The UK and the Netherlands are key economic partners with a long history of trade and friend-ship. So, it is no surprise, that both governments are deter-mined to work together to sup-port trade, investment and busi-ness.

Last month, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte led a business delega-tion to the UK. The trip had a strong focus on the creative industries, innovation, transport and logistics. Prime Minister Rutte was joined by a large number of innovative Dutch media and tech companies, bringing their Dutch design and digital talent across the North Sea. He also dis-cussed the euro and the EU growth agenda with David Cameron calling the relationship between the UK

and the Netherlands as being tradi-tionally “very strong and very solid”.

Dinner with foreign investorsPart of the programme was an exclu-sive dinner with foreign investors at the Ambassador’s residence in Lon-don on 14 November. A small group of NFIA contacts joined the Prime Minister, the Ambassador Mr Pim Waldeck and Mrs Liesbeth Staps for this event. Mr Rutte spoke warmly in his appreciation of the operations foreign companies have in the Neth-erlands. Mr Rutte said: “I am very pleased to be here talking about doing business in the Netherlands. From our small corner of the globe, large invest-ments are moving back and forth all over the world. And the people behind it, innovative entrepreneurs like your-selves, have plenty of ideas for creating even more opportunities in the future.

Thank you for investing in the Dutch economy and society”.

Natural business partnersOn Tuesday 15 November Mr Rutte co-hosted a Downing Street Strate-gic Business Dialogue (SBD) break-fast with Nick Clegg for some of the largest British and Dutch multina-tionals. Within the SBD both govern-ments support businesses and pro-mote bilateral trade and investment through their respective embassies. Mr Rutte and Mr Clegg elaborated on how the UK and the Netherlands are natural partners. Mr Rutte and Mr Clegg: “There are countless small and medium sized enterprises with business partners on either side of the North Sea. This is a testament of the closeness of the UK and the Netherlands business environments, the creativity of our citizens, and the innovation of our companies.”

The Netherlands

Prime MovesA publication of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency | December 2011 | UK & Ireland Edition

Ever closer ties

Contents An economic agenda for action 2

Leading the world in digital infrastructure 3

O3b Networks’ and Brit Insurance’s Dutch expansion 4

NFIA News 5

Prime Moves 6

Source: ANP

The Dutch government launched a new business policy in Febru-ary 2011. The guiding principle of the new economic growth strategy is that the govern-ment is no longer steering with regulations and subsidies, but is giving companies room to do business, invest, innovate, and export. The focus will be on entrepreneurs, government and knowledge institutions creating economic growth, employment, and prosperity together. To this end, the Dutch government has identified nine key sectors in its new business growth strategy, called ‘Naar de top’ or Towards the top.

The Golden TriangleThe Netherlands is already strong in each of these sectors – Agri-food, Horticulture, High Tech Materi-als and Systems, Energy, Logistics, Creative, Life Sciences, Chemicals, Water and Corporate Headquar-ters. However, the new strategy is designed to further strengthen the country’s global position within these sectors and will involve close collaboration between busi-ness, government and knowledge institutions – the Golden Triangle. Experience shows that when this Golden Triangle works effectively towards a common vision, action plans are implemented, joint invest-ments are made and education is attuned to the needs of business.

The Top TeamEach sector has selected a high pro-file representative and an MD from an innovative SME to work along-side a senior civil servant and a rep-resentative from a knowledge insti-tution. The ‘top teams’ presented their agenda and action plan to the Minister for Economic Affairs, Agri-culture and Innovation in June this year.

Government taking actionThe sector action plans focus on better utilization by the corporate sector of the knowledge infrastruc-ture, fewer and simpler regulations and less subsidies in return for lower taxes. The Government has allo-cated € 1.5 billion for this economic stimulus package and we look for-ward to bringing you more details in future editions of Prime Moves. Following the proposals of the top teams the Dutch government has already taken measures that will strengthen the competitiveness and the knowledge infrastructure.

An economic agenda for action | page 2

An economic agenda for actionSome implemented measures• In 2013, the Cabinet will pro-

vide an additional innovation tax package of € 100 million for initiatives of public-private co-operation.

• The guarantee scheme for cor-porate financing (GO) will be extended for loans up to € 50 million for SME innovations.

• Effective January 1, 2013, the Cabinet is abolishing more than € 2 million in annual fees for the Chambers of Commerce.

• A pilot to simplify the admis-sion of short-stay knowledge migrants.

Improved competitiveness rankingsThe Netherlands has risen from eighth to seventh place in the World Economic Forum’s index of the most competitive economies, scoring particularly highly in innovation, new tech-nology, education, efficient markets and a supportive busi-ness environment.

