Foreign Countries

The Netherlands; small size, big economic activities

Scoring in the international arena requires a creative and result-oriented approach. That's exactly what Dutch soccer players such as Van Nistelrooij and Davids are known for. That is also why The Netherlands is such an outward-looking country; small in size, big in worldwide economic activities.

The open Dutch economy illustrates the degree to which the country's prosperity is inextricably intertwined with external transactions and international cooperation. It is a fact that Dutch companies owe a good part of their earnings to outward-bound business activities. We are one of the world’s ten leading trading nations.

The world-wide economic slowdown left its marks on Dutch exports in 2002, when the value of the exports of goods fell by 2.7%. Dutch exports have seen better times. And there will be better times again. In times of economic recovery Dutch exports tend to grow above average.
The reasons for the downturn at the same time hold the solutions that can lead to recovery. For one, competitiveness levelled off as a result of higher wages and a rather modest growth in labour productivity. In addition, the appreciation of the euro has had an adverse impact on our export position.

I am an advocate of capitalizing on our strengths; international orientation, language skills, high-quality products and services. Dutch companies are strong contenders in the global business marketplace. It is my wish to encourage small and medium-sized companies to spread their wings and explore new markets. Innovation ranks high on my priorities. The Netherlands holds various leading economic sectors and activities worldwide; biotechnology, environmental technology, nanotechnology, dredging and building materials, just to name a few. You will find up-to-date information on the Dutch economy and its economic activities on our multilingual website www.hollandtrade.com.

Holland Exports plays an important role as an intermediary between the Dutch supply side and demand from foreign markets. The updated 2003 edition of Holland Exports contains important information about some 8,000 Dutch exporters. The information is conveniently classified under 4,000 headings. A proven formula gives easy access to the required information.
The editor of Holland Exports also runs a database wich can be helpful in terms of the imports of goods and services: www.abc-d.nl (also available on CD).

This database provides you with information of the high quality products and excellent services the Dutch companies have to offer. Don't hesitate to approach them. They will be glad to answer any questions you may have and to be of your service. I am convinced that this edition of Holland Exports is again a valuable contribution to expanding existing trade contacts and establishing new ones. An opportunity you can’t afford to miss!

J. Wijn
Minister for Foreign Trade