Going Dutch makes sense – consul

Significant opportunities exist to enhance bilateral trade and investment links between Bahrain and The Netherlands, particularly in the booming industrial sector, according to Jaap Vaandrager, the acting Dutch consul in Bahrain.

He said the two countries are small, outward-looking and business-friendly and should take advantage of their mutual strategic advantages, following the launch of a Dutch trade pavilion at GIF.

The pavilion has the theme ‘Holland: Let’s Work Together’ and seeks to promote bilateral trade ties between the two countries, as well as to showcase the products, services and capabilities of Dutch technological industrial companies – particularly those serving the energy, logistics and aluminium sectors.

“Dutch technical expertise is globally renowned and in strong demand,” claimed Mr Vaandrager, a 20-year veteran of the Gulf region with a background in industrial services. Dutch companies are very international in scope and the Gulf Industry Fair provides a stepping stone for companies unfamiliar with the Gulf region to raise profile in and familiarise themselves with the local market.

“The aim of participation is primarily to promote Dutch companies as well as raise awareness among the Netherlands’ industrial community of Bahrain’s strategic advantages, which include close proximity to Saudi Arabia as well as a favourable tax agreement in place between the Netherlands and Bahrain since 2010.”

Mr Vaandrager points out that there are many small and medium-sized companies in Holland who have achieved success in exporting their expertise and products to neighbouring European countries but who, for some reason, have limited market penetration or experience in the Middle East.

They are known for their great reliability: they deliver on their promises and would make outstanding durable co-operation and lasting partnerships possible, he says.

“One of my objectives is to try to marry their expertise with the intimate local market knowledge of Bahraini companies, perhaps in the form of joint ventures, for which I see great potential,” Mr Vaandrager added.

Mr Vaandrager added that his country’s participation in GIF 2012 was the first in a series of initiatives to stimulate Bahrain-Netherlands trade, which include organising Dutch trade missions to Bahrain and high-level networking events.