U.S. Commercial Service The Netherlands

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U.S. Commercial Service The Netherlands

• Presentation to the FIABCI Mission
• Amsterdam, December 6, 2005
• Commercial Counselor August Maffry

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The Netherlands Gateway to Europe
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Some Confusion

• Netherlands v. Holland
• Dutch Deutsch Germany?
• Amsterdam v. The Hague
• (Den Hague, Den Haag, s Gravenhage)
• Benelux?
• Denmark?
• Can I drive from Utrecht to Helsinki?

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(No Transcript)
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EU Facts and Figures

• The European market is the largest consumer and
  industrial market in the world, accounting for
  more than 60 of world trade.
• Total population of the 25 EU countries is over
  454 million (May 1, 2004).
• Netherlands provides easy access to over 700
  million potential customers in 38 countries.

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The Netherlands Land of ...

• Windmills
• Wooden Shoes
• Tulips

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Quick Facts about the Netherlands

• Population 16 million
• Capital Amsterdam
• Seat of Government The Hague
• Major cities Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam
• Currency Euro

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Political System

• Constitutional Monarchy
• Head of State
• Queen Beatrix
• Parliamentary Form of Government
• Head of Government
• Jan Peter Balkenende
• Majority Party CDA (Center-Right)

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Basic Economics (2003 est.)

• GDP 461 billion
• GDP per capita 28,600
• Growth rate -0.7
• Unemployment 4.2
• Inflation 2

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The NetherlandsGeneral Perspective

• Strategic location in Europe
• Size Maryland
• Densely populated (985 people/sq m)

• 160 Million European consumers within a 300 mile
  radius of Amsterdam

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The NetherlandsToday ...
The Netherlands is expected to be the best place
in the world to conduct business over the next
five years. Source Global Business Environment
Ranking Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) - June
26, 2002
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The NetherlandsToday ...

• EIU conclusion based on factors
• Stable Macroeconomic Environment
• Highly Developed Financial Sector
• Well-educated Labor Force
• High Quality Infrastructure

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Quick Economic Facts

• One of Top Trading Countries in the world
• Ranked 13th in GNP worldwide
• 8th largest export market for US
• 3rd largest investor in the U.S. - 158 billion
• U.S. is the largest investor in the NL - 131
  billion
• Trade surplus of 10 billion in 2003

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Gateway to Europe

• The smallest giant in the world economy
• Rotterdam Largest port in the world
• Schiphol 3rd largest cargo airport in Europe
• A successful economy based on international trade
• The highest ratio of importers in Europe

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Business Infrastructure

• Stable Political and Macro Economic Climate
• Highly Developed Financial Sector
• High Quality Physical Communications
  Infrastructure
• Well-Educated, Productive Flexible Workforce
• Effective Corporate Tax Rate - 15

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Seaport Infrastructure

• Rotterdam Seaport
• 3rd Largest seaport in the world (after Shanghai
  and Singapore).
• 37 of all seaborne goods entering Europe do so
  through the Netherlands.
• Fifth largest container port in the world.
• A diversity of services for cargo handling,
  warehousing and intermodal transportation
  connections.
• Other ports Delfzijl/Eemshaven. Amsterdam and
  Terneuzen/Vlissingen.

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Airport Infrastructure

• Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
• Ranks 3rd in Europe for freight after London
  Heathrow and Frankfurt.
• Over 40 million passengers in 2003 (4th in Europe
  after London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle
  and Frankfurt).
• 408,000 take-offs and landings (4th in Europe).
• Schiphol has been voted Best Airport in Europe
  more than 20 times. Business Traveler
  International.
• 279,000 complaints about noise in 2003

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Economic Centres
Helsinki
Oslo
Stockholm
Copenhagen
Amsterdam
London
Brussels
Frankfurt
Paris
Vienna
Bern
Rome
Madrid
Lisbon
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Distribution infrastructure for logistics

• Market share of European Distribution Centers of
  US companies in Europe 57 (of these 71 is
  outsourced).
• The UK, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and France
  account for 43.
• Logistically, we feel the Netherlands is the
  distribution leader of Europe, with its central
  location, excellent distribution channels, and
  state-of-the-art infrastructure.
• John Chambers, President and CEO, Cisco
  Systems

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USA and The Netherlands -Partners in Trade

• The Netherlands ranks 8th in Imports of US
  Products and Services
• 7,000 US Companies have a Dutch Distributor
• 1,600 US Companies have a presence in the
  Netherlands

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Big Numbers

• 21 Billion in US Exports to the Netherlands
• 11 Billion in Dutch Exports to the U.S
• 32 Billion in two-way trade in 2003
• 10 Billion Trade Surplus

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U.S. Firms Say.

