency, the NFIA provides its services free of charge and on a strictly confidential basis. The NFIA also offers a service called the Technology
Matchmaking Service (TMS), to facilitate foreign companies' quest for a suitable technological partner in the Netherlands that includes the fields of technology, environment, energy, exports and international partnerships.
Headquartered in The Hague, the NFIA currently operates at the international level through its offices in Europe (HQ in The Hague, London, Istanbul), the US (New York, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, San Mateo), Asia (Tokyo, Osaka, Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Seoul, New Delhi, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur) and in the Gulf Region (Dubai).
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