Source: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Leading the world in digital infrastructure | page 3

Leading the world in digital infrastructureThe Netherlands is famous as a logistics gateway to Europe and the wider world. In the 21st century this tradition contin-ues with the Netherlands rap-idly becoming a world leader in digital infrastructure. In fact, this IT infrastructure is one of the main reasons so many lead-ing technology companies, such as Microsoft, Tata, Cisco, Infosys, Huawei and Google, come to the Netherlands. Additionally, the government acknowledges the innovative strength of the ICT sector and its ability to facili-tate efficiency and collaboration within the new key priority busi-ness policy.

The broadband market in the Neth-erlands is already one of the most advanced in Europe. However, high

penetration broadband and rapid connections are increasingly taken for granted so other more sophis-ticated aspects of IT infrastructure now play a leading role in determin-ing a nation’s ‘IT readiness’.

Many companies take the following factors into particular consideration when choosing their location:

An Internet hubThe Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) is one of the largest in the world with over 350 members. It is also professional, neutral and leading the way in global peering services so offering high tech com-panies significant cost savings and network optimisation.

Data centre expertiseThe Netherlands has an enviable reputation for expertise in this area. When opening their new flag-

ship European data centre Herman Oggel, President of Terremark’s European business, said: “The NAP of Amsterdam was strategically built to access one of the world’s largest Internet hubs in terms of traffic and members. This will enhance our ability to provide secure and highly sophisticated solu-tions to our customers”.

Readily available skillsThe Netherlands has a highly skilled and flexible workforce. EU citizens are able to work in the Nether-lands, with flexible and freelance contracts widely available. There is also an efficient, fast-track work/residence permit procedure for knowledge workers from overseas. Dutch people are multi-lingual with around 90% speaking English – many also speak French and Ger-man – and many Dutch managers have significant international busi-ness experience.

Innovative tax climate

The Dutch tax system offers a range of attractive tax incen-tives for technology companies. Fiscal R&D policy includes: an effective corporate tax rate of 5% on qualifying innovation R&D, income tax reductions for qualifying expatriates and a tax deduction on every euro spent on R&D operating costs and in-vestments in R&D assets. The Netherlands has a top 10 rank-ing in the Global Innovation In-dex and the fiscal climate for innovation is to improve further.

Source: Amsterdam Internet Exchange

Brit Insurance highlights the excellent service delivered by the NFIA

Brit Insurance is an international general insurance and reinsurance group specialising in commer-cial insurance. The Group writes a diverse portfolio of insurance and reinsurance, offering worldwide pro-tection and is one of the most suc-cessful companies in its sector.

When seeking an office location in the Netherlands, there was a com-pelling business case why they

first turned to assistance from the NFIA explains Dan Lowe, Cor-porate Services Manager at Brit Insurance.“Over the past 12 months we’ve opened up offices in Chicago, Tokyo and Sydney but it was the sup-port and assistance we received from the NFIA in the Netherlands that really stood out.

“NFIA’s offices in London and Amster-dam were able to obtain introductions and build a network of reliable contacts in real estate, IT, fit out and construc-tion that we couldn’t have done without, allowing us to hit the ground running.”

“We were balancing multiple global office openings simultaneously, so the strong network and relationship man-agement skills of the NFIA, and their

continued and unobtrusive support were really welcome,” says Dan Lowe.

“They had useful connections with city officials and this led to Amster-dam inbusiness, the foreign investment agency of Amsterdam, acting as a point of contact when required – something of a bonus for us that we hadn’t expected and didn’t get offered in other cities around the world,” adds Dan Lowe.

He concludes: “I’d strongly recommend NFIA to any other company or organi-sation that could benefit from their vast expertise and experience. They certainly helped us navigate through the thickets of premises identification and fit out process.”

www.britinsurance.com

O3b Networks opens opera-tional headquarters in The HagueO3b Networks is a developer of a new satellite-based network, which will allow fast internet access in parts of the world where internet connectivity has either been limited thus far or not available at all. From the location in The Hague the com-pany’s worldwide activities will be coordinated.

O3b – the ‘Other 3 billion’ – focuses on the development of a satellite network that will provide access to broadband internet for all regions across the globe 45° south and 45° north of the equator.

From the operational headquarters in The Hague all O3b’s worldwide activities in the field of product development, finance and market-ing will be managed. To that end staff in The Hague will be expanded considerably. “I am delighted to be cel-ebrating the opening of our operational headquarters here in The Hague. I have lived in The Hague for more than ten years and from experience I know it is a great international base from which to work. It also has a very high number of professionals and as we are recruiting locally as well, that is attractive to us”, according to Steve Collar, CEO at O3b Networks.

Based on a thorough location bid book and introductions with the

tax authorities and services provid-ers for housing and recruitment, the company eventually decided on The Hague. During the follow-up process, the NFIA provided support for knowledge migrant applications and the immigration of O3b employ-ees.

www.o3bnetworks.com

O3b Networks and Brit Insurance expand to the Netherlands | page 4

Source: O3b Networks

O3b Networks and Brit Insurance expand to the Netherlands

The NFIA is to open a full-fledged office in Sao Paulo in January 2012. The Brazil-Dutch economic relation-ship is strong and the increased presence in Brazil will further improve the service to Brazilian

companies interested in expand-ing to the Netherlands. Currently many investors from the agro-food, petrochemical and healthcare sec-tors find their base for continental Europe in the Netherlands.