• "The Netherlands has an unusually open market and
  culture for Americans and American business
  concepts."
• Gary Mesch, Chairman of the Supervisory
  Board, Versatel
• "The Netherlands offers a high level of education
  and in-depth technical knowledge, linguistic
  aptitude and the multinational trade spirit of
  the Dutch."
• Haico Meijerink, Director of Customer Services
  EMEA and Director of Cisco's Amsterdam operations

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Foreign Direct Investment in the U.S.
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U.S. Direct Investment Overseas
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Largest U.S. Investors

• Sara Lee
• Lucent Technologies
• Philip Morris
• Ernst Young
• IBM
• Alcoa
• GE Plastics
• Honeywell

• Coopers Lybrand
• Deloitte Touche
• Dow Chemical
• Digital
• Xerox
• Dupont
• Cargill

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U.S. Trade by Commodity with NL

• 2003 - millions Exports Imports
• Food and Live Animals 715 574
• Beverages and Tobacco 165 1,072
• Crude Materials 751 339
• Mineral Fuels, Lubricants 216
  1,099
• Animal and Veg. Oils 34 32
• Chemical Products 5,162 1,793
• Manufactured Goods 670 645
• Machinery/Transport 9,498 2,579
• Misc. Manufactured Articles 3,155
  1,508
• Commodities/Transactions 337
  1,331
• Total 20,703 10,972
• Two Way Trade 32 billion

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Best Prospects

• Computer Software
• Computer Services
• Computers and Peripherals
• Defense Equipment
• Travel and Tourism Services
• Telecommunications Services
• Electromedical Equipment
• Telecommunications Equipment
• Automotive Parts Service Equipment

• Air Pollution control Equipment
• Agricultural Machinery and Equipment
• Do-It-Yourself
• Hotels
• Franchising
• Wind Energy Equipment
• Biomass Equipment
• Dental Equipment
• Cosmetics

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Selecting a Dutch Partner

• Expect in General
• Skilled and Highly Educated Labor Force
• Few Language Barriers
• Instant Market Access
• Local Market Knowledge and Experience
• European players

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Relationship with Dutch Partner

• Written Agreement
• Conservative
• Price Sensitive but Expecting High Quality
• Expects Open and Frequent Communications
• Training and Support

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So Why Export to the Netherlands?

• (Real) Gateway to Europe
• Ideal test market
• Language and culture
• Infrastructure
• Value - added logistics

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Our Team

• 2 American Officers
• 6 Commercial Specialists
• 2 Support Staff
• Connected to 108 domestic U.S. Export Assistance
  Centers and 142 U.S. Embassy/Consulate offices in
  84 countries.
• Overall responsibility for the Showcase Europe
  Automotive Sector

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Commercial Specialists

• Alan Ras
• Medical Pharmaceutical
• Carlanda Hassoldt
• InfoTech, Telecom
• Bram Groen
• Energy, Logistics, Packaging
• Natasha Keylard
• Defense, Automotive
• Jane Zoutendijk
• Tourism, Building Materials
• Jennifer Ritfeld
• Environment, Consumer goods

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Favorite Services in the Netherlands

• Gold Key Service (GKS)
• Video Briefings, travel through ISDN lines
• Business Facilitation Service
• Flexible Market Research
• Single Company Promotions

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Web Sites

• Buy USA buyusa.com
• Commercial Service the Netherlands buyusa.nl
• U.S. Government export.gov
• Dutch logistics hidc.nl
• Dutch investment nfia.com

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Contact Us First

• U.S. Commercial Service
• Lange Voorhout 102
• 2514 EJ The Hague
• The Netherlands
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• www.BuyUSA.nl
• august.maffry_at_mail.doc.gov