NFIA News | page 5

NFIA News

NFIA Brazil expands office in Sao Paulo

Director’s Cut

Liesbeth Staps, Executive Director NFIA UK & Ireland, shares her viewsThe Dutch Prime Minister, Mr Mark Rutte, underlined the strong economic ties between the UK and Netherlands with his visit to London, Birmingham and Manchester. We were proud to host a dinner with a select num-ber of foreign companies with interests in the Netherlands. Mr Rutte underlined the added value of foreign companies’ investments for the Dutch econ-omy. There are almost 6,000 for-eign companies with establish-ments in the Netherlands; 4% of our companies are foreign-owned. These generate 16% of private employment in the Neth-erlands. Most importantly they generate 24% of the added value of Dutch business and contrib-ute 31% to the total turnover and 30% of R&D investments!The Dutch government endeav-ors to stimulate private invest-ments in R&D and introduces a new tax deduction for invest-ments in R&D, effective January 1 2012. In 2012 the NFIA UK & Ireland will gear its efforts on the earlier mentioned priority sectors and more specifically on food, high tech and energy.

SBD announces Contact Group

New Senior Project Manager Désirée Poldermans

During his visit to the UK, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the new Strategic Busi-ness Dialogue SBD Contact Group of the CEO’s of Abellio, Royal Haskon-ing, Shell and Vodafone. At least once a year this Contact group will facilitate a high level SBD event to discuss best strategies for economic growth and jobs and improving the business climate in both countries.

The NFIA London office has strengthened the team with Ms Désirée Poldermans as Senior Pro-ject Manager succeeding Mr Tobias van den Hoven. Désirée is looking forward to fully supporting all new business initiatives for the Nether-lands out of the UK & Ireland, say-ing: “I strive to make landings in the Netherlands smooth and effortless by providing companies with the right con-nections and up-to-date information on doing business in the Netherlands”.

Désirée has many years of experi-ence assisting foreign investors in her previous role within the NFIA UK & Ireland. She brings with her a wealth of project management expe-rience from former senior positions

within communication, advertis-ing and media companies. Désirée holds a BA in Political Science and a MA Communication Science spe-cialising in Internal Corporate Com-munication from the University of Amsterdam.

Source: ANP

Season’s Greetings

Wishing you all a very successful 2012

NFIA UK & Ireland38 Hyde Park GateLondon SW7 5DPUnited KingdomT: +44 20 7225 1074F: +44 20 7584 3396info@nfia.co.ukwww.nfia.co.ukwww.twitter.com/NFIALondon

Netherlands Foreign Investment AgencyThe Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), an operational unit with-in the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation provides assistance to companies interested in setting-up, expanding or restructuring their pan-European operations in the Netherlands. The NFIA is here to assist you at every stage of your strategic decision making by offering a combination of information, advice and practical help. Free of charge, without obligation and on a confidential basis.

While information in this newsletter has been compiled from reliable sources, the Government of the Netherlands takes no legal responsibility for any of the state- ments made. Articles in this newsletter may only be reproduced with permission of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency.

Prime MovesInternational Baccalaureate (IB), the world’s leading organi-sation for international educa-tion opened their new EMEA head office in The Hague. The cities international image made The Hague a natural location. New York-based Anomaly, com-munications & branding agency, continues global expansion with an Amsterdam office. Richard Mulder, partner: “The creative spir-it and attitude of Amsterdam fits the Anomaly culture perfectly.”US-based ReachLocal, a leader in local online marketing solu-tions, expand into Amsterdam. John Mazur, CEO ReachLocal Eu-rope: “The Netherlands ranks as one of the highest digitally connected countries in the world”.Malaysian-based Basis Bay opened their first European of-fice in Amsterdam. The company is looking to provide their cost saving Green IT solutions such as data centers and cloud-based programs throughout Europe.Texas-based SoftLayer Tech-nologies, a provider of on-de-mand data center and hosting services, has chosen Amsterdam in the Netherlands for its Euro-pean headquarters.Westbridge Food Group, based in the UK, will open a new office in Leiden for customers in main-land Europe. “Our location is ex-actly half way between the Port at Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport and perfect for us to gain access for our product and service throughout the European Community”.

Meet the NFIA at the following eventsIoD Wednesday Club, Networking Reception & Private ViewWednesday 25 January 2012, OMA Exhibition, Barbican, London

Northern Ireland - Netherlands New Year’s DinnerWednesday 1 February, Belfast

Editorial: Wendy Sayer